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THAT TIME OF THE WEEK:
New DVD & Blu-Ray Releases The Weeks of 6/30/13 and 7/9/13

Sorry for missing out last week, folks.  It was America’s birthday and I spent the week catching up on various titles which means today you have not only two weeks of reviews, but also some amazing Warner Archive titles.

There’s some great stuff in here, so as always, fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart and check out the’ latest releases!

The Producers (Collector’s Edition) 

Shout! Factory / Released 7/2/13

From the endlessly funny mind of filmmaker Mel Brooks comes this Oscar-winning explosion of pure comic lunacy about low-rent Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) and his high-strung accountant Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder). They discover that, with the help of a few gullible investors, they can make more money on a flop than on a hit. So armed with the worst show ever written – Springtime For Hitler – and an equally horrific cast, this double-dealing duo is banking on disaster. But when their sure-to-offend musical becomes a surprise smash hit, they find themselves in the middle of a Broadway blitzkrieg!  Extras include documentary, featurette, trailer, deleted scene and sketch gallery.

Last Word: Arguably Mel Brooks’ funniest movie comes to Blu-ray in this phenomenal release from Shout! Factory.  An equal opportunity offender, The Producers is a politically incorrect farce with hysterical performances from Zero Motstel and Gene Wilder as they attempt to mount a money losing Broadway show in order to become rich and are shocked to learn that their flop, is a runaway success.  A rare comedy that not only holds up, but is still outrageous and hysterical, The Producers looks great, sounds great and is a must have for cinegeek collection.

The Kentucky Fried Movie 

Shout! Factory / Released 7/2/13

This movie is total out of control!  This original take-off cult classic from the highly successful team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker this “uproariously funny film” (TV Guide) launched a thousand laughs and serves as a precursor to the raunch-fests of the ’80s and the blockbuster success of the Farrelly Brothers films. Directed by the legendary John Landis, The Kentucky Fried Movie features a lewd, loosely connected collection of skits that spoof blaxploitation films, news shows, porno movies, TV commercials, kung fu flicks and more!  Including well-known stars such as Bill Bixby, Donald Sutherland, Tony Dow, George Lazenby and Henry Gibson, this one-of-a-kind film features over 22 gut-bustingly hilarious segments.  Features commentary, feature length interview, and trailer.

Last Word: This trailblazing comedy certainly establishes the future sensibilities of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker, but like most anthologies, is uneven.  With director John Landis at the helm, there’s no denying that The Kentucky Fried Movie is funny and certainly pushed the envelope when it was released, but ultimately much of it doesn’t work simply because it feels like a work in progress; There’s too much of a randomness to it, as ads, trailers, news segment and parodies have no connective tissue.  That being said, when it is funny, it’s very funny. 

The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis: The Complete Series

Shout! Factory / Released 7/2/13

Based on the popular collection of short stories by humorist Max Shulman, this television classic starred Dwayne Hickman as Dobie Gillis, a middle-class 17-year old whose main goal in life was to find the girl of his dreams. Bob Denver co-starred as Dobie’s beatnik – and famously work-averse – friend Maynard G. Krebs, and Frank Faylen and Florida Friebus played Dobie’s caring but fraught parents. Warren Beatty and Tuesday Weld round out the cast of this much beloved sitcom.  Throughout its 147 episodes, the series ran the gamut from the hilarious (Dobie and Maynard sharing a tuxedo in order to attend a society party together) to the ridiculous (Maynard drinking a student chemist’s formula and turning into a monster) to the touching (Dobie convincing a poor but brilliant student to stay in school).  The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis premiered on CBS in the fall of 1959 and was a counter culture hit through all four years of its network fun.  Extras include pilot footage, an interview, bonus episodes and appearances of the cast on television and several scripts and interviews via DVD ROM.

