How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
August 11, 2009
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who are wondering when Beth Cooper comes into play: I Love You, Man
The year's funniest comedy (so far) was surprisingly not a product of Judd Apatow – though many of his protégés have a spot in the film. If we skip over The Hangover, which is one of the biggest success stories to come out of movie comedy not just this decade, but maybe ever, I Love You, Man would take the year's cake. The movie, which maintains a fresh 82% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, earned over $90 million at the worldwide box office and validated the star power of its two male leads: Paul Rudd and Jason Segel.
Rudd, who previously worked with Segel on Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, stars here as Greg Moton, who's set to get married to Shandi Dawson (Rashida Jones). But before they can get married, Greg needs to find the perfect best man through a series of "man dates" since he never got to know any men very well. Enter Dave Negal (Segel).
Disc includes: Deleted scenes; extended scenes; gag reel; The Making of I Love You, Man featurette; audio commentary
For people who think Zac Efron left the High School Musical franchise at the right time: 17 Again
If Matthew Perry had the opportunity to go back in time and look like whoever he wanted to while reliving his high school years, there's a good chance he would have chosen to look like Zac Efron. (Now there's a claim you can't say you've read on any other Web site).
And why wouldn't he? The kid blew up in a big way recently hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live, opening High School Musical 3 to big numbers and starring in 17 Again, a body transformation comedy that earned back three times its budget in the U.S. alone.
A modern take on '80s comedy staple Big, 17 Again is about a guy named Mike (Perry) who transforms into his 17-year-old self after spending a night reminiscing about the life he thinks he threw away. (Apparently being friends with Thomas Lennon and having a former relationship with Leslie Mann does not a happy man make). Now 17 a second time, Mike attempts to correct his former life, which included proposing to his knocked up girlfriend and abandoning a chance at – what else – a basketball scholarship.
Rumor has it Efron is legally bound to play basketball (and only basketball) in all of his pictures. Singing optional.
Disc includes: None
For people who have more money than they know what to do with: 90210: The First Season
The CW may not bring in big ratings, but it at least has a clear brand: Hire gorgeous people, arrange them in outrageous situations and... yeah, that's basically it.
Gossip Girl really got the ball rolling a couple of years ago in driving in young female numbers, and then 90210 further cemented the fact that urban shows like Everybody Hates Chris and The Game were no longer what the channel was interested in carrying. It's no wonder a Melrose Place update hits the CW airwaves on September 8th.
One of the most buzzed about shows when it premiered last fall, 90210 revolves around members of the Wilson family, along with other rich kids at West Beverly Hills High. Because they had nothing else better to do, former Beverly Hills 90210 stars, like Jennie Garth, Shannen Doherty, Tori Spelling and Joe E. Tata, appeared in a number of 90210's first season episodes. Even Jason Priestley stopped by to direct an April episode of the teen drama.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, A Day in the Life of Ryan Eggold featurette, Fitting In: The Fashion of 90210 featurette, The Music of 90210 featurette, Codes of Behavior featurette, Set Tours: The Manshion, The Peach Pit, West Beverly High, The Revival of a Classic: Making 90210 featurette
For people who know how to pronounce Francois Begaudeau correctly: The Class
Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival – the first French film to do so in more than two decades – The Class is a semi-autobiographical look at Francois Begaudeau's experiences as a middle school lit teacher in Paris' inner city. Begaudeau starred in the movie, as well as wrote the feature, which was adapted from a 2006 novel that – no surprise here – Begaudeau also penned.
The movie made the cut for Best Foreign Language Film at the 81st Academy Awards, but ultimately lost out to Departures (Japan). The flick faired better at the Independent Spirit Awards, where the movie earned Best Foreign Film.
Disc includes: Audio commentary, Making Of featurette
August 11, 2009
Blu-ray
17 Again
About Last Night...
Alien Trespass
Blue Thunder (Special Edition)
Borneo's Pygmy Elephants
Chaos
The Class
Cutthroat Island
Donkey X
Full Metal Panic: Second Raid Collection
I Love You, Man
Kingdom for the Dzanga Gorillas
The Ninth Gate
Replicant
Sea Monsters, A Prehistoric Adventure
See No Evil
St. Elmo's Fire
Starman
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Film Collection (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
DVD
17 Again
90210: The First Season
About Last Night...
Adam-12: Season Three
Alien Trespass
Are You Being Served Again: Complete Series 1-10 (Set)
Blue Thunder (Special Edition)
Chris Isaak: Greatest Hits Live
The Class
D.O.A. (30th Anniversary Edition)
Dead Homiez (15th Anniversary Edition)
Designing Women: The Complete Second Season
Donkey X
Grindhouse Girls of the 1970s Collection
Havin' a Beer with Mike: Hacksaw Jim Duggan (Collector's Edition)
Hey, Abbott (Limited Edition)
I Love You, Man
Led Zeppelin: Complete Rock Case Studies (Includes Music CD)
Moonwalking: The True Story of Michael Jackson (Includes Book)
Pink: A Life Less Ordinary Unauthorized
Pulling: The Complete Second Season
The Rage
Road Trip: Beer Pong
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Film Collection (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)