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Taking a look ahead at the week's DVD releases is always dicey for your wallet. Nearly every week, there's a disc that would fit nicely into any size collection. When it comes time to decide what to buy, there are really two determining factors: how much you love the content and the quality of the extra features on the disc. The unreleased studio (film and television) back catalogue means that every week there's likely something for you.

For people wondering what it's like to get a backrub from Paris Hilton: Happy Endings (2005)

One of the main selling points that I remember from this movie's theatrical release is that Tom Arnold is in the movie and doesn't suck. Which is novel. That, and the realization that the only time Lisa Kudrow is not wildly overrated as an actress is in Don Roos' films. Roos previously directed The Opposite of Sex and Bounce, films that are slightly less twisty plot-wise than Happy Endings, which has something to do with gay men, lesbians, incest, and secret love children. Also featured in the film are Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jesse Bradford, Steve Coogan, Laura Dern, Jason Ritter and Bobby Cannavale. It's a nice cast and, given Roos' history, is probably worth checking out. Included on the DVD are an audio commentary with Roos, Kudrow, and Clark Mathis; a making-of featurette; deleted scenes; outtakes and other features.

For everyone wishing over-the-top Ben Stiller was even more animated: Madagascar (Widescreen) (2005)

I only included this disc because it features the "first-ever Penguin Commentary", a concept which admittedly makes me almost chuckle and leads me to wonder if this feature will be on the March of the Penguins DVD as a way to give the penguins a chance to confirm whether or not they are homosexuals. In addition to the Penguin Commentary, the disc features featurettes on the making-of the movie and games.

See, this is where all the confusion about Kate Hudson's weight is coming from: The Skeleton Key (Widescreen) (2005)

Boasting a cast that, for the most part, deserves better, The Skeleton Key was another attempt at making Kate Hudson into a viable star. While the movie made nearly $50 million at the box office, it wasn't on Hudson's star power. It might be time to stick with the ethereal supporting roles. Co-stars John Hurt, Peter Sarsgaard and Gena Rowlands probably deserve better, so maybe the DVD will help cast the whole film in a slightly better light. Included on the disc are deleted scenes; a making-of featurette; featurettes on voodoo/hoodoo, gumbo, blues, plantation life, casting and more. Also included is an audio commentary by director Iain Softley.

For needing two discs to adequately catalog Jessica Biel: Stealth (2-Disc Widescreen Special Edition) (2005)

Now, like most men, I find Jessica Biel to be extremely attractive. Also like most men, I like movies where things explode. However, I have no interest in purchasing Stealth on DVD. No matter that the movie stars Biel, Josh Lucas and a pre-Oscar Jamie Foxx. Maybe it's just me, but movies about robot planes that are directed by the man responsible for Vin Diesel's brief popularity just don't sound appealing to me. All that said, the DVD set is actually pretty impressive. Included on the two-disc set are a featurette on music; a documentary on "harnessing speed; a music video; multi-angle features on two scenes; and "scene deconstructions" on two scenes.

For NBC executives who are still looking for a good comedy: Scrubs: The Complete Second Season (3-DVD Set) (2002)

I find it amazing that the same NBC executives who have been moaning about the lack of a great comedy to build around also held Scrubs this season until mid-year. Prior to the emergence of My Name Is Earl and The Office, the dearth of comedic quality on NBC was jarring. A network that had once dominated Thursdays with a run that included The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers, Seinfeld, Frasier and Friends has been relying on Will & Grace's anemic revolving guest stars to keep them alive while the network focused on reality shows. Over the past few months, as the death swoon of the reality craze continued and the network struggled to find programming to fill space, they held Scrubs back. Suddenly, NBC is in the position of having two highly rated and well-reviewed comedies (Earl and The Office) on Tuesday nights, a failing spinoff (Joey) and an outgoing tentpole (Will & Grace) on Thursday nights, and a soon-to-be-canceled reality series clogging the schedule (Martha Stewart). The imminent return of Scrubs will help the network pick up a bit more steam, but think about this: Arrested Development is soon to be a free agent. If NBC is smart enough to pick it up, they would have four of the most unique and funny television comedies on the air and could spread them out over their traditional comedy nights of Tuesday and Thursday.

The second season of Scrubs hones the show's fine art to a science, introducing such concepts as Tasty Coma Wife, a barbershop quartet version of the Charles in Charge theme song and Johnny the Tackling Alzheimer's Patient. Included on the three-disc set are features on John C. McGinley; a featurette on the behind-the-scenes jokes and stories on set; a featurette on musical choices for Scrubs; outtakes; deleted scenes; insights into the show's dream sequences; and audio commentaries with the cast and creators. It's a terrific set and the DVD Pick of the Week.

November 15, 2005

Almost Normal (2005)
Bad News Ballers (2004)
A Bear Named Winnie (2004)
The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)
Beef III (2005)
Bomb the System (2002)
Cet Amour-La (2001)
Charmed: The Complete Third Season (6-DVD Set) (2000)
Citizen Verdict (2003)
The Cradle Will Fall (2004)
Easy Sex (2003)
The Edukators (2004)
Friends: The Complete Tenth Season (4-DVD Set) (2003)
Happy Endings (2005)
Hard Promises (1992)
The Heavenly Kid (1985)
Madagascar (Full Frame) (2005)
Madagascar (Widescreen) (2005)
Murder One: The Complete Second Season (5-DVD Set) (1996)
Newsfront (1978)
O.C. and Stiggs (1987)
Oklahoma! (50th Anniversary Edition) (1955)
Rikky and Pete (1988)
Scrubs: The Complete Second Season (3-DVD Set) (2002)
Second Best (2004)
The Skeleton Key (Full Frame) (2005)
The Skeleton Key (Widescreen) (2005)
Stargate Atlantis: Season 1 (5-DVD Set) (2004)
State Fair (60th Anniversary Edition) (1945)
Stealth (2-Disc Full Frame Special Edition) (2005)
Stealth (2-Disc Widescreen Special Edition) (2005)
That '70s Show: Season Three (4-DVD Set) (2000)
Tru Calling: The Complete Second Season (2-DVD Set) (20054)
Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price (2005)
Winx Club: The Power of Dragon Fire (2004)
A Yakuza in Love (1997)