Last Word:  Not having seen this in over 20 years (back when Nick at Night ran classic sitcoms), I was surprised by not only how smart and funny that it was, but also how it managed to tackle several genres in it’s four season, from high school to the military and then college.  Based on characters created by writer Max Shulman, the series ran for an impressive 147 episodes (all of which are included in this set, uncut) and was the first television series to focus exclusively on teenagers.  Among the many guest stars who appeared were Jack Albertson, John Banner, Mel Blanc, Ellen Burstyn, Yvonne Craig, Ron Howard, Sally Kellerman, Michele Lee, Ryan O’Neal, Marlo Thomas, Susan Watson, Jo Anne Worley, Michael J Pollard, William Schallert, Rose Marie, Bill Bixby, Norman Fell, Howard McNear, Don Knotts, Marvin Kaplan, Stafford Repp, Robby the Robot, Henry Corden and Thelonious Monk as himself.  The series also breaks many traditional sitcom conventions of the time including breaking the fourth wall, and television’s first anti-establishment character, beatnik Krebs (Denver).  The only things missing from this set  are the two reunion films (which will hopefully get a release down the line).  A truly fantastic, and series, with material that still both resonates and feels fresh, The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis: The Complete Series, is both a must have and one of the year’s best releases.

6 Souls

Starz-Anchor Bay / Released 7/2/13

After the death of her husband, Dr. Cara Harding’s (Julianne Moore) faith in God has been shaken, but not her belief in science. In an attempt to open her up to accepting unexplainable psychiatric theories, her father introduces her to Adam, (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) a patient with multiple personalities who takes on some of the physical characteristics of his other personalities. But, Cara quickly discovers that Adam’s other personalities are murder victims and the more she finds out about him and his past, the closer she and her loved ones are to becoming murder victims themselves.

Last Word: If nothing else, there’s hope that bad movies can attract Academy Award nominees.  Seriously, how did this film attract Julianne Moore and Jeffrey DeMunn?  This otherwise atypical direct to DVD mess offers little suspense, fewer scares and is unfortunately, ridiculously dull.  Moore and Rhys Meyers do what they can with the material, which is like treating cancer with an aspirin.

Weiner Dog Nationals

Inception Media Group / Released 7/2/13

A boy and his family adopt a runt of a dachshund from the local shelter and name her Shelly in honor of shelter dogs everywhere. Despite all odds, Shelly surprises the boy’s father (Jason London) when she places in the state trials of Wienerschnitzel’s illustrious Wiener Dog Nationals race.  The family pools all of its resources to advance to the next round only to face strong opposition from the reigning champion, Princess, and her owner Ms. Merryweather (Morgan Fairchild). Meanwhile, judge Melanie (Alicia Witt) is banned from the race by the head judge (Bryan Batt) when she tries to help the family prove that Ms. Merryweather is cheating.  Relying only on her skill and her young owner’s passion, little Shelly and her new family must face the challenge of advancing through the cutthroat world of the nation’s greatest wiener dog race. One race. One nation. One wiener!

Last Word: The greatest wiener dog movie ever made.   For kids and dog voyeurs only.

Dead Man Down

SPHE / Released 7/9/13

Victor (Colin Farrell), a professional killer and the right hand man to an underground crime lord in New York City (Terrence Howard), is seduced and blackmailed by Beatrice (Noomi Rapace), a crime victim seeking retribution. Their chemistry and intense relationship leads them to execute a violent and cathartic plan for revenge.  Extras include featurettes.

Last Word: An extremely disappointing effort from Niels Arden Oplev (director of the original The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), Dead Man Down is nothing more than a series of clichéd, predictable scenarios that never add up to much of anything.  The cast is extremely impressive, with not only Farrell, Howard and Rapace, but also Dominic Cooper and Isabelle Huppert delivering solid work.  Unfortunately, the seriousness of the material is so serious it almost borders on noir parody; it wants to be a thriller, but it’s really a revenge picture without any real focus.  It’s a shame, really, as one gets the sense that there was something special here at one point, but by the time it left the editing room it’s just a mess.

