This week's new DVD releases include the good, the bad and the Elmo.
-"Drop Dead Diva: The Complete Second Season," Grade B: This Lifetime offering continues to be one of television's best-kept secrets.
Brooke Elliott turns in a masterful performance in this series about a superficial beauty who dies and gets sent back to Earth to inhabit the plus-size body of female attorney Jane Bingum (Elliott).
It's avoided being a weekly soap box for weight issues and deals more with affairs of the heart and the courtroom.
Guest stars in the second season include Paula Abdul, Vivica A. Fox, Rosie O'Donnell and Natasha Henstridge.
-"Green Hornet," Grade F: The combination of a hackneyed script, ludicrous casting and the wrong director make this the worst movie in the super hero genre since the 1986 mega turkey "Howard the Duck."
Seth Rogen doesn't have the presence to make him believable as the masked man, and he lacks the charisma to make his bad-boy scenes work. Robert Downey Jr. can get away with playing Tony Stark as a jerk in "Iron Man" because he's got enough charm to make you like him despite his actions. Rogen is no Robert Downey Jr.
Jay Chou's performance is the only good thing about the movie. He's got the charm and skills to make Kato the standout character. Too bad this good performance is like finding a rose growing in a pile of manure.
-"Sesame Street: Elmo's Travel Songs & Games," Grade B: As always, this DVD combines entertainment with education.
Elmo and Abby go to the zoo with Elmo's Dad and to help pass the time, they play travel games featuring the alphabet, counting, shapes and rhyming. There are also tips about why children should buckle up in the car and go to the bathroom before the trip starts.
Also new on DVD this week:
"Dora the Explorer: It's Haircut Day!": Boots gets his first haircut.
"Boy Meets World: The Complete Fifth Season": Ben Savage TV series.
"From Prada to Nada": Two sisters must deal with a very different lifestyle after they lose all their money. Camilla Belle stars.
"Identity": Keeley Hawes and Aidan Gillen star in this British series about an elite police team that investigates identity theft.
"The Super Hero Squad Show Volume 4": Animated adventures of Iron Man, Thor and other Marvel heroes.
"The PJs: Season 1": Animated series from Eddie Murphy.
"According to Jim: The Complete Third Season": Jim Belushi stars in this family comedy.
"The Dilemma": A man (Vince Vaughn) tries to help his best friend (Kevin James) whose wife is cheating on him.
"Penn & Teller: BS! The Complete 8th Season": The pair look at the absurdities of the world.
"Melrose Place: Sixth Season, Volume 1": Heather Locklear stars in this series about young adults who live in a trendy apartment complex.
"Murdoch Mysteries, Season 3": Detective Murdoch uses revolutionary forensic techniques to solve crimes in Victorian-era Toronto.
"Wubbzy Saves The Day": Wubbzy comes to the rescue with special features including a printable growth chart.
"Thoroughbred: Born to Run": A look at Aqueduct Racetrack's eclectic community of grooms.
"40 Odd Years": Features songs from throughout Loudon Wainwright's career.
-"Drop Dead Diva: The Complete Second Season," Grade B: This Lifetime offering continues to be one of television's best-kept secrets.
Brooke Elliott turns in a masterful performance in this series about a superficial beauty who dies and gets sent back to Earth to inhabit the plus-size body of female attorney Jane Bingum (Elliott).
It's avoided being a weekly soap box for weight issues and deals more with affairs of the heart and the courtroom.
Guest stars in the second season include Paula Abdul, Vivica A. Fox, Rosie O'Donnell and Natasha Henstridge.
-"Green Hornet," Grade F: The combination of a hackneyed script, ludicrous casting and the wrong director make this the worst movie in the super hero genre since the 1986 mega turkey "Howard the Duck."
Seth Rogen doesn't have the presence to make him believable as the masked man, and he lacks the charisma to make his bad-boy scenes work. Robert Downey Jr. can get away with playing Tony Stark as a jerk in "Iron Man" because he's got enough charm to make you like him despite his actions. Rogen is no Robert Downey Jr.
Jay Chou's performance is the only good thing about the movie. He's got the charm and skills to make Kato the standout character. Too bad this good performance is like finding a rose growing in a pile of manure.
-"Sesame Street: Elmo's Travel Songs & Games," Grade B: As always, this DVD combines entertainment with education.
Elmo and Abby go to the zoo with Elmo's Dad and to help pass the time, they play travel games featuring the alphabet, counting, shapes and rhyming. There are also tips about why children should buckle up in the car and go to the bathroom before the trip starts.
Also new on DVD this week:
"Dora the Explorer: It's Haircut Day!": Boots gets his first haircut.
"Boy Meets World: The Complete Fifth Season": Ben Savage TV series.
"From Prada to Nada": Two sisters must deal with a very different lifestyle after they lose all their money. Camilla Belle stars.
"Identity": Keeley Hawes and Aidan Gillen star in this British series about an elite police team that investigates identity theft.
"The Super Hero Squad Show Volume 4": Animated adventures of Iron Man, Thor and other Marvel heroes.
"The PJs: Season 1": Animated series from Eddie Murphy.
"According to Jim: The Complete Third Season": Jim Belushi stars in this family comedy.
"The Dilemma": A man (Vince Vaughn) tries to help his best friend (Kevin James) whose wife is cheating on him.
"Penn & Teller: BS! The Complete 8th Season": The pair look at the absurdities of the world.
"Melrose Place: Sixth Season, Volume 1": Heather Locklear stars in this series about young adults who live in a trendy apartment complex.
"Murdoch Mysteries, Season 3": Detective Murdoch uses revolutionary forensic techniques to solve crimes in Victorian-era Toronto.
"Thoroughbred: Born to Run": A look at Aqueduct Racetrack's eclectic community of grooms.
"40 Odd Years": Features songs from throughout Loudon Wainwright's career.
