This week’s home video crop is led by two family friendly offerings. One is an inspirational, live-action movie based on a true story. The other is a big-budget, animated feature bolstered by a star-studded voice cast.

Rio

3 stars (out of four)
Rated G
20th Century Fox
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

Director Carlos Saldanha was a major creative force in each of 20th Century Fox’s “Ice Age” movies, but with “Rio” he has abandoned prehistoric times and snow drifts for the warmth and beauty of present-day Brazil. The setting allows for colorful and gorgeous visuals, but the film has more going for it than pretty pictures.

Most importantly, it has a well-drawn central character in the form of Blu, a baby Macaw who is swept away from his Brazilian homeland and shipped to America where he is supposed to land in a pet store. Before that can happen, an accident leaves him stranded in Minnesota where a loving woman named Linda takes him in.

Years later, Linda learns that Blu is the last male of his species, and a handsome ornithologist named Tulio persuades her to travel to Brazil so Blu can be introduced to the sole remaining female, a feisty, free-spirited Macaw named Jewel. The idea is for them to mate and keep their species alive, but before that can happen they are kidnapped by smugglers.

At this point, “Rio” focuses on Blu’s attempts to escape and return to Linda despite the fact that his domesticated upbringing has left him ill-equipped for life outside a cage. We’ve seen elements of the plotting in other animated features, most notably “Finding Nemo” and “Madagascar,” so “Rio” doesn’t get high marks for originality. It does, however, score well for execution.

The voice cast – including Jesse Eisenberg as Blu, Anne Hathaway as Jewel, Lesley Mann as Linda and Tracy Morgan as an eternally drooling bulldog – is a dream. Each player gives his/her character a depth and spirit, making it easy to invest in the story, despite its predictability. Also, Saldanha does a reasonably good job balancing character development and pacing. There are a few gratuitous musical numbers that do little but show off the talent of the voice cast, but that’s a minor complaint, especially since these folks have plenty of talent to share.

DVD extras include a deleted scene, several making-of features and an interactive bit that lets youngsters dance with their favorite characters.

Soul Surfer

2½ stars
Rated PG for an intense accident sequence and some thematic material
Sony
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

In 1986’s “Top Gun,” Tom Cruise turned heads with his portrayal of a Navy fighter pilot who struggles to return to the air after a traumatic crash. Apparently, it was a plot he identified with because four years later, in “Days of Thunder,” he played a racecar driver who goes into shock after a terrifying accident.

These films are worth a mention because they’re basically a mirror image of “Soul Surfer,” a truth-based drama about professional surfer Bethany Hamilton. In 2003, when she was just a teen, Hamilton lost her left arm in an attack by a 14-foot tiger shark. A month later, she was back in the water figuring out how to surf, minus the limb.

According to the movie, she never feared a return to the ocean. In fact, the film argues that getting back on a board and learning how to surf one-armed was Bethany’s top priority. Her story is inspiring, and director Sean McNamara delivers it in heavy handed yet reasonably appealing fashion.

Bethany is portrayed likably by AnnaSophia Robb, a talented, young actress who is best known for appearances in “Race to Witch Mountain” and “Bridge to Terabithia.” She also gets strong support from Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt, who play Bethany’s parents, Tom and Cheri Hamilton.

Because the film is meant as a family affair, the shark attack is tame, with the beast shown for only a moment and most of the screen time devoted to the aftermath. McNamara deserves credit for this approach, as it not only allows youngsters to watch the movie (it received a PG), it demonstrates how one sudden, unpredictable event can change a person’s life.

Where “Soul Surfer” fails is in its overt depiction of spirituality. There’s nothing wrong with a faith-based film with a Christian worldview, but the most skillful of these acknowledge the intelligence of the audience rather than bashing it over the head with theology. “Soul Surfer” takes a more direct approach, actually setting several scenes in church and allowing characters to recite scripture.

This doesn’t ruin the movie, but it does push it away from more subtle Christian-themed efforts, like “The Chronicles of Narnia” franchise. The result is a film that works most of the time but feels a tad too much like a Lifetime TV drama.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include several making-of features, a documentary about Bethany and a collection of deleted scenes.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“Stake Land”: Horror film about a teen boy (Connor Paolo) and veteran vampire hunter (Nick Damici) trying to find sanctuary in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by bloodsuckers. The film was directed by Jim Mickle, who also co-wrote the script with Damici.

“Zen” TV series: Three made-for-TV movies based on the adventures of Italian detective Aurelio Zen (Rufus Sewell). Each of the 90 minute films – “Vendetta,” “Cabal” and “Ratking” – are based on like-title novels by Michael Dibdin.

“John Pinette – Still Hungry”: A few days ago, Comedy Central broadcast this stand-up show by Pinette. Now, Entertainment One is making the entire production available on video. Taped in Chicago’s Vic Theater, Pinette opines on everything from food to the oddities of day-to-day life.

“MST3K vs. Gamera – Mystery Science Theater 3000, Volume XXI”: The good folks at Shout! Factory are rolling out five more episodes of “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” the television show that made watching bad movies fun. In this edition, Joel Robinson and his robot sidekicks make wisecracks as they watch five movies about the giant, flying turtle Gamera. Included are “Gamera,” “Gamera vs. Barugon,” “Gamera vs. Gaos,” “Gamera vs. Guiron” and “Gamera vs. Zigra.”

“Spy Kids” films on Blu-ray: With “Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World” hitting theaters Aug. 19, Lionsgate decided it was the right time to release the first three movies from the franchise on high-definition Blu-ray. Each of the films – “Spy Kids,” “Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams” and “Spy Kids 3: Game Over” – features Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara as kids with a talent for espionage. Carla Gugino and Antonio Banderas also star.

“Everwood” – The Complete Fourth Season: Final 22 episodes of The WB drama about a former New York City doctor living in a small Colorado town with his children. Treat Williams, Gregory Smith, Emily VanCamp, Debra Mooney and John Beasley star.

“Eastbound & Down” – The Complete Second Season: Seven more episodes of the HBO comedy about former Major League Baseball pitcher Kenny Powers (Danny McBride). In this season, Kenny leaves his hometown for a new life in Mexico. Steve Little, Michael Pena and Marco Rodriguez also star.

“United States of Tara” – The Third Season: Showtime’s dramatic comedy about a suburban housewife (Toni Collette) with dissociative identity disorder wasn’t renewed for a fourth season, so this collection brings the series to a close. Rosemarie DeWitt, John Corbett, Brie Larson and Keir Gilchrist also star.

– Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com.

Liam Neeson, rear, and January Jones star in the thriller “Unknown.”

A lot of noteworthy films are making their way to home video this week, including a new action movie from Liam Neeson, a family film based on the works of writer Jeff Kinney, and a supernatural drama starring Matt Damon.