The Gatekeepers

SPHE / Released 7/9/13

Charged with overseeing Israel’s war on terror-both Palestinian and Jewish- the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s Secret Service is present at the crossroads of every decision made. For the first time ever six former heads of the agency agreed to share their insights and reflect publicly on their actions and decisions. The Gatekeepers offers an exclusive account of the sum of their successes and failures. It validates the reasons that each man individually and the six as a group came to reconsider their hard-line positions and advocate a conciliatory approach toward their enemies based on a two-state solution.

Last Word:  An eye opening look which provides little context, but rather brutal, but honest look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the security force tasked to protect Israel. This amazing documentary is fascinating and truly a must see for anyone interested in the world we live in.  Interviewing the six former heads of the Shin Bet, director Dror Moreh presents a unique opportunity to gain insight of the conflicts by those who understand it best.  One of the more honest aspects is that the film treats the success and failure of of the Shin Betin a frank manner, without any slant for either Israel or Palestine and while it does not claim to have a solution, it provides a fresh look at the morality of war under the guise of providing national security.  Highly recommended.

How the West Was Won: The Complete First Season

Warner Home Video / Released 7/9/13

How the West Was Won: The Complete First Season is a family saga focusing on the lives of the Macahan family in the Old West. The leader of the family, Zeb Macahan (James Arness) is accustomed to the harsh realities of life on the frontier. His sister-in-law, Kate (Eva Marie Saint), alone since the death of her husband is struggling to maintain a home for her daughters and sons. Luke (Bruce Boxleitner), Kate’s eldest son, is pursued by the law for desertion from the Union Army. Their stories are played out against a realistic recreation of the American West in that lusty, hard-hitting period when laws were frequently broken and progress was charted by individual suffering and survival.

Last Word: Despite having neither seen or heard of this title previously, I was pleasantly surprised by the nostalgic tone similar to shows like The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie or Gunsmoke.  Included in the set is the original movie pilot and mini-series that launched the series (making this technically Season Zero).  With some good performances and voice over narration by William Conrad, this is an easy and solid recommendation for fans of the genre. 

The Tower

It’s Christmas Eve at Seoul s ultra-luxurious, 108-story, residential high-rise, Tower Sky, and the annual White Christmas gala is planned once again to dazzle the elite tenants and their VIP guests. Building manager Dae-ho, a single father, reluctantly disappoints his young daughter again, cancelling plans to work the elegant event. Kitchen manager Yoon-hee, who has a secret crush on him, offers to babysit. Respected fire chief Young-ki has finally agreed to a date night with his long-suffering wife and the extravagant gathering is the perfect venue. The holiday revelry is in full swing on a truly magical and unforgettable evening when unthinkable disaster strikes. Out of the reach of help, chaos and panic erupt. Now two strangers, Dae-ho and Young-ki, must summon the strength and courage to save thousands … But at what cost?

Last Word:  Tremendously entertaining.  Seek this out!

Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special

Cartoon Network / Released 7/9/13

Robot Chicken and DC Comics collide – who will survive with their super-dignities intact? Nobody! In Robot Chicken‘s hands, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and even Mr. Banjo could end up dead or naked or both or neither!

Last Word:  Extremely funny (especially if you know the DC Universe well), the Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special features an all-star voice cast including Seth Green, Neil Patrick Harris, Alfred Molina, Nathan Fillion, Megan Fox, Breckin Meye, Abe Benrubi, Alex Borstein, Clare Grant, Tara Strong, Aaron Paul, and Paul Reubens.  The extras are plentiful and include deleted scenes, commentaries, outtakes, featurettes and deleted scenes.  For fanboys, fangirls and geeks galore, it doesn’t get more amusing than the Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special.  Highly recommended.

Ben 10 Omniverse – Heroes Rise 2

Warner Home Video / Released 7/9/13

Ben 10 Omniverse is the latest television series in the global juggernaut Ben 10 franchise and the latest original series from Cartoon Network Studios. It’s time to take the action home with the new DVD release, Ben 10 Omniverse Volume 2. This DVD includes 10 all-new action packed episodes from series’ first season on two discs along with the Alien Reveals and Alien Database bonus features. With an all-new look at kids’ favorite alien-changing star, including an all-new Omnitrix new aliens, a new partner and underground world filled with intergalactic life, it’s Ben like you’ve never seen him – a little older but not always a little wiser.

