Susan Granger’s DVD/VIDEO UPDATE for week of Friday, August 21:
For comedy: “Wedding Bros” with Dan Fogler, Brendan Sexton III and Zoe Lister-Jones delves into the zany world of wedding videography, where wild ‘n’ crazy brides and nervous grooms run amok. And Carrie Fisher’s made-for-TV movie, “These Old Broads,” reunites Shirley MacLaine, Joan Collins and Debbie Reynolds as three aging stars who attempt to revitalize their careers.
Michael Jackson’s “The Trial and Triumph of The King of Pop” was timed to ignite interest in the superstar’s highly anticipated European tour but now the 78-minute film serves as another memorial and upbeat view of his extraordinary talents and turbulent life.
Even if you’re intrigued by the horror genre, avoid Dennis Iliadis’ repugnant remake of Wes Craven’s 1972 “The Last House on the Left” with its excessive sexual violence and graphic gore, as two young women (Sara Paxton, Martha Macisaac) are captured and tormented by an escaped convict and his demented buddies.
Perfectly timed to ease the concerns of both kids and parents, “LeapFrog: Let’s Go to School” finds Tad and Lilly preparing for the first day of class, learning phonics, counting, days of the week and animals. And – whether learning to speak for the first time or facing delayed speech and language development – children have an invaluable new tool to start talking with the “Kidwinks” inter-active development series, created by a speech pathologist, a music therapist and an art therapist.
PICKS OF THE WEEK – aimed at ‘tween girls: “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” stars Miley Cyrus as Miley Stewart and her pop-star alter-ego, Hannah Montana. The dramatic dilemma that Miley/Hannah faces is her lack of time for friends and family, so her dad (Billy Ray Cyrus) totes her back to Crowley’s Corners, Tennessee, for a much-needed reality check and celebrity ‘detox’ on her grandma’s farm. For adults, “The Golden Boys” stars Rip Torn, Bruce Dern and David Carradine as retired sea captains on Cape Cod, circa 1905. Filled with magical moments, it’s a quaint, high-spirited romp as they meet strong-willed Mariel Hemingway in their search for a First Mate to care for them.