The Adjustment Bureau

3 stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexuality and a violent image
Universal
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

George Nolfi, who owns screenwriting credits on “The Bourne Ultimatum” and “The Sentinel,” picked a terrific project for his first foray into the world of a writer-director. He also chose two great actors to give him a lift.

Based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, Nolfi’s “Adjustment Bureau” is a deft mix of action, drama and supernatural fun, and Matt Damon and Emily Blunt are just the actors to bring it to life. Damon plays David Norris, an up-and-coming politician, and Blunt is Elise Sellas, a talented dancer who meets him after he’s lost an election for U.S. Senate. The two immediately sense an attraction, but Elise disappears, leaving David to wonder if he’ll ever see her again.

Days later, he runs into her on a bus and attempts to court her, but mysterious forces conspire to keep them apart. It’s not revealing too much to say that those forces are superhuman, but it would be imprudent to go into detail. The important thing is that David must decide whether a relationship with Elise is worth giving up everything he knows.

Nolfi’s script is intelligent, asking viewers to decide whether they believe in free will or a world dictated by fate. One needn’t get too caught up in the movie’s philosophy, however. “The Adjustment Bureau” works just fine as a simple and fast-moving supernatural romance. What sets it apart from weaker films is that it offers deeper layers for those who choose to explore them.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include deleted and extended scenes, several making-of shorts and an audio commentary with Nolfi.

Unknown

2½ stars
Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sexual content
Warner Brothers
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand

In recent years – most notably with 2008’s “Taken” – Liam Neeson has established himself as a late-blooming action star. He continues that trend with “Unknown,” a thriller set in modern-day Berlin.

Neeson plays Dr. Martin Harris, a button-downed scientist attending an important Berlin conference with his wife, Elizabeth (January Jones). As they are about to check into their luxury hotel, Martin discovers that he mistakenly left his briefcase at the airport, so he rushes back to retrieve it, only to be injured in a terrifying taxi accident.

Days later, Martin awakes from a coma to discover that his life – or at least the life he remembers – is gone. His passport is missing, Elizabeth doesn’t recognize him and another man (Aidan Quinn) insists that he is, and always has been, Dr. Martin Harris. Desperate, Martin locates the cab driver that rescued him from the accident (Diane Kruger) and enlists the help of a former Stasi officer (Bruno Ganz) who moonlights as a private detective.

Neeson is likable in the starring role, and director Jaume Collet-Serra does a nice job keeping viewers on edge throughout the project. The film also has a number of respectable plot twists and turns. It does have one major flaw, however. It’s impossible to watch a thriller built around identity loss without thinking of the three Jason Bourne films, and they not only share striking similarities with “Unknown,” all three are superior.

Extras on the DVD version of the film are limited to a short that examines the characters and plotting of the film. The Blu-ray release has that plus a bit on Neeson’s work as an action star.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

2½ stars
Rated PG for some mild rude humor and mischief
20th Century Fox
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

The good news regarding the second film adaptation of writer Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series is that title character Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) is at least likable in this outing. Yeah, he’s still selfish and obsessed with popularity, but at least he’s dialed down the annoying traits that made him almost unbearable in part one. The bad news is the project still isn’t as nuanced and layered as the best family films.

The picture picks up with Greg beginning seventh grade, a landmark that he and his best friend, Rowley (Robert Capron), are excited about. Alas, Greg’s teen brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick), is determined to torture him, and he starts by embarrassing him in front of Westmore Middle School’s beautiful new girl, Holly (Peyton List). Even worse, Greg and Rodrick’s mother (Rachael Harris) insists that the two of them hang out and bond.

This leads to plenty of uncomfortable moments, as the older Rodrick reluctantly complies, introducing Greg to the life of a teenager. Director David Bowers does a good job capturing the dynamic between feuding siblings, noting that these relationships are in constant flux. Although Greg and Rodrick can be bitter enemies, Bowers also demonstrates that brotherly love can win out in the end, and that’s a nice message for the youngsters who are sure to be watching.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include an audio commentary by Kinney and Bowers.

The Eagle

2½ stars
The movie is available in both rated and unrated versions. The rated version received a PG-13 for battle sequences and some disturbing images
Universal
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand

Director Kevin McDonald, the man behind the Idi Amin drama “The Last King of Scotland,” has produced another historical epic. With “The Eagle,” he’s dug even deeper into history, taking viewers all the way back to 140 A.D. and the height of the Roman Empire.

The fictional narrative focuses on Marcus Aquila (Channing Tatum), a Roman centurion whose father led the Ninth Legion, an infamous unit that disappeared while serving in northern Britain. As a soldier, Marcus hopes to restore his family’s good name, and he sees an opportunity in rumors that the Ninth Legion’s standard, a golden eagle, has been spotted in the English countryside, in an area outside Roman control.

With only his slave, Esca (Jamie Bell), at his side, Marcus ventures into the dangerous region, intent on recovering the eagle. McDonald’s film is an interesting animal in that the set dressing and costumes are period but the acting and filmmaking are pure 21st century. For audience convenience, the Romans speak English and the Britons speak Gaelic, but they do so in such a modern cadence that its clear screenwriter Jeremy Brock wasn’t worried about establishing the historical timeframe.

Also, Tatum seems archetypically heroic, but never particularly Roman, a fact that might bother some viewers. He and Bell have an easygoing chemistry that works but, again, doesn’t reinforce the time period. Out of necessity, the film features a number of action sequences and these are staged reasonably well. The end result is a decidedly modern action film that hangs its hat on ancient times.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes, an alternate ending, a making-of feature and an audio commentary by Macdonald.

Cedar Rapids

3½ stars
Rated R for crude and sexual content, language and drug use
20th Century Fox
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

“Cedar Rapids” isn’t the most high profile of this week’s releases, but it is the best. Directed by Miguel Arteta, the film tells the story of Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), a naïve, small-town insurance agent whose boss sends him to a convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It’s a high-pressure assignment not only because Tim has no idea how to function in the “big city” but because his predecessor won the convention’s top award for three years running, and Tim is expected to continue the trend. Tim thinks he’s up for the assignment until he falls in with three more experienced insurance reps (John C. Reilly, Anne Heche and Isiah Whitlock Jr.) who believe that all work an no play make for dull times.

Although Tim is a grown man, “Cedar Rapids” is something of a coming-of-age tale because he’s never really matured past a grade school level. This point is reinforced by the fact that he still calls his elementary school teacher (Sigourney Weaver) Mrs. Vanderhei, even though they’re sleeping together.