Last Word: One of the most enduring modern properties, Ben 10 owes much of it’s success to an innovative concept and strong, imaginative writing.  As always, I wish these would be released in complete seasons.

The Courtship of Eddie’s Father: The Complete Second Season

Warner Archive / Released 10/9/12

The second season of the beloved TV classic shines so bright it attracted a very special guest star – real-life NASA titan Gordon “Gordo” Cooper! This ground-breaking situation ‘dramedy’ was more about friendship than courtship – the special friendship shared by Eddie (Brandon Cruz) and his widowed father Tom (Bill Bixby). Birth, marriage, crime, ghosts, poverty and women’s liberation are just a sampling of the themes that father and son struggle with in this second season.

Last Word: I’m a big fan of this series, from the Harry Nilsson theme song to the unique chemistry between Bixby and Cruz.  Supporting performances from Miyoshi Umeki as housekeeper Mrs. Livingston, Kristina Holland as Tina Rickles, Tom’s secretary and series creator/producer James Komack as “Uncle” Norman Tinker elevate the material.  Season two guest stars include Jodie Foster, Suzanne Pleshette, Will Geer, Tippi Hedren, and a pre-Eight is Enough pairing of Willie Aames and Vincent Van Patten.    The Courtship of Eddie’s Father: The Complete Second Season is a sweet and sensitive series, yet not formulaic or falsely sentimental.  It is as good as you remember it and with the core focus being about the relationship between father and son, it’s still relevant today, appropriate for viewers of all ages and very highly recommended.

Combat Girls

Artsploitation Films / Released 7/9/13

This gritty, violent teen coming-of-age drama centers on two girls who become fascinated with the neo-Nazi youth movement. A commercial hit in Germany, the story follows two young women from the German suburbs: 20-year-old Marisa is a hardcore Neo-Nazi believer, a semi-skinhead who’s been in the movement for years and whose body is adorned with Nazi tattoos; and 14-year-old Svenja, a sheltered, spoiled, straight-A student who only becomes fascinated with the group because of her neo-Nazi boyfriend. They begin as attention-seeking adversaries but become best friends, though their loyalty is shaken when Marisa decides she wants to leave the movement behind, a decision helped by her unlikely friendship with a scared young Afghan boy whose brother she injured in a hate crime. Like American History X and Romper Stomper, Combat Girls is extremely dynamic, powerful filmmaking.

Last Word: Like The Believer or This is England, Combat Girls examines the Neo-Nazi movement amongst the young.  Similar in many ways to cults or gangs, the movement appeals to those lost, looking for a family.  Youth full of anger and confusion who find themselves easy prey to hate groups eager to manipulate them to their cause.  Fortunately, in many cases, and as depicted in Combat Girls, some of the believers realize that hate isn’t the only option.  This extremely well done coming of age film shows the power of both anger and hate through the spectacular performance from lead Alina Levshin, which in itself is accomplishment, making the audience sympathetic for a character that has tattoos of Adolph Hitler.  There’s not much new here, but the film itself is extremely well done and a fantastic debut from writer/director David Wnendt.  Recommended.

Eight is Enough The Complete Third Season

Warner Archive / Released 6/20/13

Eight is Enough’s third season started off with a change – a brand new theme song, sung by star Grant Goodeve! The title theme’s promise of “a portrait of the happiness that we feel and always will” was more than matched by the show’s focus on the upbeat side of familial bonds, while not avoiding the roller-coaster nature of “the changing times” within the Bradford clan and in American society at large. Youth culture (Tommy’s dual dating personas of “Disco Kid” vs. “Mellow Man”), teen pregnancy (a young Rosanna Arquette guest stars!), gender roles (“The War Between the Bradfords”), and ageism (with Abe Vigoda!) all come under scrutiny via the ten-sided prism that is the Bradford clan. This 28-Episode collection, containing the complete thirds season, more than proves that “eight is enough to fill our lives with love.” Other notable guests found in this season include Jack Elam, Noah Berry Jr., and James Cromwell.

