Video TapeWorm

New, encore and low-price releases on Tuesday, July 30

Jul 24, 2013 at 5:00 am
Video TapeWorm
An Awkward Sexual Adventure

THIS WEEK’S TWIN PEEKS:

AN AWKWARD SEXUAL ADVENTURE

2012; $24.98-$26.98; UR

At first glance, this looks like any other asinine sex-comedy for the masses, and it has all the necessary trappings: A stripper helps an inexperienced man find the sexual maturity he needs to woo his girlfriend. But it delivers a far more intelligent, funny and entertaining ride than you’d believe possible. Jonas Chernick (“DeGrassi: The Next Generation”) plays the man, with curvy Emily Hampshire as his “sex Yoda,” and Sarah Manninen as the girlfriend, but the real star is director Sean Garrity, who refuses to let this be a giggly adolescent titty-fest. That rarest of things: a very good adult comedy-romance.

BLACK ROCK

2011; $14.98-$24.98; R

A trio of major hotties — Kate Bosworth, Katie Aselton and Lake Bell — stretch out on a supposedly uninhabited New England island for a personal reunion. All alone. Just the three of them. (You know this isn’t going to go well, don’t you?) That’s when they run across a trio of rugged, virile hunters, who they invite down to the beach for drinks! Hey, what could possibly go wrong? A gratuitous human prey flick, co-written by Aselton, with a welcome “three naked girls snuggling together under a blanket for warmth” scene. The movie’s actually much better than our lame review might suggest.

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BUS STOP

1956; $16.98-$24.98; UR

One of the most underrated works of Marilyn Monroe, now available on Blu-ray. She plays a saloon singer dallying with an immature young rodeo rider (Don Murray), who immediately becomes infatuated with her. Frightened, she runs, only to be found by Murray and forced onto a bus bound for his Montana home. But the police know of the kidnapping — even if the rest of the passengers don’t — and are waiting just up the road from their next stop at a little café called “Grace’s Diner.” As adult and intelligent as any romantic drama ever made — and surprisingly funny at times.

CLOUDBURST

2013; $19.98; UR

Legally blind Brenda Fricker and all-but-deaf Olympia Dukakis are a smart, funny, longtime lesbian couple who hit the road rather than be placed in a nursing home in this pee-yourself crazy comedy-drama with lots of heart. Their goal is Canada, where they can get married; along the way they pick up a handsome young hitchhiker (Ryan Doucette) with a lot of baggage of his own. A terrific cast, brilliantly directed by writer Thom Fitzgerald, with a surprise at every turn. The perfect date movie for adults; highly recommended.

G.I. JOE: RETALIATION

2012; $16.98-$54.98; PG-13

The producers of this sequel wisely pumped up the cast with gags by Bruce Willis, James Carville (as himself) and a handful of other aging hams, giving this actioner some much-needed gravitas. The real stars, of course, are Channing Tatum and Dwayne Johnson, leading the decimated JOE team against both COBRA and a hidden threat within the free governments of the world (Arnold Vosloo). The climactic money-shot, where a city of 8 million lies obliterated, is gratuitous, over-the-top and right on the money. Too “out there” to be taken seriously, this gleefully appeals to the 8-year-old boy in all of us.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ROSALIND LEIGH

2012; $19.98; UR

The legendary Vanessa Redgrave lends depth to this low-rent spooker as the titular Leigh. Her estate consists of an old house, the site of unspeakable rites by a secret cult. Her son, Aaron Poole (“Copper”), digs through it looking for antiques, but instead finds his mom’s overbearing presence reaching out from the grave, warning him of ... Well, we won’t spoil it.

OLD DOG

2011; $24.98; UR

Tibet’s leading director, Pema Tseden, brings us this drama based on real events. A poor family, scratching out a nomadic existence in the Himalayas, discovers that their herd-dog is potentially worth millions. (This type of mutt, the Tibetan nomad mastiff, has become a priceless status symbol among wealthy modern Chinese businessmen. Really!) The family’s son sells the dog — for enough money to let them live in luxury for generations — but without the permission of his father, who sets off to buy the dog back. A fascinating look into our own near future.

THE ANGRY BEAVERS: THE COMPLETE SERIES

2013; $24.98-$29.98; UR

If you have any memories of the late ’90s at all, they’re bound to include this wildly popular off-the-wall animated hit from Nickelodeon. Norbert and Daggett are, well, beavers, and they’re angry because their parents had another litter, forcing them out. They settle in a new pond where literally anything can — and does — happen, from 100-foot walking splinters to evil telepathic pond scum to Mexican wrestlers to big, fat, hairy, naked Canadians! The karmic predecessor to “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” now available in a complete boxed set.

