DVD Releases: July 15, 2008

College Road Trip

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Genre: Comedy

Rating: G

Actors/Actresses: Martin Lawrence, Raven-Symone, Donny Osmond, Will Sasso, Arnetia Walker

Synopsis: Directed by Roger Kumble (THE SWEETEST THING, JUST FRIENDS), the 2008 comedy COLLEGE ROAD TRIP stars Martin Lawrence as Chicago cop James Porter, an overprotective father who wants to keep his college-bound daughter, Melanie (Raven-Symone), close to home. When the smart, assertive Melanie declares her intention to attend Georgetown instead of Northwestern, James insistently sets out with her on a cross-country car journey to Washington D.C., hoping to dissuade her along the way. En route, of course, plenty of hijinks ensue, including scenarios involving a precocious pig and, oddly enough, Donny Osmond, who turns up as an eeriely cheery dad also on a college-touring campaign. With its broad, slapstick humor and enegetic leads, COLLEGE ROAD TRIP is a perfect vehicle for Lawrence and Raven, who both play to their well-established personas–the former a cranky bumbler, the latter a headstrong teen. Osmond, in his first film role in decades, ideally embodies Ned Flanders-like enthusiasm, stealing plenty of scenes with the aid of his equally giddy on-screen offspring (Molly Ephraim). Although it’s far from high-minded cinema, TRIP is a fun, family-oriented road movie that easily appeals to a wide audience, and offers up many silly and appalling moments of parental embarrassment.

Meet Bill

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Genre: Comedy, Drama

Rating: R

Actors/Actresses: Aaron Eckhart, Jessica Alba, Elizabeth Banks, Timothy Olyphant, Logan Lerman, Marisa Coughlan

Synopsis: Meet Bill (Aaron Eckhart)–a doormat if ever there was one. A man reduced to a mere accessory to his family by working a dead end job at his father-in law’s bank and arguing about his overindulgent love for chocolate with his wife Jess (Elizabeth Banks) who is loathe to explain her “friendship” with the local news anchorman (Timothy Olyphant). But Bill’s fate begins to change when he becomes mentor to a self-assured boy (Logan Lerman) who engineers Bill’s recovery with the help of a cute lingerie sales girl named Lucy (Jessica Alba). Together, the trio confronts Bill’s hapless life with humor and energy while forcing him to capture his dream of being financially independent and self-confident. “Meet Bill” is a film about what it means to let go of your inhibitions and find the path you’re destined for.

Penelope

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Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

Rating: PG

Actors/Actresses: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O’Hara, Reese Witherspoon, Peter Dinklage, Richard E. Grant, Simon Woods, Ronni Ancona, Nick Frost, Richard James

Synopsis: “Penelope” is the story of a young woman, Penelope Wilhern (Christina Ricci), born to wealthy socialites (Richard E. Grant and Catherine O’Hara). Penelope is afflicted by a secret family curse that can only be broken when she is loved by one of her own kind. Hidden away in the family’s majestic home, she is subjected to meeting a string of blue-bloods through her parent’s futile attempt to marry her off and break the curse. Each suitor is instantly enamored with Penelope (and her sizable dowry)… until the curse is revealed.

When a willing mate cannot be found, mischievous tabloid reporter Lemon (Peter Dinklage) hires Max (James McAvoy) to pose as a prospective suitor in hopes of snapping a photo of the mysterious Penelope. Max, who is really a down-on-his-luck gambler, finds himself drawn to Penelope and not wanting to expose or disappoint her, disappears and leaves Lemon in the lurch. Fed up by this latest betrayal and determined to live life on her own terms, Penelope breaks free from her family and goes out into the world in search of adventure - curse be damned.

The feature filmmaking debut of director Mark Palansky, “Penelope” was produced by Reese Witherspoon, Scott Steindorff, and Jennifer Simpson, and written by Leslie Caveny.

Shutter

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Genre: Horror, Suspense

Rating: PG-13

Actors/Actresses: Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, David Denman, James Kyson Lee, John Hensley

Synopsis: Treading territory similar to JU-ON: THE GRUDGE (2003), RINGU (1998), and ONE MISSED CALL (2003), all Asian horror films remade for American audiences, SHUTTER is the first English-language film for director Masayuki Ochiai, whose career has been primarily within the horror genre. The result is another potent ghost story able to conjure up feelings of dread through a single longhaired, poker-faced female apparition. Newlywed New Yorkers Ben (Joshua Jackson, THE SKULLS) and Jane Shaw (Rachael Taylor, TRANSFORMERS) have traveled to Tokyo, where photographer Ben is investigating a potentially lucrative job opportunity. While driving on a dark road at night, the couple runs over a mysterious woman who seems to appear out of nowhere and can’t be found after the accident. Over the next few days, Jane goes sightseeing while Ben works, only to see strange apparitions that also appear on the photos she takes. After Ben’s photos show the same ghostly forms, he confesses that he knows something about the woman they ran over, but it may be too late to stop her trail of terror. Another Hollywood remake of an Asian horror film, SHUTTER has a tricky lineage: the 2004 original was made in Thailand, while this version is U.S.-financed, but shot mostly in Japan. By setting the film in Japan, director Ochiai retains an element of exoticism for American audiences, which also allows Ben and Jane to be out of their element, à la DON’T LOOK NOW. As the menacing spirit, Megumi, Megumi Okina is adept at conjuring fear with a simple glare in a minimal but effective performance. SHUTTER doesn’t stretch the boundaries of horror cinema, but it provides a handful of decent shocks and a couple of crowd-pleasing gross-outs, all within the limits of a non-restrictive PG-13 rating.

Step Up 2 The Streets

Genre: Drama

Rating: PG-13

Actors/Actresses: Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Will Kemp, Cassie Ventura, Adam G. Sevani

Synopsis: Jon Chu directs this feel-good sequel about pursuing what you love and finding yourself along the way. Andie (Briana Evigan, daughter of actor Greg Evigan) is a tough Baltimore teen who grew up dancing and is now part of the 410, the hottest dance crew in the city and reigning champions of the Streets, an underground dance competition. Unable to control Andie’s rebellious ways, her guardian, Sarah (Sonja Sohn), has decided to send her to Texas to live with her aunt. But Andie has one last chance to stay with her crew in her beloved Baltimore: the Maryland School of the Arts (MSA). Unfortunately, maintaining her studies at MSA means less time with the 410. To make matters worse, Andie is having a hard time fitting in at her new high school, where tradition is revered and being outside the box is frowned upon. Luckily, she has a partner in crime in classmate Chase Collins (Robert Hoffman), whose stuffy brother, Blake (Will Kemp), is the school’s director and a constant thorn in his younger brother’s side. When the 410 boots Andie out, she and Chase find their own crew of overlooked MSA dancers and take it all the way to the Streets. The real star of STEP UP 2: THE STREETS is the amazing dancing and there’s plenty of it. From the opening scene in a Baltimore subway to the playground to studio rehearsals to the Streets, these kids give it everything they’ve got. Channing Tatum briefly reprises his role as Tyler Gage, who knows Andie from the neighborhood. All of the MSA and 410 dancers are exceedingly talented, but Mari Koda’s few lines as Jenny Kido are scene-stealers.