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Welcome to How to Spend $20, BOP’s look at the latest Blu-ray discs and DVDs to hit stores nationwide. This week: Ben Affleck gets in a shootout at Fenway, Will Ferrell takes it easy and Steve Carell sets his sights on the moon.

Pick of the Week

For people who didn’t know Blake Lively is actually a reputable actress: The Town

As the heading indicates, I was pleasantly surprised by Blake Lively’s star-turn as Jeremy Renner’s drugged out sister in The Town. I don’t have much experience with her anyway, and going in stereotyped her as yet another pretty face in Hollywood who caught her big break because of her mane of blonde hair (and some other things). Her performance doesn’t make me want to start hacking away at all four seasons of Gossip Girl or anything, but it does put her more on my radar when her next cinematic offering comes ‘round (Green Lantern?)

As for The Town itself… yes. I totally dug the movie for many reasons. It fails as, say, a gritty, complex crime drama. But that’s okay because I don’t think it wants to be that. The Town is smart, but not overtly so. And it contains many instances of hilarity – the nun getups you’ll at least know from the trailer, Jon Hamm’s caricature-inspired character, and so on – that the action and moments of tragedy feel rather balanced by lighter fare.

Disc includes: N/A

For people who practice the “desk pop”: The Other Guys (Unrated)

Since SNL – so, from the day Will Ferrell became a household name – I’ve been a fan of his brash and obnoxious brand of humor. So many times, everything from freakish fashionoid Mugatu on Zoolander to that hyper-sensitive, “I drive a Dodge Stratus!” dad on the late-night staple to that uber-popular Landlord video, Ferrell has garnered mostly laughs for being oh-so-good at insufferably shouting at other people. I mean, this sketch really has no substance to it at all, save for Will losing his cool when his off-screen kids won’t get off the shed. One way to know you can bring the funny, I think, is when a team of writers can craft a five-minute sketch around you and a four-word idea.

Anyway, as much as I enjoy him, a movie like The Other Guys features a version of Will Ferrell that’s uncharacteristically toned down (but welcomed!). In it, Will plays a cool as a cucumber detective who’s dangerously undangerous. He’s about as nerdy as an Apple Genius and as virginal to life experience as Andy Stitzer is to sex. When an opportunity at work arises for the two of them to step up, their personalities totally clash and it works. Ferrell and Wahlberg got chemistry.





Just don’t expect much on the story end of things. This one’s all comedy and your typical let’s stop the greedy billionaire looking to make even more money plot.

Disc includes: Theatrical and unrated versions of the film, deleted and extended scenes, Bed, Bath & Way Beyond featurette, Crash and Burn featurette, Line-O-Rama, “Pimps Don’t Cry” music video, A “mom-umentary” (docu with Will Ferrell, Chris Henchy and Adam McKay’s mothers)

For people who love minions: Despicable Me

Despicable Me was a super success for Illumination Entertainment and Universal Animation Studios. Next to Curious George, Universal’s only other big project was 2008’s The Tale of Despereaux. Then, to make a movie like Despicable Me that earns more than half a billion dollars worldwide this early is, I think, kind of a big deal. Of course coming from a studio as rich as Universal helps on the budget side of things.

Despicable Me is Steve Carell and some of his friends in an animated comedy about two evildoers who constantly one-up each other. When Gru (Carell) learns that his nemesis stole, you know, an Egyptian Pyramid, he decides to exact revenge by taking the moon.

Disc includes: Three mini-movies, The World of Despicable Me featurette, Despicable Beats featurette, Gru’s Rocket Builder featurette, Miss Hattie’s Top Secret Cookie Recipes featurette, audio commentary, The Voices of Despicable Me featurette, Super Silly Fun Land featurette

December 14, 2010

Blu-ray
24: Season 8
The A-Team
The Black Pirate (Deluxe Edition)
Cyrus
Dear Mr. Gacy
Despicable Me
Hard-Boiled
Harsh Times
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Leona Lewis: Labyrinth Tour Live at the 02
Micmacs
Mother and Child
Nanny McPhee Returns
The Nature of Existence
The Other Guys
Queens Blade Collection
Skiing Everest
True Grit
WWE: Summerslam 2010
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
The Town

DVD
2010 World Series (Collector's Edition)
24: Season 8
24: Season One (Special Edition)
24: The Complete Series (Set)
The A-Team
Army Wives: The Complete Fourth Season
The Black Pirate (Deluxe Edition)
Coach: The Fourth Season
Cyrus
Despicable Me
Hawaii Five-O: The Tenth Season
The IT Crowd: The Complete Fourth Season
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Leave It To Beaver: Season 5
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
Nanny McPhee Returns
The Nature of Existence (Special Edition)
The Other Guys (Unrated)
The Town
Trouble In Mind (Special Edition)