Last Word: This hump season was the first for the series to really click following the death of Diana Hyland and the addition of Betty Buckley.  Among the highlights: Tom coaches Nicholas’ little league team, Tommy contracts trench mouth, David starts living on the edge after a friend dies young from a heart attack, Nicholas invites the Vice-President to Thanksgiving dinner, Nicholas runs away, the girls get their own apartment, Nancy’s blind date reminds them of Norman Bates, David and Janet move in together and Abby doesn’t give favors to a star basketball player creating trouble for Tommy.  Eight is Enough The Complete Third Season lives up to the nostalgia.  Highly recommended.

Roseanne Season 9

Mill Creek Entertainment / Released 5/14/13

We watched them grow-up, juggle work and family, fall in love and make some of the most hysterical decisions in television history! After all the top-rated seasons, major awards and groundbreaking comedic performances we say farewell to the one of the greatest TV comedies ever made. For millions of Roseanne fans the secret surprises and unforgettable moments of season 9 created bittersweet memories of unpredictable realities and shocking conclusions. It was the monumental year that the Conner’s won the lottery, Roseanne battled terrorists, Dan pondered the meaning of life, Jackie and DJ found love and Darlene gave birth. All of these events and more led us to the astounding final episode in which Roseanne revealed the twisted and mind-blowing realities of the Conner family! Watch as your favorite blue-collar family takes their final bows and delivers the side slitting hilarity you ve come to love in the fascinating final season of Roseanne.  Extras include featurettes.

Last Word:  One of the greatest sitcoms in the history of television truly went off the rails in this final season, focusing too heavily on guest stars, a lottery win that changes the series entirely and an attempt to emulate Absolutely Fabulous.  Among the problems was it’s guest star heavy lineup which included George Clooney, Jerry Springer, Steven Seagal, Ed Asner, Jim Varney, Tammy Faye Bakker, Dina Merrill, Joanna Lumley, Jennifer Saunders, Arianna Huffington, Marlo Thomas, James Brolin, Debbie Reynolds, Rainer Hahn, Hugh Hefner, Milton Berle, Robin Leach, Todd Oldham, Tony Robbins and Kathleen Sullivan.  By the time that the final episodes arrive and the Conners’ lives have completely changed (in my opinion, for the worse), it’s revealed that the series itself was the creation of writer Roseanne Conner, writing her life the way she wanted it to go.  Ultimately, I don’t think it worked, but it’s hard to dismiss even a bad season of a show that portrayed middle class blue-collar America accurately and without sentimentality.

Alice: The Complete Third Season

Warner Archive / Released 3/19/13

The third season saw Alice gets its sitcom service down to a science, delivering regular orders of laughter and workplace wisdom weekly while enjoying a regular slot in the top twenty. Series regulars Vic Tayback (Mel), Vera (Beth Howland), Polly Holliday (Flo), and Philip McKeon (Tommy) fit their roles perfectly, while Linda Lavin (Alice) set the comedy temp, whether it be a slow-burn simmer, smoking hot slapstick, or on-the-boil gut-busters

Last Word:  This release completes the first third of the series’ complete run and it at this point, it’s still continuously funny and fresh.  Familiar faces among the guest stars include  Dave Madden, Jim Varney,  James Cromwell, Corey Feldman, Nancy McKeon, Gary Collins, Ron Rifkin, Martha Raye, Hans Conried, Bob Hastings, and Forrest Tucker.  Among the classic episodes found within this season include Mel selling the diner, Vera playing Cinderella, Alice dating Tommy’s principal, Martha Raye appearing as Mel’s mother and Flo spending New Year’s Eve without a date.  If you grew up with the series or are a fan of sitcoms in general, this one is a must have for your home library.  Highly recommended.

