Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Cedric Yarbrough, Niecy Nash, Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon, Carlos Alazraqui, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kerri Kenney, Mary Birdson
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount/Comedy Central
Release Date: July 15, 2008

When a show about cops has the motto “They’re not the best, but they’re the best we got”, you know you’re in for some trouble. For the last five seasons, Reno 911 has been knocking the socks off of fans with irreverent and insane comedic scenarios. These certainly aren’t like any cops that you’d want in your neighborhood or protecting anyone else that you know, for that matter. That being said, the cast of Reno 911 provides some of the strongest laughs around, bar none. Comedy Central really hit the nail on the head with this series because it’s definitely funny and worth a space in their lineup.

One of the best things about this show is that the actors are able to take things where they may. They have an incredibly loose script and end up improving most of their material, which makes for a very interesting show. This first set of discs is the first time I have ever seen the show and all I can say is this fine comic troop has made a fan out of me. I look forward to going back and seeing what I have missed over the years.

Release Information:
Reno 911 has been on the air since 2003. The show is based on COPS. These cops are a product of the Reno Sheriff’s Department. They offer a show similar to cops though a lot more interesting. It is not uncommon to see the officers directly speaking to the camera or to have you see them going through their everyday police procedures. Despite the show being based in Reno, filming is done in California. Fans of MTV’s defunct show The State will love this show, as many of the same cast members are involved in this program.

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Writer: Kimberly Peirce, Mark Richard
Director: Kimberly Peirce
Cast: Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum, Abbie Cornish, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Timothy Olyphant, Rob Brown
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount/MTV
Release Date: July 8, 2008

When I hear the name Kimberly Peirce I immediately think of Boys Don’t Cry. I have seen thousands of movies, but that is one that I find seriously hard to watch. It is so emotional and so heartbreaking that watching Brandon Teena’s life unfold can be a struggle for any viewer.

While I have to think twice about watching Hilary Swank’s Oscar winning performance (though it was amazing), hearing that Peirce is involved in another project is always a good thing. While I am sure she has done some movies since Boys Don’t Cry, for me she sort of fell off the radar. However, as soon as I heard that it was Peirce attached to this project and then I learned what the film was all about, I was hoping for a strong, emotional ride, like I have been on with her work before.

For those who don’t know, the Stop-Loss policy is a controversial policy that allows the government to send a soldier back into war, even after doing his time. Putting this in real time, making it about the Iraq War, gave the film a much better chance at getting the message across. The stars here are all right on point, as far as age and assumed demeanor and Peirce succeeds in many ways. This film is another that will elicit some strong emotional reactions from people that either agree or disagree with the policy. However, as this is not based on any one particular true story, it lacks the emotional punch in the gut that you would receive from her earlier work.

Release Information:
Going solely on financial terms Stop-Loss was a flop. The $25 million budget was not exceeded and it didn’t appear to come close. There could have been a number of reasons for this. Advertising was not good for this film. In fact, I think the only real thing I heard about it was the hook up of Cornish and Phillippe and the subsequent break-up of Phillippe and Witherspoon. Even then, I wasn’t positive of the name of the film. At that point it was “that film being shot in Texas.” Later I learned plenty about this film, including a cast that would have made it impossible for me to skip this.

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Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Barry Watson, Jessica Biel, Stephen Collins, Catherine Hicks, David Gallagher, Mackenzie Rosman
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: June 10, 2008

It’s time again for another season of the semi-clean drama, 7th Heaven to be released. Last season, I commented on how great the show was and I still feel pretty much the same way. It has its moments of greatness, offering some fun times and plenty of talking. Despite having a preacher for a parent, this household sure holds its share of drama. There is a soap opera feel to it that certainly allows people that wouldn’t find interest in a religious family to get involved with this one.

I watched the show through the majority of its run when it was on television. It wasn’t my favorite show, though when I connected with it during my last review it reminded me of why I watched it in the first place. Aaron Spelling, the producer of this show, along with such popular options as Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, and even Charlie’s Angels certainly knew how to pick projects where the characters would be appealing to the audience watching them. 7th Heaven is certainly not going to be a show suitable for everyone, though it is important to note that there is much more here than the average person will be expecting.

Release Information:
7th Heaven had an extremely long run of eleven seasons, which is rare for most television dramas. The show began in 1996 and only recently ended in 2007. The show was not meant to go through eleven seasons. Actually it was canceled in the tenth season, but the final show received such good ratings it ended up being extended for another season. These box sets, released by Paramount and CBS offer all of the hour long episodes with minor, if any, editing.

