DVD releases June 23rd ON REVIEW

Pink Panther 2 - C+ (Wait for It)
Pink Panther 2 can best be described as just another paycheck for Steve Martin. It continues to further itself from the classic movies starring Peter Sellers. This installment includes quite a star-studded cast, all of which display accents that are so bad it’s just irritating to listen to. It’s better than the first one starring Steve Martin, although that’s not necessarily much of a compliment. Although the movie is pretty poor overall, it does still have some good laughs, few and far between as they are. If you were a fan of the first one, or just Steve Martin in general, then you’ll likely find this one just as entertaining. Otherwise you may as well skip this one altogether.

Phoebe in Wonderland - A- (Gotta Rent)
In Phoebe in Wonderland, Elle Fanning proves that she is just as, if not more talented than her older sister Dakota. This heartfelt story is about a girl whose life becomes both enriched and haunted by the tale of Alice in Wonderland. Having to deal with a very vivid imagination, an unsupportive father and a mother who deep down wishes her daughter was different are just a few of the challenges plaguing Phoebe. The supporting cast, including Patricia Clarkson and Bill Pullman, also performs well. The writing is very similar to Finding Neverland, another live action film drawing upon a children’s classic in a very unique way. I would recommend this as it was one of the best “unknown” films of the year.

Confessions of a Shopaholic - B-(Wait for It)
Based upon the book of the same name by Sophia Kinsella, Confessions of a Shopaholic had a lot of promise towards the beginning of the movie, but became less appealing as it progressed. Sacha Baron Cohen’s comic brilliance is obviously rubbing off on his wife Isla Fisher, as she does a great job as the main character. That being said, there are many faults with the film. The main conflict of the story doesn’t seem like much of a conflict at all. There were too many pointless subplots, undeveloped characters (John Goodman for instance has very little screen time) and some very creepy mannequins. Along with that, during these economic times it’s hard to sympathize with a “shopaholic.” It’s a light-hearted mindless comedy with some laughs and is worth a watch despite its faults.

Inkheart - B (Gotta Rent)
Inkheart is basically an action-packed, more magical version of Bedtime Stories. Based off a book series, Inkheart is about a man that has a magical power, that when he reads from a book his words become reality. The main character is played by Brendan Fraser, which could be seen as both its greatest asset as well as its greatest weakness as he tends to have a love or hate relationship with people. Along with Fraser is Paul Bettany who does a great job as a mysterious, fire-juggling man trying to get back home. The story is just intriguing enough to make you want to know more about the characters and where they come from. It has many similarities between the fantasy movies of recent years and is worth a watch unless you are one of those that dislike Brendan Fraser.

The Code - B-(Wait for It)
The Code is one of the worst kinds of films, it’s forgettable. It doesn’t stand out as being either good or bad, it’s just a mediocre movie about thieves. It was actually quite disappointing as it carries with it quite a bit of star power in Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas. It was originally released under the name Thick as Thieves, however, the title was changed for the DVD release. It has a few fairly predictable twists and plotlines. It’s not an overly entertaining or gripping movie; however it’ll probably keep your attention until the end. My recommendation is that you check it out later in the week when there’s not much else to watch, otherwise just watch a good heist movie such as Entrapment or Italian Job.