Once in Cedar Rapids, Tim finds himself doing things he wouldn’t have dreamed of back home and this both terrifies and liberates him. The film wears its indie nature on its sleeve, as there’s nothing slick or glamorous about the cinematography and presentation. Instead, Arteta and his outstanding cast put all their energy into telling a good story that’s funny and engrossing through its entire 87-minute run.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes, a gag reel and several shorts about the making of the film.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“happythankyoumoreplease”: Josh Radnor (Ted Moseby on TV’s “How I Met Your Mother) wrote directed and stars in this comedy about young New Yorkers trying to find themselves. Malin Akerman, Toney Hale, Zoe Kazan, Pablo Schreiber and Kate Mara also star.

“Elektra Luxx”: Comedy starring Carla Gugino as a pregnant former porn star who tries to remake her life as a community college “sexology” instructor. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant, Adrianne Palicki and Emmanuelle Chriqui also star.

“Bending All the Rules”: Direct-to-video romantic comedy starring Colleen Porch as an ambitious photographer being courted by two men. One (Bradley Cooper) is a struggling DJ. The other (David Gail) is a successful businessman. Written and directed by Peter Knight and Morgan Klein.

“Kiss Me Deadly”: Criterion Collection release of the 1955 thriller based on Mickey Spillane’s mystery novel. Ralph Meeker plays Mike Hammer, a private detective who gets pulled into a dangerous case after picking up a frightened hitchhiker (Choris Leachman). Produced and directed by Robert Aldrich.

“William & Kate”: Lifetime Original Movie based on the courtship of British Prince William and his new bride Kate Middleton. Camilla Luddington and Nico Evers-Swindell star. Directed by Mark Rosman.

“The Closer” – The Complete Sixth Season: TNT has announced that next season will be the last for “The Closer,” making this DVD set a must for hardcore fans. The show focuses on Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick), a Los Angeles Police detective who focuses on major crimes. This three-disc set includes all 15 episodes from season six.

“Rocko’s Modern Life” – Season One: The first 13 episodes of the 1990s Nickelodeon animated series about an Australian wallaby and his animal friends. Created by animator Joe Murray.

“Squidbillies” – Volume Four: Ten episodes from the fifth season of the Cartoon Network program focused on hillbilly squids living in the mountains of Northern Georgia.

“Playing House”: Thriller about a newlywed couple (Craig Welzbacher and Sarah Prikryl) who invite their friend Danny (Matt Lusk) to move in with them. Things get creepy when Danny brings a beautiful but unstable woman (Mayra Leal) home.

– Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. For more of his work visit www.ForrestHartman.com. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com

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Hailee Steinfeld, left, and Jeff Bridges star in the Western “True Grit.” The film is a remake of John Wayne’s 1969 picture by the same name.

This week’s home video releases are anchored by two powerful dramas: one that paints an ugly picture of corporate America and one that received 10 nominations in the most recent Oscar race.

True Grit

3½ stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of Western violence including disturbing images
Paramount
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

Remakes are a dime a dozen in Hollywood, but few boast the pedigree and quality of Joel and Ethan Coen’s “True Grit.” The original, 1969 Western earned screen icon John Wayne his only Oscar, a best actor nod for his portrayal of gruff U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn.

Wading into such revered territory would be daunting for most filmmakers, but the Coen brothers have repeatedly proven they are among the best directors working today. For “True Grit,” they started by adapting Charles Portis’ novel – the basis for both films – into a screenplay. Then, they gathered a remarkable assortment of actors to bring the material to life.

Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld plays Mattie Ross, an articulate teen girl who persuades the drunken Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to track down the man who killed her father. During their journey, they meet a Texas Ranger named LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) who is chasing the same man. The film follows Rooster and LaBoeuf through their manhunt with the indomitable Mattie by their side.

“True Grit” is a remarkable film on many fronts, starting with the Coens’ wonderful screenplay and ending with the fact that even the actors in bit roles are phenomenal. Perfect examples are Josh Brolin and Barry Pepper. Both men play outlaws with relatively little screen time, but their performances add tremendous depth to the project. The three leads (Steinfeld, Bridges and Damon) are also astonishingly good, and both Steinfeld and Bridges received Oscar nominations for their efforts.

In all, “True Grit” was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including best directing, best adapted screenplay and best picture. It didn’t win in any category, but that doesn’t diminish the quality. Westerns don’t get much better than this.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include a handful of making-of features, including bits on the cast and 1880s costuming.

The Company Men

3½ stars
Rated R for language and brief nudity
Anchor Bay Entertainment
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

While “True Grit” offers a compelling look at the historic wild West, “The Company Men” focuses on our modern-day equivalent: the board rooms of corporate America. Written and directed by John Wells, the film accurately depicts the astonishing level of greed that has led many corporate executives to take bonuses while simultaneously firing or cutting the pay of their employees.

At the center of the action is Bobby Walker (Ben Affleck), a cocky sales executive who is dismayed when the GTX Corporation sends him packing after a round of downsizing. Despite immense support from his wife (Rosemarie DeWitt), Bobby remains in denial for months, only coming to terms with his situation after he loses his Porsche and home.

The movie also follows a number of other characters, including Gene McClary (Tommy Lee Jones), a top GTX executive, and Phil Woodward (Chris Cooper), another down-sized employee. “The Company Men” deserves admiration because it shines a light on America’s corporate culture, reminding everyone that unemployment figures represent living, breathing people, not just economic unrest.

That doesn’t mean the film is flawless. In fact, Wells made a major misstep by including a subplot where McClary has an affair with another company executive (Maria Bello). This sidebar adds nothing to the story and is so poorly developed that it actually detracts. Still, the other elements of the film are so well thought out and executed that it’s easy to overlook a single blunder.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include a making-of feature, deleted scenes, an alternate ending and an audio commentary by Wells.

Just Go With It

2 stars
Rated PG-13 for frequent crude and sexual content, partial nudity, brief drug references and language
Sony
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

Despite broadening his artistic reach for films like “Punch-Drunk Love,” “Spanglish” and “Reign Over Me,” the bulk of Adam Sandler’s work is still in lowest-common-denominator comedies. The latest example is “Just Go With It,” a movie that starts and finishes with a weak premise yet manages to squeeze a few laugh-out-loud moments into its 116-minute run.

Sandler plays Danny Maccabee, a successful plastic surgeon whose odd pickup technique involves pretending to be married. This means he always has a faux wedding ring in his possession, something that becomes problematic when he meets a woman (Brooklyn Decker) he might actually want a future with. She discovers the ring and demands an explanation. Not wanting to reveal his playboy ways, Danny lies and says he’s in the midst of a divorce.

The next thing we know, doctor Danny is convincing his dedicated office assistant, Katherine (Jennifer Aniston), to pose as his soon-to-be ex-wife. Why any human being, let alone a supposedly intelligent physician, would hatch such a hair-brained scheme is unexplained, meaning audiences have to follow the title’s lead and simply “go with it.”

