Dramedies are pretty commonplace this day and age. They are perhaps, the best genre to imitate real life since life is usually a crazy blend of drama and comedy. The two genres can mesh either beautifully or tragically. Best Man Down is a perfect example of this phenomenon and while it doesn’t really know whether it’s comedy or drama, that is just the point and the results are actually pretty solid.
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Monsters University
In 2001, audiences young and old were treated to a visual and artistic masterpiece. That masterpiece of course was Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., one of the film studio’s greatest computer-animated achievements. Not only did it feature some of the most gorgeous animation work ever put on screen but it told a story that was heartwarming, hilarious and action-packed. Monsters University is a prequel do the 2001 animation juggernaut and the results are actually surprisingly somewhat mixed.
Latino Americans
When it comes to documentary programming, PBS is among the industry’s leading channels. They continually explore interesting and important topics in meaningful and engaging ways. Latino Americans is yet another example of why PBS is king when it comes to documentary filmmaking. With six episodes spread out over two discs, Latino Americans certainly manages to educate and enlighten its viewers.
Scenic Route
Josh Duhamel has made a career playing studly leading men. From Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! to Las Vegas to the Transformers films, the man certainly knows how to own the screen and make women and sometimes men swoon. His latest film Scenic Route is actually a major detour from his standard beefy hero roles. It is a psychological thriller which tests the actor’s abilities in a truly powerful way.
Unfinished Song
Romantic dramedies featuring older leading actors are not very commonplace. Usually, younger actors star in such lighthearted vehicles. Well, Unfinished Song goes a bit against the norm and stars Terence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave, two thespians in their mid-seventies. It is a film about love, hope and the power of song.
The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition
1989 marked the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, an era of animated films which focused on adapting well-known stories and enhancing them with state-of-the-art animation, a gorgeous soundtrack and all-star voice talent. The Little Mermaid was the first film in this era and Disney continued to follow this trend up until 1999’s Tarzan. The film went on to win numerous awards and the hearts of not only children but adults alike. The Little Mermaid is a beautiful film and it’s legacy lives on in this dazzling Blu-ray set.
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Before Comedy Central began roasting celebrities mercilessly on stage, entertainer Dean Martin did it on a pretty regular basis. Starting in 1974 and ending in 1984, the alcoholic singer/actor hosted The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts and with each special, he along with other dais members ripped into a well-known celebrity for about an hour. The hour would be a highly amusing one and would be remembered for years to come by not only the roastee but by the audience viewing said roasting.
Perry Mason: The Ninth and Final Season, Vol. 2
In 1957, the overly dramatic legal drama Perry Mason premiered on CBS. In it, Raymond Burr played the titular role for nine seasons and he even appeared in the role for 26 made-for-TV films after the show’s run. 1966 was the final year for the Perry Mason series and fans can now rejoice as they complete their DVD collection with season 9: volume 2.
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A Company Man
It’s very hard this day and age to find an action-thriller that has heart. South Korean import A Company Man tries very hard but sadly, falls short. It is a film with cool martial arts moves, imaginative gun battles and attractive actors. These are the highlights but unfortunately, the story and script seem all too familiar and just not worthwhile.
Scary Movie 5
So, apparently spoof films are still being made. There was a huge surge of them in the early to mid 2000s and this was sadly a case of quantity over quality. The Scary Movie franchise lampooned horror films of the late 90s and on and after five installments, they haven’t exactly gotten better, in fact they’ve gotten worse. Scary Movie 5 is the latest and hopefully, the last piece of dreck.
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