THE DEMENTED

2013; $11.98-$29.98; R

Full-lipped Maxim dream machine Kayla Ewell from “The Vampire Diaries” leads a 20-something TV cast in this no-budget nearly bloodless zombiefest. It’s the usual “group of buds go away for a bucolic romp in the woods only to stumble upon angry undead” plotline, but with an exceptionally attractive cast including Sarah Butler from the “I Spit On Your Grave” remake, and winsome Brittney Alger, who had a small part in “21 Jump Street.”

VENUS & SERENA

2012; $24.98-$29.98; PG-13

A cutting-edge doc on arguably the finest athletes of a generation, during the hardest year of their lives. Frankly, a lot of people hate them. Why? Probably because they are black and ruthlessly aggressive in a historically demure pasty-rich-white-person’s game. Which makes 2011 even more impressive, as Venus competes despite the ravages of an autoimmune disease, and Serena recuperates from a deadly pulmonary embolism. A great doc on two of the most interesting humans on the planet.

A more complete listing and free vids at videotapeworm.com. 

More recommended videos for our online readers only!

A NIGHT FOR DYING TIGERS

2010; $22.98-$24.98; UR

A minor, if determined adult drama about the disintegration of a family due to plain old dumb-assery. Gil Bellows stars as the central character, a man who invites his entire family — including some from whom he is estranged — to toast his impending prison term. Co-stars, including Jennifer Beals and Leah Gibson (TV’s “Rogue”), watch the proceedings devolve as long-suppressed animosities come bubbling to the surface. Would’ve made one helluva musical.

ANNIKA BENGTZON, CRIME REPORTER: EPISODES 1-3 AND 4-6

2012; $34.98-$39.98 each; UR

Yes, we’ve found more astounding Swedish drama for you guys! Annika Bengtzon (Malin Crépin) is a journalist for a tabloid paper in Stockholm, a mature woman with two kids and a gift for being in the wrong place at the right time. Case in point: Episode 1 finds her covering the Nobel Prize ceremony when two people are murdered right in front of her! Our favorite may be No. 3, “Studio Sex,” a lurid tale of strippers and politicos and murder-for-hire, oh my. But the best thing about this series (other than the nudity) is how each case affects her personally: You’ll find yourself actually feeling revulsion and sadness at the loss of life and the unwelcome sensationalism that results. Simply terrific.

BETWEEN US

2012; $24.98-$26.98; R

A dark comedy-drama about the scariest topic on Earth: bickering married couples. It all takes place over two evenings: First, newlyweds visit an older married couple — who bicker and snipe and argue openly in front of their guests despite living the good life in America’s heartland. Several years later, the older couple — now much calmer — come to visit the young marrieds in NYC, only to find that them at each other’s throats. Not the best movie ever made, but with a cast that includes Julia Stiles, Melissa George and Taye Diggs, how bad can it be?

KENDRA ON TOP: SEASON 1

2013; $19.98-$24.98; UR

While this could be construed as just another damn reality show about a crazy-hot woman who will say or do anything to get on TV, we have to admit that wife, mother, model, nude goddess, author, actress and entrepreneur Kendra Wilkinson Baskett seems to be the real thing. A buxom bombshell with unbelievable energy and no knowledge of the word “boundaries,” she blows through life like a blonde tornado — and actually seems to be using her 15 minutes of fame and celebrity to improve the world. Worth a look.

PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED

1986; $6.98-$17.98; PG-13

Nice Blu-ray issue of this Francis Ford Coppola chestnut, with Kathleen Turner as a woman who faints at her high school reunion and awakes to find herself 17-years-old again, and about to graduate high school. The entire cast is excellent, including Nicolas Cage (ugh), Catherine Hicks, Joan Allen, Jim Carrey and welcome vet Maureen O’Sullivan. One of the most popular and endearing movies we know; just buy it.

RUSHLIGHTS

2012; $19.98-$24.98; R

Beau Bridges gets top billing, but he’s little more than a cameo in this star-studded crime-actioner about a pair of attractive low-life lovers (Josh Henderson and Haley Webb) who travel from L.A. to Texas to fraudulently claim a dead friend’s inheritance. A steamy bad-boy/fast-cars outing at heart with dreams of grandeur. We liked it.

UNDER THE BED

2012; $9.98-$20.98; R

A young man (Jonny Weston, “Chasing Mavericks”) returns home two years after failing to defeat the monster that lurked under his bed. Now the monster is under his little brother’s bed (Gattlin Griffith, “Green Lantern”). Bwahahahaa! And what about their parents? You just gotta see these two for yourself! An oh-so serious look at how box-spring boogiemen can destroy a promising family. A truly Bad Movie in the best sense. Enjoy.