As bad as the setup is, Sandler is a funny man and the also-funny Nick Swardson offers reasonably good supporting work. Together, they occasionally break from the monotony of the plot to deliver well-staged bits worthy of a laugh or two. The problem is, even these good moments feel like shorts inserted out of desperation rather than to serve the greater story.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include a blooper reel, deleted scenes and two audio commentaries, one featuring Sandler and Swardson and one by director Dennis Dugan.

Sanctum

2½ stars
Rated R for language, some violence and disturbing images
Universal
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D

Most film buffs know that James Cameron is an avid scuba diver, so it’s not surprising that he would choose to produce a film about adventurers trapped in an underwater cave. It’s also not surprising that Universal would promote that film – “Sanctum” – by bandying Cameron’s name about. After all, the man has written and directed a handful of the biggest hits of all time.

The thing is, Cameron was merely a producer on “Sanctum,” meaning all the artistic heavy lifting was left to director Alister Grierson and writers John Garvin and Andrew Wright. The result is a film that’s worthwhile but not as powerful as Cameron’s best.

Loosely based on a traumatic incident that Wright experienced, the film tells of several divers trapped when a freak storm blocks the exit to the underwater cave they’re exploring. Desperate, the group, led by a hardened veteran named Frank McGuire (Richard Roxburgh), tries to find an alternate exit.

The visuals in “Sanctum” are appealing and Grierson gives the action an appropriately claustrophobic intensity, leading to numerous edge-of-the-seat moments. Unfortunately, the film’s dialogue and relationship dramas aren’t nearly as appealing. The project also gets increasingly operatic as it moves toward its climax. Still, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the lives of the characters, and even easier to imagine one’s self in their terrifying predicament.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include deleted and extended scenes, a look at the real events that inspired the film, a making-of short and three audio commentaries.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“Another Year”: Dramatic comedy about four seasons in the life of Tom (Jim Broadbent) and Gerri (Ruth Sheen), a couple that has remained happily married despite constant drama in the lives of their friends. The film was written and directed by Mike Leigh (“Vera Drake,” “Topsy-Turvy”) who received an Oscar nomination for his screenplay. Lesley Manville and Imelda Staunton also star.

“Green Lantern – Emerald Knights”: Warner Brothers is preparing comic book fans for the June 17 release of its live-action “Green Lantern” movie with an animated feature that delivers six interlocking stories about members of the Green Lantern Corps. Television stars Nathan Fillion and Elisabeth Moss lead a voice cast that also includes Henry Rollins, Jason Isaacs and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

“Nice Guy Johnny”: The latest indie effort from writer-director-actor Edward Burns. The film tells the story of Johnny Rizzo (Matt Bush), a young guy whose fiancee expects him to give up his dream job and work in her father’s cardboard box company. Before that can happen, Johnny’s playboy uncle (Burns) whisks him away for a wild weekend.

Marx Brothers favorites: Universal is re-releasing five popular movies from Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo Marx: “Duck Soup,” “Animal Crackers,” “Horse Feathers,” “Monkey Business” and “The Cocoanuts.” Each is available individually, which means fans can pick and choose the titles they want rather than being forced to buy an entire boxed set.

“Pretty Little Liars” – The Complete First Season: First 22 episodes of the ABC Family show about four teen girls who start receiving threatening messages from an anonymous source. Trojan Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale and Shay Mitchell star.

HBO baseball releases: Baseball season is in full swing (pun intended) and HBO is celebrating by rolling its three “When It Was a Game” documentaries into a single “Complete Collection” set. If that’s not enough baseball for you, HBO is also serving up the Blu-ray debut of “61*.” That drama tells the story of Mickey Mantle’s and Roger Maris’ historic run at Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record.

“American – The Bill Hicks Story”: Documentary film about stand-up comedian and social critic Bill Hicks, who gained widespread fame before dying of cancer at age 32. Directed by Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas.

“Transformers – Beast Wars”: Shout Factory is rolling out two collections filled with episodes from the 1990s animated series about shape-shifting beings locked in conflict. The first collection is limited to the show’s first season and is being sold in stores nationwide. The second collection includes all 52 episodes of the show and is only available at shoutfactorystore.com.

“Madagascar”: Documentary film focused on the world’s fourth-largest island and the unusual wildlife that populates it. Narrated by David Attenborough.

“Hell in the Pacific – Prisoners of the Japanese”: Documentary film about soldiers imprisoned by the Japanese Empire during World War II. The movie includes first-hand accounts from prisoners of war as well as archival footage.

Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com.

Colin Firth, left, plays King George VI and Helena Bonham Carter portrays the Queen Mother in the Academy Award-winning drama “The King’s Speech.”

It’s a good week for home video, as new releases include two films that played a prominent role in the 2010 Oscar race.

The King’s Speech
4 stars (out of four)
Rated R for some language
Anchor Bay Entertainment
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

Director Tom Hooper’s examination of King George VI’s ascent to the British throne is an old-fashioned film, but not in a negative way. One of its joys is that director Tom Hooper avoids flashy edits and other stylish flourishes to put the focus where it belongs: on story.

It helps that he has a terrific tale to work with. George was not expected to become king because his brother, Edward, was first in line to the throne. What’s more, George had a debilitating stammer that made him fearful of public speaking. When he was suddenly called to duty, he was forced to overcome his speech impediment, and the film focuses on that period of his life.

Obviously, the tale of a man battling a stammer is not action packed, but it is dripping with drama. Hooper and his cast do a wonderful job exploiting that fact and drawing viewers into George’s predicament, making sure his struggles strike a chord.

The always excellent Colin Firth plays the title role, and his work earned him a well-deserved Academy Award for best actor. Firth, however, is not the only highlight of the film. Geoffrey Rush is terrific as George’s speech therapist, Lionel Logue, and Helena Bonham Carter is equally good as George’s wife, Queen Elizabeth. Both Rush and Carter received Oscar nominations for their supporting turns, but they didn’t win.

In all, “The King’s Speech” was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, and it walked away with four: best picture, best director for Hooper, best original screenplay for David Seidler and best actor for Firth. This is one case where the awards hoopla is well founded. “The King’s Speech” is dramatic and inspirational and, although modern, it plays like the best films of yesteryear.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include speeches from the actual King George VI, a 20-minute making-of feature and an audio commentary by Hooper.

Rabbit Hole
3½ stars
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, some drug use and language
Lionsgate
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand

Nicole Kidman received a best actress Oscar nomination for her excellent portrayal of Becca Corbett, the forty-something woman at the heart of “Rabbit Hole.” Both Becca and her husband, Howie (Aaron Eckhart), are mourning the loss of their young son, who was struck by a car and killed. Despite having a strong marriage prior to the accident, the loss has them reeling, and each deals with the tragedy differently.

Howie, unable to accept his son’s death, lives in the past, watching family videos and attending support groups. Becca, on the other hand, wants desperately to move on, and she even forms a friendship with the teen driver who killed her son (Miles Teller).

