Two DVDs about men facing crossroads top this week's releases.
"Larry Crowne," Grade B-: Tom Hanks takes on another "every guy" role with this story about a skilled UMart employee who gets fired because he doesn't have a college degree. He decides to enroll at community college so such an injustice can never happen again.
Hanks is a superb actor – and a competent director – but the boyish charms that have carried him through so many productions are beginning to show signs of aging. The supporting cast is so fun and interesting they make you want more of them.
"Larry Crowne" wants to be "Sleepless in Seattle" – but that was a different time and place. It would have been far more interesting to watch if Hanks and Roberts had pushed past their acting comfort zones and delivered characters with harder edges.
"Beginners," Grade B+: Mike Mills takes love head-on. The writer/director of "Beginners" wades into the complexity and diversity of love with this often touching, often painful story of multiple romances.
"Beginners" is the story of budding relationships (between a man and a woman, a man and a man, a man and a dog) and fully mature connections, like that between a father and son. Each has its own complexities, which Mills treats with deep respect.
Ewan McGregor is the perfect emotional center from which all these variations on the theme of love can radiate.
Mills' simplistic shooting style perfectly complements the story. He doesn't make the film look so much like a movie but creates a voyeuristic peek into these interesting lives. That sense of reality heightens all of the emotional moments.
The honesty of the performances and Mills' filmmaking makes "Beginners" a lovely tale of love.
Also on DVD Tuesday:
"Vietnam in HD": Footage of the war is presented in high definition.
"Whitechapel: The Ripper Returns": A modern- day killer is copying Jack the Ripper's murders.
"It Takes a Thief: The Complete Series": Robert Wagner stars in the series.
"SpongeBob SquarePants: Holidays with SpongeBob": Includes "Christmas," "Halloween" and "To Love a Patty."
"Mr. Sunshine: The Complete Series": An arena director (Matthew Perry) struggles with life.
"Bellflower": A story of young love gone awry.
"Sea Rex 3-D: Journey to a Prehistoric World": A visual trip 200 million years back in time.
"When Strangers Click: Five Stories from the Internet": Documentary about online dating.
"Mind of the Demon": A look at the life of dirt bike rider Larry Linkogle.
"Enemies of the People": Inside story of the Khmer Rouge.
"Being Human: The Complete First Season": Cable series about a vampire, ghost and werewolf.
"Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution": A two-disc set.
"Dora the Explorer: Celebrate With Dora": Includes "Dora's Christmas!"
"The Legacy Collection: Kirk Douglas": The three-disc set holds five feature films.
"My Fair Lady": The film is now on Blu-ray.
"The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls": Documentary about the world's only yodeling country singing and comedy lesbian twins.
"Farscape: The Complete Series Blu-ray Edition": All four seasons are on 20 Blu-ray discs.
"The Fabric of the Cosmos": PBS special that looks at perceptions of time and space.
TV and movie critic Rick Bentley can be reached at rbentley@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6355. Read his blog at fresnobeehive.com.
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