Would You Rather

MPI / Released 7/9/13

What would you do if a millionaire offered you a chance to solve all your life s problems? After the tragic death of her parents, Iris (Brittany Snow) is desperate to make ends meet while caring for her terminally ill younger brother. When seemingly philanthropic aristocrat Shepard Lambrick (Jeffrey Combs) expresses an interest in helping them by inviting her to an exclusive dinner party that offers the chance at untold riches, Iris finds herself in a group of similarly desperate individuals all looking to make some easy money. But the guests soon find themselves trapped in Lambrick’s mansion and forced to play a sadistic game of Would You Rather, where only the winner will get out alive. As the game progresses, Iris must decide how far she will go to save her brother… and herself. Featuring a terrific ensemble cast that includes Sasha Grey, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Eddie Steeples and Charlie Hofheimer, Would You Rather is an edge of your seat horror thriller that invites you over for a quiet evening of murder.

Marine Boy: The Complete First Season

Warner Archive / Released 6/18/143

It’s Marine Boy! The original “American anime” classic is here, at last! Produced in Japan but intended for first run in the US, Marine Boy was one of the first color cartoons to come from Japan, soon to be sharing syndicated screen space with the likes of Kimba the White Lion and Speed Racer (with whom it shares a number of voice actors). Teenage Marine Boy battles evil on and under the seas on behalf of the Ocean Patrol, aided by the amazing inventions of his father, Dr. Mariner and the brilliant Professor Fumble. Joining Marine Boy in his mission are his white dolphin, Splasher, young mermaid Neptina, and fellow Ocean Patrol agents Bullton and Piper. Adding complication to the mission are the effort of to CliCli prove himself a miniature Marine Boy.

Last Word: The Warner Archive continues to amaze with some of the most obscure, I never thought that would ever be on DVD, releases.  The latest is the first of a hopeful trilogy of releases of Marine Boy, a fondly remembered early Japanese animated import.  Remastered and looking phenomenal, Marine Boy is an aquatic crimefighter who fights the forces of underwater evil.  The 26 episodes included are  “The Green Monster”, “Danger At 300 Fathoms”, “Monsters Of The Deep”, “Dangerous Starfish”, “The Astounding Shellfish”, “The Mysterious Paradise”, “Deepest Of The Deep”, “The Ghost Ship”, “The Monstrous Seaweed”, “The Super Mystery Boat”, “The Greatest Power On Earth”, “Disaster On The High Sea”, “Secret Of The Time Capsule”, “Mystery Of The Missing Vessels”, “Menace Of The Missing Bomb”, “Danger In The Depths”, “The Gigantic Sea Farm”, “Terror Of The Fire Ball”, “Empire Of The Sea”, “Battle To Save The World”, “The Terrifying Icebergs”, “The Whales Of Destruction”, “The Power Of Power”, “5 Billion In Diamonds”, “Mission At Corkscrew Strait” and “Lighthouse Of Terror”.  Marine Boy: The Complete First Season weighs heavily on my love of not only several genres, but also nostalgia.  Highly recommended.  

Dr. Kildare: The Complete First Season

Warner Archive/ Released 6/20/13

Richard Chamberlain and Raymond Massey don the surgical scrubs first made famous by the film team of Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore for the equally successful TV incarnation in the 1960s. Richard Chamberlain’s star ascended quickly, as the show swept him from relative unknown to full-on teen idol (in a show pointed squarely at adults, no less). The show was also blessed to have the talents of a young Jerrald Goldsmith on hand to pen the shows score. Kildare’s title theme, “Three Stars Will Shine Tonight”, became a monster hit on its own, sung by Mr. Chamberlain himself. Notable guests include Lee Marvin, Ellen Burstyn, Dorothy Malone, Joseph Cotten, Mary Astor, Margaret O’Brien and more! And as an added bonus, we’ve dug up a “lost” episode; “The Eleventh Hour,” the ORIGINAL, never-aired pilot for the Wendell Corey psychiatric drama, teaming Dr. Theodore Bassett up with Drs. Gillespie and Kildare to get to the bottom of what the devil is wrong with Ann Costigan (Vera Miles).