The story, which screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire adapted from his own stage play, is unapologetically bleak, but it is also moving. As the Oscar nomination indicates, Kidman is fantastic in the lead role, but the movie isn’t a one-actor show. Eckhart proves equally powerful as a grieving father, and both actors receive excellent supporting work from Teller, Dianne Wiest (who plays Becca’s mother) and Sandra Oh (who plays another grieving parent).

Director John Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”) also deserves credit. Dramas like “Rabbit Hole” can easily become so moody and depressing that they collapse beneath their own weight, but he doesn’t allow that to happen. Instead, Mitchell strikes a fine balance, letting darkness settle over the film while inserting just enough humor and hope to make it fly.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes and an audio commentary featuring Mitchell, writer David Lindsay-Abaire and director of photography Frank G. DeMarco.

Gulliver’s Travels
2 stars
Rated PG for brief rude humor, mild language and action
20th Century Fox
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D

Jack Black is a funny man, and when he has a solid project to work on, the results can be outstanding. He was a hoot, for instance, in “School of Rock,” “High Fidelity” and “Tropic Thunder.” Sadly, his talents are more often wasted on subpar material … like “Gulliver’s Travels.”

Director Rob Letterman’s adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s 1726 novel delivers key plot points from the book but tries too hard to be hip. For starters, the film depicts its title character (Black) as an unapologetic slacker whose career high is working in the mailroom of a newspaper.

In an attempt to impress an editor that he pines for (Amanda Peet), Gulliver plagiarizes several articles and convinces her to let him write a travel piece on the Bermuda Triangle. Next thing you know, he’s shipwrecked on the island of Liliput, where the residents average six inches tall.

“Gulliver’s Travels” has all the usual gags involving a giant living among tiny beings, but there are also ill-advised updates, such as Gulliver extinguishing a raging fire by relieving himself. Swift’s book is still read because it is imaginative, and the tale of Liliput is charming. Adding modern gross-out gags may make the story more like the average multiplex comedy, but it’s not an improvement.

Not even Jason Segel (star of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and TV’s “How I Met Your Mother”) lifts “Gulliver’s Travels.” Like Black, he’s a creative and funny guy, but he’s wasted here, playing a bland Liliputian who befriends Gulliver.

Had this crew spent more time focused on the inherent appeal of the source material and less time trying to make it their own, they might have produced a winning family film. Sadly, their version of “Gulliver’s Travels” will most likely be remembered as an unfortunate chapter in the ongoing life of a timeless tale.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes, a gag reel and several making-of features.

Somewhere
2 stars
Rated R for sexual content, nudity and language
Universal
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand

Sofia Coppola is part of the royal family of moviemaking. She’s a cousin to Nicolas Cage and Jason Schwartzman and, more notably, daughter to the wonderful director Francis Ford Coppola. It is not, however, nepotism that made Sofia Coppola a player in Hollywood. She did that on her own, writing and directing several critically acclaimed movies, most notably 2003’s “Lost in Translation,” which landed her an Oscar for best original screenplay.

The thing about Coppola’s work is people either get it or they don’t, and I’m in the latter camp. “Lost in Translation” was regularly praised as brilliant, but I’ve always found it remarkably dull. Coppola’s latest effort, “Somewhere,” has also received acclaim, winning best picture at the Venice International Film Festival and earning four stars from renowned critic Roger Ebert. Again, I’m on the outside looking in.

The film takes a brief peak at the life of Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff), an A-list Hollywood actor who buries his boredom with parties, fast cars and faster women. He is forced to re-assess his lifestyle, when his ex-wife asks him to care for their 11-year-old daughter (Elle Fanning) for an extended period.

“Somewhere” has wonderful moments, most of them courtesy of Dorff, who’s reading of Johnny is nuanced and sympathetic. Trouble is, Coppola allows her camera to linger on every sequence about twice as long as it should. Some people may appreciate this technique, as it gives the film a cinema verite flair not seen in most modern movies. A consequence, however, is that it slows the narrative and reeks of overindulgence.

“Somewhere” clocks in at 98 minutes, but Coppola could have likely told it in 70, improving the flow and allowing audiences to build a stronger relationship with the characters.

DVD extras are limited to a making-of feature. The Blu-ray release has that plus a few more bonuses.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise”: Spike Lee documentary focused on residents of New Orleans and their ongoing efforts to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The movie is something of a follow-up to his earlier documentary “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.”

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Impressive six-DVD set collecting comedian Ernie Kovacs’ influential TV work in the 1950s and ’60s. The set has more than 13 hours of content, including some of his earliest TV shows, his five ABC TV specials and numerous bonus features.

“Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure”: Direct-to-video movie that sees Ashley Tisdale again playing her “High School Musical” character Sharpay Evans. The plot has Sharpay traveling to New York City with hopes of making it on Broadway.

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” – The Complete Sixth Season: Final season of the popular TV comedy starring a young Will Smith as an inner-city Philadelphia boy sent to California to live with wealthy relatives. Alfonso Ribeiro, James Avery and Karyn Parsons also star.

“Chicago Overcoat”: Mob movie about an aging hit man (Frank Vincent) who tries to make a comeback in an effort to finance his retirement. Kathrine Narducci, Stacy Keach and Armand Assante also star. Directed by Brian Caunter.

“Born to Raise Hell”: Direct-to-video action film starring Steven Seagal as an Interpol agent who seeks revenge when a street war claims the life of a member of his team. Directed by Lauro Chartrand.

– Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com

Elizabeth Banks, left, plays Lara Brennan, and Russell Crowe plays her husband, John, in “The Next Three Days.”

This week’s major home video releases range from the first season of an outstanding horror television series to a new thriller by the writer-director of “Crash.”

The Next Three Days
2½ stars (out of four)
Rated PG-13 for violence, drug material, language, some sexuality and thematic elements
Lionsgate
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand

Writer-director Paul Haggis’ 2004 drama “Crash” is an artful and intense film that asks viewers to consider the makeup of diverse characters who are more than they initially seem. His latest effort, “The Next Three Days,” isn’t so ambitious, but Haggis is still interested in characters that defy expectations.

The movie centers on John Brennan (Russell Crowe), an easygoing father and teacher whose life unravels when his wife, Lara (Elizabeth Banks), is convicted of murder. Suddenly a single father, John does his best to provide stability for their son, Luke, while waging a legal battle for Lara’s freedom. When it becomes clear that the court system has failed him, John makes plans for a daring jailbreak.

Haggis’ film, which is a remake of the 2008 French thriller “Pour elle,” is fascinating in that it forces viewers to consider how far they would go to help a loved one. The setup is good, and Crowe, as always, is a powerful screen presence. Still, “The Next Three Days” has flaws, the most notable being that it takes itself seriously despite several preposterous plot twists.

