By Jay BobbinTribune Media Services
“THE TOURIST”: The star power and the scenery are the main attractions of this romantic adventure with definite echoes of “North by Northwest.” Johnny Depp plays a bookish American who’s visiting Europe when his path crosses that of an attractive mystery woman (Angelina Jolie). She quickly draws him into a dangerous case of mistaken identity that plays out in such cities as Paris and Venice. The supporting cast includes Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton and Rufus Sewell. DVD extras: two “making-of” documentaries; audio commentary by director Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck; outtakes; alternate title sequences. *** (PG-13: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray)
“HOW DO YOU KNOW”: Writer-director James L. Brooks isn’t as close to the top of his game here as he was with “Terms of Endearment” and ”Broadcast News,” but he assembles a winning cast for the tale of an athlete (Reese Witherspoon) who suddenly finds herself with some big choices to make. The most prominent ones are two suitors, one (Owen Wilson) a baseball star and the other (Paul Rudd) a businessman who’s in some deep legal trouble. Brooks movie regular Jack Nicholson also stars as Rudd’s father. DVD extras: “making-of” documentary; audio commentary on selected scenes by Brooks and Wilson; deleted scenes; outtakes. ** (PG-13: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray)
“YOGI BEAR”: The long-beloved Hanna-Barbera character who’s “smarter than the average bear” gets computer-animated treatment in this enjoyable feature, with Dan Aykroyd voicing Yogi and Justin Timberlake heard as loyal companion Boo-Boo. They have new adventures in Jellystone Park, which they try to save from being shuttered on its 100th anniversary by assisting Ranger Smith (played by Tom Cavanagh). Anna Faris also stars. DVD extras: “Jellystone Jewels”; “Yogi Bear Mashup.” *** (PG: AS) (Also on Blu-ray)
“SKYLINE”: Los Angeles is the initial target of an alien invasion of Earth in this sci-fi tale, which pretty much meets its mark in the visual department, even if the overall plot is fairly thin. Familiar television faces include Eric Balfour (“Haven”), David Zayas (“Dexter”), Donald Faison (“Scrubs”) and Brittany Daniel (“The Game”) playing humans trying to fight back. DVD extras: theatrical trailer; audio commentary with directors Greg and Colin Strause, producer and co-writer Liam O’Donnell, and co-writer Joshua Cordes; deleted, extended and alternate scenes. ** (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray)
“SCARECROW AND MRS. KING: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON”: Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner got a healthy five-year run out of their CBS comedy-espionage series in the 1980s, and in this round, divorcee Amanda King (Jackson) becomes a bit more proficient as an amateur spy under the tutelage of secret agent Lee Stetson (Boxleitner). Her mother (Beverly Garland) and sons (Paul Stout, Greg Morton) have no idea of the secret life she’s leading. Martha Smith and Mel Stewart play other comrades at the so-called “Agency.” *** (Not rated: AS, V)
“DARK FIELDS”: One of the last projects made by the late David Carradine when its title was “The Rain,” this horror tale casts him as one of the residents of a farming town with a haunted history. Literally parched more than 100 years earlier, the area became a site for the sacrifice of children in exchange for desperately needed rainfall. Now a resulting curse has a lethal effect on the populace. Dee Wallace Stone (“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”) and Richard Lynch are among the other acting veterans in the cast. DVD extras: audio commentary by director and co-writer Douglas Schulze; deleted scenes; behind-the-scenes footage; storyboards. ** (R: N, P, GV)
COMING SOON: “THE KING’S SPEECH” (April 19): Colin Firth had a big run on the film award circuit for his portrayal of King George VI, whose speaking problem was treated by an unconventional therapist (Geoffrey Rush). (R: AS, P)
FAMILY-VIEWING GUIDE KEY: AS, adult situations; N, nudity; P, profanity; V, violence; GV, particularly graphic violence.
(c)2011 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
March 27, 2011 – April 9, 2011 Edition