Last Word:  Having never seen this classic series, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the medical television genre has never really evolved that much from this landmark and iconic series.  Each episode is soap operatic concentrating on Kildare and his relationships with the staff and his mentor Dr. Gillespie.  Like many mentor relationships, the two men don’t always seem eye to eye, which continues the weekly conflict/resolution.  The procedural aspect of each episode focuses on the patient(s) of the week, their malady, treatment and resolution.  The remastered image is fantastic and looks great throughout all 33 episodes.  There’s no question now after watching as to why it’s such a beloved series.  Recommended.

Childrens Hospital: The Complete Fourth Season

Warner Archive/ Released 4/19/13

TV’s sickest medical series returns for its fourth twisted season, winner of the 2012 Emmy® Award for Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment. A satirical jab at network medical dramas, Childrens Hospital explores the lives of a group of self-absorbed doctors who put their libidos first and patients second. Amnesia, Madonna sightings, single-mom promotions, assassination attempts, Mafia kingpins and the accidental electrocution of one of its stars are just some of the topics addressed by series regulars Malin Akerman, Lake Bell, Rob Corddry, Erinn Hayes, Rob Huebel, Ken Marino, Megan Mullally, Henry Winkler and a gaggle of celebrity guests in these 14 short and insanely funny episodes. Which only goes to show that when it comes to Emmy-winning comedy, medical accuracy really does matter.

Last Word:  It’s ridiculous, hilarious and has the one of the best casts on television and this season counts among it’s guest stars Brian Huskey, Michael Cera,  Abigail Spencer,  David Wain, Jennifer Westfeldt, Dominic Monaghan, Jaime Murray, Lauren Cohan, Dileep Rao, Christina Pickles, Philip Baker Hall, Reginald VelJohnson, John Hamm, Nick Offerman, and Kevin Pollak.  It’s also one of those rare series that you can watch again and again.  Highly recommended.

         
Popeye: The 1960’s Animated Classics Collection

Warner Archive / Released 5/7/13

With TV reruns of the Fleischer/Famous Studios theatrical shorts proving that Popeye still packed a spinach-powered punch that delivered smash ratings, King Features commissioned a new series of Sailor Man shorts under the aegis of executive producer Al Brodax. The TV incarnation of Popeye made up for its scaled-back animation with a broadened narrative scope and scale while still staying true to the source, thanks to the continued use of voice actors Jack Mercer (Popeye), Mae Questel (Olive) and Jackson Beck (now called Brutus) as well as the use of veteran Popeye animation talents then working at Paramount Cartoon Studios. Adding to the “I yam what I yam” authenticity is the addition of a number of Thimble Theater comic strip characters making their cartoon debuts – including King Blozo, Toar and Sea Hag! Among the cartoons contained in this stupendous 2-Disc, 72-Episode volume are all of the Paramount TV Popeye cartoons.

Last Word:  Although the limited animation can’t compare to the Fleischer cartoons, these were the ones that introduced thousands of fans to the character on television.  With a greater sandbox of characters to play with, this incarnation of Popeye is perhaps my favorite.  Highly recommended.

The Roman Holidays Complete Series

Warner Archive / Released 4/23/13

Somewhere between the pre-hysterical Stone Age of The Flintstones and the fantastic future of The Jetsons lie The Roman Holidays. This time around Hanna-Barbera tackles family life circa 63 AD. Augustus “Gus” Holiday (Dave Willock) is the man of the clan, lovely and level-headed spouse Laurie (Shirley Mitchell) keeps things on an even keel, teenage troublemaker Happius (Stanley Livingston) and child prodigy Precocia (Pamelyn Ferdin) threaten to break the Pax Familia. Housed at the humble Venus de Milo Arms, the Holidays face constant threats from their aptly named landlord Mr. Evictus (Dom DeLuise, in his toon debut) while Gus gets equally harried working at the Forum Construction Company by his boss, Mr. Tycoonius (Hal Smith). It’s a good thing he gets to come home to a Roman’s best friend – his pet lion, Brutus (Daws Butler)! So hop aboard your chariot – it’s time to pay a visit to The Roman Holidays!