The movie also suffers because Lara’s character is underdeveloped, a problem that has more to do with the script than Banks’ performance. On several occasions, she does things that are so unusual or poorly explained that they call her sanity into question, and that makes it difficult to buy into her plight or believe that John would go to such extremes to free her.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include several making-of featurettes and a collection of deleted and extended scenes.

Jackass 3
2½ stars
The home video release contains rated and unrated versions of the film. The rated version received an R for male nudity, extremely crude and dangerous stunts throughout and for language
Paramount
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

Anyone familiar with Johnny Knoxville and his crew of adventurous misfits already knows what to expect from “Jackass 3.” The film is a predictable mix of comic pranks, dangerous stunts and oddball bits designed primarily for shock value.

The “Jackass” movies were spun off from the aptly named television show in which Knoxville and company took reality TV to its limits. Not much has changed over the years except that theatrical and home video releases allow them to produce stunts that go beyond even their wildest TV offerings.

“Jackass 3” contains such bits as Steve-O being launched into the air in a portable toilet connected to bungee cords. And, yes, the toilet is filled to the brim with excrement. Not every setup is so disgusting, as the guys balance extreme stunts against absurdist bits, like a naked tetherball game played with a beehive and a tooth extraction via sports car.

Detailing all the bits in a review would only ruin the movie for folks inclined to see it, and you know who you are. Those who enjoy watching grown men make, well, asses of themselves will be in cinema heaven. Those who prefer more highbrow entertainment should steer clear.

“Jackass 3” is available as part of multiple home video releases, including a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Extra features vary but each release includes both theatrical and unrated cuts of the film, a making-of feature by MTV, two deleted scenes and five outtakes.

Morning Glory
2 stars
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content including dialogue, language and brief drug references
Paramount
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

In “Morning Glory,” Rachel McAdams plays Becky Fuller, a twenty-something who is so obsessed with becoming a big-time morning TV producer that she barely makes time for dates. And, when she finally finds a guy who merits the few hours required for a sleepover, her main concern is whether or not he has a good alarm clock. This is worth mentioning only because the one-dimensional Becky is representative of most of the characters in director Roger Michell’s sometimes-cute-but-always-unbelievable dramedy.

Becky is joined by Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton), a former beauty queen turned morning show anchor; Mike Pomeroy, an award winning journalist who is bitter at being ousted from the nighttime news; and Jerry Barnes (Jeff Goldblum), Becky’s no-nonsense boss. You don’t need to know much more about any of them because that’s all there is.

What you do need to know is that Becky gets her first big break by landing the executive producing job for “Daybreak,” a national morning show that is perennially bested by its peers. In hopes of turning things around, she ousts one of the current hosts and replaces him with Pomeroy. He bristles at the thought of producing morning fluff stories, but has no choice because it’s either that or lose the payout on his contract.

Since Pomeroy also detests Peck, Becky is stuck juggling the egos of her anchors while trying to come up with a solution to their terrible ratings. There’s also a subplot involving a romance with a handsome network colleague (Patrick Wilson), but that’s so poorly executed it’s hardly worth mentioning.

The trouble with “Morning Glory” isn’t the concept, as there’s certainly comedy to be mined from morning television. The problem is the characters are neither broad and wacky enough to work in a no-holds-barrred comedy nor believable enough to work in anything else.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include a deleted scene and an audio commentary by Michell and writer Aline Brosh McKenna.

“The Walking Dead”: The Complete First Season
4 stars
Unrated
Anchor Bay
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

There have been countless zombie stories over the decades, but only a handful are as well written and executed as AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” The show, which earned a Golden Globe nomination for best dramatic television series, focuses on a small band of Americans trying to survive in a section of Georgia that’s been overrun by the living dead.

The lead character is Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), a small-town police officer who is shot in the line of duty, then – days later – wakes in his hospital bed to find his world literally changed. As he struggles to adjust to the fact that the dead have come back to life, he searches for his wife (Sarah Wayne Callies) and young son (Chandler Riggs) who are nowhere around.

The series was adapted from books published by Image Comics, but it owes a debt to many previous zombie tales, including George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead.” As in Romero’s films, the zombies can be permanently killed, but only if their brains are destroyed and, as in director Danny Boyles “28 Days Later,” there’s a viral component to the zombification process.

Despite similarities to other horror tales, none of the series’ six first-season episodes feels tired or overdone. That’s in large part because creator Frank Darabont and his team focus more on the living characters than the zombies. In essence, the creative team has created a brilliant character drama that just happens to be set against a zombie apocalypse.

Lincoln is outstanding in the lead role, and he gets strong support from an ensemble including Jon Bernthal, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun and Norman Reedus. Dramatic television doesn’t get much better.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include extra footage and a number of behind-the-scenes features, including a panel discussion with the producers and zombie makeup tips.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“Inside Job”: Director Charles Ferguson’s documentary film considers the events leading up to our ongoing financial crisis. Through interviews with important folks, including Congressman Barney Frank and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, Ferguson argues that the disaster was largely spawned by corrupt financial institutions aided by the U.S. government. The movie won best documentary at the Academy Awards ceremony last month.

“Hannah Montana Forever”: This two-disc set includes the final 13 episodes of Disney Channel’s wildly popular “Hannah Montana” TV series. As the show winds down, Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) must decide if she wants to live life as a regular girl or continue to moonlight as a pop star.

“The Zombie Farm”: If this week’s release of “The Walking Dead” whets your appetite for undead horror, you can check out this small film about a woman who visits a voodoo priestess and accidentally starts a zombie uprising.

“A Film Unfinished”: Documentary movie built around 60 minutes of raw footage the Nazis shot in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. Among other things, the film demonstrates the breadth of the Nazi propaganda machine. Directed by Yael Hersonski.

“The Miracle Maker”: This stop-motion animated movie from 2000 is focused on the life of Jesus Christ, and it’s being released on a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. The voice cast includes Ralph Fiennes, Julie Christie, Ian Holm, Alfred Molina and William Hurt.

“Jonah – A VeggieTales Movie”: The story of Jonah and the Whale as related by the VeggieTales characters. This movie was released into theaters in 2002, but it’s making its high-definition debut just in time for Easter. Like “The Miracle Maker,” the home video release features both Blu-ray and standard DVD versions of the film.

Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com

Best Picture: “The King’s Speech.”

Best Actor: Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech.”

Best Actress: Natalie Portman, “Black Swan.”

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, “The Fighter.”

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, “The Fighter.”

Best Director: Tom Hooper, “The King’s Speech.”

Best Foreign Language Film: “In a Better World,” Denmark.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, “The Social Network.”

Best Original Screenplay: David Seidler, “The King’s Speech.”

Best Animated Feature Film: “Toy Story 3.”

Best Art Direction: “Alice in Wonderland.”

Best Cinematography: “Inception.”