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Writer: Annmarie Morais
Director: Ian Igbal Rashid
Cast: Tre Armstrong, Boyd Banks, Cle Bennett, Ardon Bess, Conrad Coates, Keyshia Cole
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: April 29, 2008

You know, I liked Save the Last Dance. It was one of the first movies to start the dance craze in movies. From there, the less likable Honey, Step Up, the crappy sequel Step Up 2: The Streets and other movies were released. They were released to the point where any mention of another dance themed movie was met with groans, not only by myself and fellow reviewers, but by the general public who were getting tired of the same sub-standard story being rehashed over and over again.

I fully admit that I went into this movie prepared to hate it. I’d seen my fill of semi-good dancing with less than stellar acting and a recycled plot. What I wasn’t prepared for was the freshness of How She Move. The dancing, the acting and the plot were all excellent. While How She Move might be a dance movie, it isn’t the same ol’ dance movie you expect to watch time and again as each one is produced. This movie has more than just rhythm. It has spirit!

Release Information:
How She Move made its film debut at the Sundance Film festival on January 23, 2007. Oddly enough, it wasn’t until January 25, 2008 when the film was able to make its big screen debut. The film, which was distributed by Paramount, has received mostly good reviews and is deemed one of the better dance movies out there.

Paramount has decided to release How She Move. It was made available on April 29, 2008. It can be purchased at your local retailer such as Wal-Mart or Best Buy or it can be purchased online at the store’s site. It can also be purchased online at Amazon where it is available for $19.99.

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Writers: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: Eleanor Powell, James Stewart, Virginia Bruce, Una Merkel, Sid Silvers, Buddy Epsen, Ann Sothern, Robert Young, Lionel Barrymore, John Carroll, Red Skelton, Jack Benny, George Murphy, Binnie Barnes, Jane Powell, Tony Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Walter Pidgeon, Ann Miller, Russ Tamblyn, José Ferrer, Merle Oberon, Helen Traubel, Doe Avedon, Howard Keel, Ann Blyth, Dolores Gray, Vic Damone, Monty Woolley, Ann Sothern, Barry Sullivan, Carmen Miranda, Louis Calhern, Ricardo Montalban, Ann Harding
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Bros.
Release Date: April 8, 2008

I love musicals. There are romantic musicals. There are entertaining musicals. There are cheesy musicals. They really don’t make musicals like they did in the old days. Many big name actors have starred in musicals and while not every storyline for a musical is logical nor does it make a lot of sense the entertainment value of the singing, acting and dancing are what make these movies worth watching.

I had never seen any of the musicals in the Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3 box set collection. While I had heard of many of the actors and seen most of them in other movies, I’d only heard of Kismet out of the nine movies included in this box set. I figured the set couldn’t be all that bad. With names like James Stewart, Jack Benny, Lionel Barrymore, Eleanor Powell, Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Richardo Montalban, and Red Skelton, it is hard to argue about the quality of the acting, but I have realized that I should be prepared for anything. Luckily, while this certainly is a diverse group of films to put together in one set, I wasn’t too disappointed with what I found in this set.

Release Information:
The nine movies that are included in the Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3, were all originally released from dates that range from the 1930s-1950s. Hit the Deck was released in March of 1955. Born to Dance was released in November of 1936. Lady be Good was released in September of 1941.

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Writers: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: Reginald C. Hayes, Tracee Ellis Ross, Persia White, Golden Brooks, Khalil Kain, Keesha Sharp, Jill Marie Jones
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount Home Video
Release Date: February 12, 2008

I had the chance to review Girlfriends - The Second Season back in October of 2007. Now, I am adding Season Three to my DVD arsenal. I liked what I saw of the second season of the show. The only problem I really had with it, as I mentioned in my last review, was how some of the episodes could be more melodramatic then I care to watch. Still, the show has been popular enough to make it eight years, and being in the middle of its eighth season has to mean something.

Release Information:
Girlfriends made its network debut on what was then UPN (now its CW) way back on September 11, 2000. The show quickly garnered attention and an audience, so it was pretty clear early into the series that it would be renewed for a second season. The third season of the show features 25 episodes. Those episodes ran from late September of 2002, until the two part finale in May of 2003.