Last Word: This was a rough one.  Hanna Barbera frequently reused their concepts in different incarnations (teen investigators with an animal sidekick for example) and this attempt at a family series in a different era just falls flat.  The voices are great, but The Roman Holidays just isn’t particularly good.  Most of the jokes are flat and unlike The Flinstones or The Jetsons, audiences were familiar enough with ancient Rome to know that modern appliances and technology just didn’t work.  A nice retrospective for a rarely seen show, but truly for animation fans/scholars only.

Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch The Complete Series

Warner Archive/ Released 3/12/13

Meet Hair Bear, Square Bear and Bubi Bear, three of the heppest, savviest and silliest ursines to ever crash a cave. And what a cave! From its seemingly stone and straw décor the whole hole transforms at the touch of a button into one swinging, scientific and super bachelor pad. The only drawback? It’s inside a zoo! But that’s ok, ‘cauz quick-talking Hair (voiced by Daws Butler), befuddling curlicue talker Bubi (voiced by ventriloquist supreme Paul Winchell) and master of the invisible motorcycle, the zen-drawling Square Bear (voiced by William Callaway) are more than a match for keepers Mr. Peevly (voiced by John Stephenson) and Botch (voiced by Joe E. Ross). And that’s not to mention the other delightful denizens of Wonderland Zoo, who are always ready to help (and sometimes hinder) the Bears in the bigger-than-the-zoo schemes. This two-disc, 16 episode, collection contains all the mod bears madcap extra-zoohicular adventures.

Last Word: Some of Hanna Barbera’s best voice talent is the main reason to check out this fondly remembered, but forgettable Saturday morning series.  A truly beautiful looking cartoon with great character designs and beautiful backgrounds, there isn’t much else to offer this minor footnote.  Kudos to Warner Archive for their commitment to release obscure properties.  Although it wasn’t my favorite, it is somebody’s so for that person, it’s an easy recommendation.  Otherwise, rent it first to see if it’s what you remember.

First Family

Warner Archive / Released 3/1012

Never mind energy shortages, potential nuclear meltdowns and economic breakdowns. In the freewheeling, funny world of First Family, the White House puts first things first: reelecting a President trailing in the polls! Bob Newhart stars as President Manfred Link in this zany, wonderfully cast comedy from veteran funnyman Buck Henry (Heaven Can Wait, The Graduate). Plenty of problems cuff Link. His rattlebrained wife (Madeline Kahn) and randy daughter (Gilda Radner) are a public-relations nightmare. His U.N. ambassador (Harvey Korman), advisor (Fred Willard) and press secretary (Richard Benjamin) are experts at inexpertise. Link will do anything to secure a second term. Or will he? Vote for Link – and for the movie that’s a shoo-in for laughs: First Family.

Last Word: Despite a ridiculously talented cast, writer/director Buck Henry’s look at politics is a farce done wrong.  Part of the problem is that by 1980, America was far past the need for social commentary of the Nixon and to a certain extend, Ford administrations.  As a result, there is no clear consistency for the tone and the film is a mess as a result.  And even worse, it’s not funny and the entire film feels like it’s mugging for the camera.

The Host

Universal / Released 7/9/13

From Stephenie Meyer, the creator of the worldwide phenomenon The Twilight Saga, comes this daring and romantic thriller based on The New York Times #1 bestselling novel. When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over humans’ bodies and erasing their minds, Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan) risks everything to protect the people she cares about most, proving that love can conquer all in a dangerous new world. The Host is a passionate and powerful epic love story co-starring Diane Kruger, Jake Abel, Frances Fisher, Max Irons and William Hurt.  Extras include featurettes, commentary and deleted scenes.

Last Word: Andrew Niccol I expected so much more from you.

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