Best Sound Mixing: “Inception.”

Best Sound Editing: “Inception.”

Best Original Score: “The Social Network,” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Best Original Song: “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3,” Randy Newman.

Best Costume Design: “Alice in Wonderland.”

Best Documentary Feature: “Inside Job.”

Best Documentary (short subject): “Strangers No More.”

Best Film Editing: “The Social Network.”

Best Makeup: “The Wolfman.”

Best Animated Short Film: “The Lost Thing.”

Best Live Action Short Film: “God of Love.”

Best Visual Effects: “Inception.”

Josh Duhamel, left, and Katherine Heigl get a quick lesson in parenting in the romantic comedy “Life As We Know It.”

It’s a busy week on home video, with major releases ranging from an offbeat indie comedy to a couple of mainstream horror films.

Paranormal Activity 2
3 stars (out of four)
Sold with rated and unrated versions. The rated version received an R for some language and brief violent material
Paramount
Available on: DVD and Blu-ray

Although it was produced for less than $20,000, writer-director Oren Peli’s “Paranormal Activity” brought in more than $100 million, making it one of the biggest Hollywood success stories of 2009. That original film focuses on Micah (Micah Sloat) and Katie (Katie Featherstone), a young couple who are haunted by what appears to be a demon, and their tale is related through “home video” footage that was supposedly found and later assembled.

Since clever presentation was such a big part of the first film, a sequel could have easily turned into a been-there-done-that mess, but director Tod Williams and writers Michael R. Perry, Christopher B. Landon and Tom Pabst turned “Paranormal Activity 2” into a project that pays proper homage to the original while introducing quality scares of its own.

Williams’ film follows the basic formula of “Paranormal” One, with all the action presented through “found footage.” The timeline is significantly shifted, however, with the depicted events occurring both before and after those in the original movie.

Although Katie and Micah are again characters, the focus this time is on Katie’s sister, Kristi (Sprague Grayden). She and her husband, Daniel (Brian Boland), have just welcomed a new baby boy into their home, which they share with Daniel’s older daughter, Ali (Molly Ephraim).

Williams spends a good deal of time establishing the fact that this is a healthy, well-adjusted family. Then, creepy things start happening, including a ransacking of their house where nothing is stolen. Conveniently, this apparent break in convinces Daniel to have security cameras installed, and much of the footage from that point forward comes from those cameras.

For a sequel, “Paranormal Activity 2” feels surprisingly fresh and well executed. Its ties to the original film should keep hard-core fans happy, but the movie holds up fine on its own. The one flaw is that Williams takes a long time setting up the action, but once he’s in the thick of things, it’s a thrilling ride.

“Paranormal Activity 2” is available on standard DVD and as part of a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Both releases include rated and unrated versions of the film and never-before-seen footage.

Life As We Know It
2½ stars
Rated PG-13 for sexual material, language and some drug content
Warner Brothers
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand

Only in Hollywood, would someone decide there’s a cute romantic comedy in the story of two freewheeling thirty-somethings forced to care for the infant child of their recently deceased friends. Think about it. The parents of an infant die, and there’s nobody to care for her except two folks who – for one reason or another – haven’t previously settled down. It’s a barrel of laughs, no?

In “Life As We Know It” the roles of reluctant caretakers go to Josh Duhamel, who plays a womanizing broadcast professional named Eric Messer, and Katherine Heigl, who plays Holly Berenson, a restaurateur who hasn’t been able to find Mr. Right. Because they’re complete opposites, they repel one another, but they nevertheless agree to move in together to give the orphaned daughter of their dead friends a good home. And, because this is a movie, one thing leads to another.

The fact that Duhamel and Heigl are astonishingly likable actors makes the material more palatable than it might have been, but there’s no escaping the fact that the whole premise is kind of creepy. There’s also no escaping the patently overused parenting gags, like the horror of the first diaper change and the challenge of keeping up with a freshly mobile toddler.

Duhamel, Heigl and director Greg Berlanti make the most of the material, but one can’t help but wonder why they aren’t getting better stuff to work with. They’re a talented group, and they deserve more. So do their audiences.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include a short in which cast members offer offbeat child-rearing advice, bits on Heigl’s and Duhamel’s preparation for the film and a collection of deleted scenes.

You Again
1½ stars
Rated PG for brief mild language and rude behavior
Touchstone
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray and digital download

Viewers of Andy Fickman’s “You Again” are supposed to believe that high school enemies are enemies for life. The shining example of this is Marni (Kristen Bell), an attractive professional woman who is mercilessly picked on as a teen. Although she has a rough go of it, she overcomes the past to become astoundingly successful as a businesswoman.

Still, her old insecurities resurface when she learns that her brother (James Wolk) is about to marry her high school arch enemy, Joanna (Odette Yustman). The voice of reason is Marni’s mother, Gail (Jamie Lee Curtis), who wisely tells her daughter to let bygones be bygones. That is until Gail learns that Joanna’s aunt (Sigourney Weaver) is one of her own high school rivals. Suddenly, with two generations of nemeses staring each other down, the movie devolves into a long string of immature cat fights, where the supposedly adult women try to one up and embarrass each other.

This might have been funny if Fickman had attempted to make a comic farce, but the tone is straightforward, meaning viewers are supposed to take this stuff somewhat seriously. That’s tough to do, especially when “You Again” uses it’s final act to sermonize on the merits of forgiving and forgetting, not realizing that most of the audience probably learned that lesson years before any character in the film.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include a short on Fickman’s filmmaking process, a spoof interview with members of the cast and a collection of deleted scenes.

My Soul to Take
1 star
Rated R for strong bloody violence and pervasive language including sexual references
Universal
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand

Writer-director Wes Craven has made some great horror films over the years, but “My Soul to Take” doesn’t live up to their standard. The film is disjointed and populated with offbeat characters that are hard to take a liking to. Even worse, it’s not that scary.

The movie starts effectively, introducing viewers to the Riverton Ripper, a schizophrenic serial killer who murders his wife and nearly kills his young daughter before police apprehend him. Then, before the Ripper can be jailed, he disappears.

Fast forward 16 years and Riverton is still haunted by memories of the killer. There are whispers that seven children who were born on the night of his disappearance are somehow tied to his legacy, and when several of them wind up dead it seems there’s something to those rumors.

Craven’s story takes some decent twists and turns, but it also leaves major plot points severely underdeveloped. That makes it hard to invest in – and sometimes understand – what’s going on. A listless third act that’s too similar to countless other horror films, makes things worse. Where Craven’s movies are concerned, “My Soul To Take” is purely second tier.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include two alternate endings, an alternate open, deleted and extended scenes and an audio commentary with Craven and cast members Max Thieriot, John Magaro and Emily Meade.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story
3½ stars
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic issues, sexual content, drug material and language
Universal
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, digital download and on demand

Despite the name, “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” is more poignant than comedic, but that isn’t a criticism by any means. The story is built around the struggles of a teen boy named Craig (Keir Gilchrist) who checks himself into a mental hospital because he’s overwhelmed by the world.