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Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Roy Dotrice, Ron Perlman, Linda Hamilton, Richard Partlow
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: February 5, 2008

The third and final season of Beauty and the Beast is available in this final box set. This show is known for being one of the most advertised shows that was seen by such a small amount of people. However, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show there is a cult following that has been waiting for this set to come. I have to admit that I am not one of these people.

I, like most people, understand the premise of the show, so I figured that reviewing the third and final season, even though I have never seen any of the other episodes, wouldn’t be a problem. The third season is smaller than the other two seasons. There are 12 episodes in all, but fans that remember these episodes will love them. There is drama and kidnapping amongst other themes that make the season exciting. Things are pretty high-paced towards the end of this series and though I haven’t seen the other seasons and it’s likely that I won’t, I still considered this a pretty decent season.

Release Information:
February 5, 2008 was the big date when the final season of Beauty and the Beast hit the shelves. While the show was not a huge success, die-hard fans remain loyal to this series. CBS and Paramount have released this season which offers all 12 of the final episodes. The one downside for fans is that this set does not include any special features of any kind. You can pick this up at Amazon for around $34 for the three disc set.

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Writers: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: Nicole Ari Parker, Malinda Williams, Vanessa Williams, Aaron Meeks, Rockmond Dunbar, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Taylor Love, Boris Kodjoe
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: February 5, 2008

I absolutely loved the movie Soul Food. It’s hard to believe it came out over ten years ago, in 1997. After the success of the movie, the powers that be decided to write a television series that was based on the movie. I was in college during most of the series. I had to try and balance that and home life, so I didn’t always have the time to watch, Soul Food the series. When I did, I loved it. The great characters, entertaining storylines for each episode and season, and the amazing cast made this show a winner.

With that in mind, I come into this review, in the third season of the show. This was one of those, get your comfort food, blanket, and curl up on the sofa with the fire burning nearby kind of shows. I started watching it because I’m a huge fan of Vanessa Williams. I kept watching because Soul Food had one of the best ensemble casts I’ve seen. The story revolves around three sisters and their loves and lives. As you can imagine, that means there is plenty of drama, love, romance, family issues, anger, misunderstandings and more.

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Writer: Scot Armstrong, Leslie Dixon
Director: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly
Cast: Ben Stiller, Jerry Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman, Carlos Mencia, Rob Corddry
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 26, 2007

Ben Stiller and the Farrelly brothers (Peter and Bobby) first worked together on There’s Something about Mary. After that movie, both Stiller and the Farrellys skyrocketed in popularity. Despite their success, Stiller and the Farrellys have not had a chance to work together in the nine years since Mary was released. The Heartbreak Kid is their first collaboration since then and I have to say that it’s one that would have been better left behind them both. This movie is so incredibly trite that it could have been described in a one word review. Disappointing.

I would ask for my money back, but I got this one for free. While I am normally a fan of Stiller and his throw caution to the wind, silly, comedic moments, this movie was just uninteresting. I attempted to find something nice to say about this before writing a review about it, but I am still trying to come up with something and the review cannot wait forever.

Instead, I will tell you what I do know about my feelings regarding this movie. It was boring. The laughs were timed wrong. The directing was elementary, at best. At 115 minutes, this movie is way too long. There is not one character that is dynamic, remotely interesting, or relatable. In short, I would have rather clipped my toenails for two hours then wasted my time watching this drivel.

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Cast: Carmen Electra
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount Home Video
Release Date: December 18, 2007

The idea of losing weight and toning up by dancing is nothing new. Add in the idea that instead of straight dancing you will be doing a striptease and you should have a hit on your hands. Women love the idea of looking and feeling sexy. They also don’t mind the idea that they will be able to show off in front of their man. So, this type of DVD should be popular.

I have been a fan of Carmen and her body for as long as I can remember. She’s beautiful and has an amazing body, so seeing her on the cover of a workout video almost makes sense. I told myself that I would purchase the first set of Aerobic Striptease videos that Carmen Electra put out, but I never did. I never got around to purchasing them, so when this one was released, I decided that I could always buy the other videos later.

Release Information:
In the Bedroom is the latest in a string of Carmen Electra workout videos. The goal, teaching the average woman the benefits of aerobic striptease, is an idea that came out with Carmen’s first videos, which were initially released in 2004. In the Bedroom and Vegas Strip, Carmen’s newest videos, were released on December 18, 2007. This is just in time for the holidays. It offers your favorite someone a way to drop those holiday pounds or to just learn a new way to please their partner. In the Bedroom has a runtime of 75 minutes and can be purchased at Amazon for just under $13.

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