DVD Reviews: 'Zombieland' and More

Garrett Conti - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

'Zombieland' a Vastly Entertaining Buddy Comedy

'Zombieland' (Sony Pictures)

It's certainly no secret that vampires and zombies seem to be hot subjects these days for directors of any genre. The undead and creatures of the night can be found in comedies, thrillers and, of course, horror films. When done with originality, it's not a bad thing. That's the case with director Ruben Fleischer's "Zombieland," a vastly entertaining buddy comedy that's, above all else, fun. The film follows the fearful and timid Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) and tough guy Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) as they try to find their way in a world that has been devasted by an outbreak that turns folks into zombies. Along the way, they run into Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), and make their way to a rumored safe zone. For viewers who fell in love with the 2004 zombie hit "Shaun of the Dead," this is right in that wheelhouse. "Zombieland," however, takes a different direction by mixing some mighty doses of action and an unforgettable cameo that can be described only as gut busting. In addition to a gratifying story line, Fleischer, making his feature-length debut, throws in some cleverly stylized elements that add punch to a delightfully agile motion picture. Some decent special features are worth checking out after the film, including two cool extras that explore the production of the film and the settings. Deleted scenes, commentary, and some other odds and ends also are available. Additional extras are available on Blu-ray discs. R; 2009.

3 Stars (out of four)

'Amelia' (20th Century Fox)

Hilary Swank gives a memorable performance in "Amelia," but Swank is the only reason to invest time into this Amelia Earhart biopic that fails to take flight. Directed by Mira Nair, "Amelia" touches on the Queen of the Air's break into the annals of aviation history and her relentless charge toward making that flight around the world. In between Earhart's time in the cockpit, the viewer is treated to her romantic life, which included her marriage to George Putnam (Richard Gere) and her affair with plane pioneer Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor). One of the film's problems stem from the feature's 111-minute runtime. At this length, the film feels rushed and misses out on key details. Its choppy presentation also points to poor editing. More importantly, the film skimps on the emotional angles of Earhart's personal life and her struggle as a female pilot. It's the details and idiosyncrasies that separate good biopics from the forgettable ones, and "Amelia" fails to capitalize. However, the film packs in some excellent special features, including old news video clips of Earhart's adventures. Also on board are two featurettes, one that examines Earhart's impact on women today and another that covers the making of the film. Deleted scenes also are available. PG; 2009.

1.5 Stars

'Love Happens' (Universal Pictures)

This film, which blends romance, drama and comedy, is as bad as its title. Starring Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston -- the queen of dismissive love stories -- "Love Happens" is one of those features manufactured for emotional outpouring. The film is entirely formulaic and predictable, and the biggest letdown is the lack of chemistry between the two leads. Directed by Brandon Camp, "Love Happens" doesn't even give Eckhart and Aniston a chance to find their stride. The picture follows a self-help guy named Burke (Eckhart) who helps folks who have lost people close to them. Burke got on this trail after his wife died in a car accident, and he's failed to confront his own issues. So, he masks his pain by helping others. In Seattle -- where his wife died -- for a conference, he meets a beautiful florist named Eloise (Aniston) who helps him get back in touch with his feelings. Also, in quite the curveball (sarcasm), they fall in love. Special features for "Love Happens" are weak, as well. Commentary, deleted scenes and a lousy look at how visual effects were used are the extras. PG-13; 2009.

1 Star

'More Than A Game' (Lionsgate)

NBA superstar LeBron James might be the face of this under-the-radar documentary from first-time director Kristopher Belman, but teamwork and friendship take center stage in this coming-of-age picture. Belman, who began this project for a college class, followed Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary High School's boys basketball team during James' tenure. The flick explores the relationship formed among James, Dru Joyce III, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee, four players who came up playing together as children before ascending to incredible heights together at the Akron high school. Also in the mix is Joyce's father, a guiding force for the team and another friend -- Romeo Travis -- who joined the group in high school. Sure, there's plenty of basketball action here, but the film really finds its stride in delving into the friendships made over time, and the unbreakable bonds that stayed strong under some unprecedented circumstances. "More Than A Game" isn't as emotionally charging as the 1994 documentary "Hoop Dreams," but it's a remarkable achievement for Belman, who gives viewers an insider's look into one of the greatest high school teams ever -- lead by one of the best players on the planet -- and their incredible journey from childhood into a fast-approaching adulthood. A making-of featurette gives viewers an idea of how the documentary came together. Additional featurettes explore the music in the film and an unnecessary look at sports psychology. PG; 2009.

3.5 Stars

'The House of The Devil' (MPI/Dark Sky Films)

Finding a horror movie that forces viewers to continually analyze tiny sounds around the house or double check the locks is almost an impossibility these days. Unfortunately, filmmakers have settled for gore instead of suspense. Perhaps that's why director Ti West's "The House of the Devil" is so welcome. The film is a throwback to horror flicks of the late 1970s and early '80s with its low-scale feel and a kind of crawling suspense that takes hold of the viewer and doesn't let go until the credits roll. It's also a nod to the occult fascination that gripped plenty of people in the '80s. "The House of the Devil" follows a young college student (Jocelin Donahue) who picks up a babysitting job out in the rural part of town in a big creaky house. After explores the surroundings, she realizes that the people who hired her weren't just looking for someone to watch the house. This is undoubtedly one of the scariest movies to emerge in years, and it should excite fans of scary movies, feeding an appetite that's been longing for quite some time. A couple of OK featurettes accompany the film, along with deleted scenes. R; 2009.

3.5 Stars

'New York, I Love You' (Vivendi Entertainment)

Just how special is New York City? Well, people seem to fall in love there all the time. That seems to be the underlying theme in this picture that falls short in finding romance. Essentially, the film inspired by the 2006 work "Paris, je t'aime" ("Paris, I Love You") gives the viewer multiple segments in capturing budding and strong relationships in the Big Apple, but skimps on the details. Sure, the sights and sounds of the city are nice and the talented ensemble cast -- featuring Natalie Portman, Ethan Hawke, Orlando Bloom, Christina Ricci, Robin Wright Penn, Chris Cooper, James Caan and Bradley Cooper -- is worth mentioning, but in the end, "New York, I Love You" isn't really worth getting to know. Extras include two additional segments, including an overly artsy work written and directed by Scarlett Johansson, and a couple of other forgettable features. R; 2009;

1.5 Stars

Other Movie Releases:

--"The Wolfman" (Lon Chaney Jr., 1941, NR, Universal Legacy Series): Just in time for the upcoming release of a newer version of "The Wolfman" is the original starring Chaney Jr. which stands the test of time. This two-disc version includes a mind-blowing collection of special features that explore the many angles of the 1941 motion picture, its star and its tie to modern-day horror films. Additionally, the audio and video is even better this time around. Extras.

--"The James Dean Story: Racing with Destiny" (Casper Van Dien, 2009, PG-13, MPI Home Video): James Dean, the original rebel, gets a new look in this feature film about his life in Hollywood and his untimely death. See how the star of cinematic classics such as "Rebel Without A Cause" and "Giant" tore through Hollywood before dying in a car accident. Extras.

--"Planet Hulk" (Animated feature, 2009, NR, Lionsgate): With artwork by Alex Ross, the feature follows the legendary Marvel Comics hero through his exile from Earth to the planet of Sakaar, where he gains fame as a gladiator. Extras.

--"Air Bud: Golden Receiver" (Tim Conway, 1998, G, Disney Pictures),

Other TV Releases:

--"Beverly Hills 90210: The Ninth Season": Six discs, 26 episodes, no extras, Paramount/CBS DVD.

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