At first, Craig thinks he’s made a huge mistake, but after a few days interacting with the hospital’s other patients, particularly a frequent visitor named Bobby (Zach Galifianakis) and a beautiful young woman named Noelle (Emma Roberts), he sees that he’s right where he belongs.

The subject matter is serious, and the writing-directing team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck treat it appropriately, never diminishing the gravity of patient problems, yet keeping the tone light enough to be enjoyable. In the end, “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” is humorous, thought-provoking and uplifting, and that’s a hard balance to strike.

Much credit goes to Boden and Fleck but also to Gilchrist, who is spot on in the lead role, and to Galifianakis and Roberts who offer fine supporting work.

DVD and Blu-ray extras include behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes and a slide show from the film’s New York City premiere.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

“For Colored Girls”: Director Tyler Perry’s film adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf.” The drama considers the interconnected lives of nine black women and features a powerhouse cast including Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Macy Gray, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Phylicia Rashad, Tessa Thompson, Kerry Washington and Whoopi Goldberg.

“I Spit On Your Grave”: Director Steven R. Monroe’s unrated remake of the 1978 horror thriller about a beautiful writer who seeks revenge after being raped and brutalized by a group of men. Sarah Butler, Jeff Branson, Daniel Franzese, Rodney Eastman, Chad Lindberg and Andrew Howard star.

“Tamara Drewe”: Comedy starring Gemma Arterton as the title character, a sexy young woman who returns to her small British hometown, causing a stir among the men who live there. Directed by Stephen Frears (“The Queen,” “Dangerous Liaisons”).

“Middle Men”: A successful businessman (Luke Wilson) helps two oddballs with an Internet startup and finds himself surrounded by conmen, mobsters and a host of other seedy characters. Giovanni Ribisi, Gabriel Macht and James Caan also star. Co-written and directed by George Gallo.

“See You In September”: Romantic comedy about a woman (Estella Warren) who finds herself in crisis and uses Craig’s List to create a makeshift support group. Justin Kirk, David Eigenberg, Sandra Bernhard and Whoopi Goldberg also star. Directed by Tamara Tunie.

“Care Bears to the Rescue”: New computer-animated movie featuring the popular Care Bears characters. The story has the bears gathering for the Care-a-Lot Awards, where they honor those who have spread caring and sharing throughout the year.

Forrest Hartman is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation’s largest publications. E-mail him at forrest@forresthartman.com.

Best Picture

• “Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
• “The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
• “Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
• “The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
• “The King’s Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
• “127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
• “The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
• “Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer
• “True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
• “Winter’s Bone” Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role

• Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”
• Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”
• Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”
• Colin Firth in “The King’s Speech”
• James Franco in “127 Hours”

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
• John Hawkes in “Winter’s Bone”
• Jeremy Renner in “The Town”
• Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”
• Geoffrey Rush in “The King’s Speech”

Actress in a Leading Role

• Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
• Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
• Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter’s Bone”
• Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
• Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Amy Adams in “The Fighter”
• Helena Bonham Carter in “The King’s Speech”
• Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
• Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
• Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”

Animated Feature Film

• “How to Train Your Dragon” Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
• “The Illusionist” Sylvain Chomet
• “Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich

Directing

• “Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky
• “The Fighter” David O. Russell
• “The King’s Speech” Tom Hooper
• “The Social Network” David Fincher
• “True Grit” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Documentary (Feature)

• “Exit through the Gift Shop” Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz
• “Gasland” Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic
• “Inside Job” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
• “Restrepo” Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
• “Waste Land” Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley

Art Direction

• “Alice in Wonderland”
  Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”
  Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
• “Inception”
  Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
• “The King’s Speech”
  Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr
• “True Grit”
  Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

Cinematography

• “Black Swan” Matthew Libatique
• “Inception” Wally Pfister
• “The King’s Speech” Danny Cohen
• “The Social Network” Jeff Cronenweth
• “True Grit” Roger Deakins

Costume Design

• “Alice in Wonderland” Colleen Atwood
• “I Am Love” Antonella Cannarozzi
• “The King’s Speech” Jenny Beavan
• “The Tempest” Sandy Powell
• “True Grit” Mary Zophres

Documentary (Short Subject)

• “Killing in the Name” Nominees to be determined
• “Poster Girl” Nominees to be determined
• “Strangers No More” Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon
• “Sun Come Up” Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger
• “The Warriors of Qiugang” Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon

Film Editing

• “Black Swan” Andrew Weisblum
• “The Fighter” Pamela Martin
• “The King’s Speech” Tariq Anwar
• “127 Hours” Jon Harris
• “The Social Network” Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Foreign Language Film

• “Biutiful” Mexico
• “Dogtooth” Greece
• “In a Better World” Denmark
• “Incendies” Canada
• “Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)” Algeria

Makeup

• “Barney’s Version” Adrien Morot
• “The Way Back” Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
• “The Wolfman” Rick Baker and Dave Elsey

Music (Original Score)

• “How to Train Your Dragon” John Powell
• “Inception” Hans Zimmer
• “The King’s Speech” Alexandre Desplat
• “127 Hours” A.R. Rahman
• “The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Music (Original Song)

• “Coming Home” from “Country Strong” Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
• “I See the Light” from “Tangled” Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
• “If I Rise” from “127 Hours” Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
• “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3″ Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Short Film (Animated)

• “Day & Night” Teddy Newton
• “The Gruffalo” Jakob Schuh and Max Lang
• “Let’s Pollute” Geefwee Boedoe
• “The Lost Thing” Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
• “Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)” Bastien Dubois

Short Film (Live Action)

• “The Confession” Tanel Toom
• “The Crush” Michael Creagh
• “God of Love” Luke Matheny
• “Na Wewe” Ivan Goldschmidt
• “Wish 143” Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

Sound Editing

• “Inception” Richard King
• “Toy Story 3” Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
• “Tron: Legacy” Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
• “True Grit” Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
• “Unstoppable” Mark P. Stoeckinger

Sound Mixing

• “Inception” Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
• “The King’s Speech” Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
• “Salt” Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin
• “The Social Network” Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten
• “True Grit” Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland

Visual Effects

• “Alice in Wonderland” Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
• “Hereafter” Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski and Joe Farrell
• “Inception” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
• “Iron Man 2” Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• “127 Hours” Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
• “The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
• “Toy Story 3” Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
• “True Grit” Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
• “Winter’s Bone” Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

Writing (Original Screenplay)

• “Another Year” Written by Mike Leigh
• “The Fighter” Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson;
  Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
• “Inception” Written by Christopher Nolan
• “The Kids Are All Right” Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
• “The King’s Speech” Screenplay by David Seidler