Jack Black in "Nacho Libre"
courtesy of Paramount Home Video
"Jack's Back, and Video Is Where He Belongs"

"Nacho Libre" is now out on DVD and it stars Jack Black. Black is a funny, funny man. Of that there can be no doubt. Still a little Jack Black goes a long way and in "Nacho Libre" he is in just about every scene. That is too much Jack Black for one movie to hold and still be entertaining. "Nacho Libre" sags down under the weight of his personality about half way through but perks back up at the end. So you have a good start and a good finish but all that is in between is overindulgence of the worst kind.

One of the great things about watching a movie on DVD is you can temper your enjoyment by stopping the film and returning to it later. I did this with "Nacho Libre." Whenever I would reach a point where I was overdosing on Jack Black, I would stop the DVD and then return to it later when I was refreshed.

It actually worked as I never got just sick and tired of him in the film. I saw him in increments and it worked much better that way. If you don't stop/start it you will find that "Nacho Libre" is one of those movies where all of the funniest moments have been shown in the trailer for the film. Everything that remains can be viewed as just run of the mill entertainment. You expect more; you hope for more, but you don't get it; unless you employ the Cooper method of spacing your viewing of this film out.

While you are struggling through "Nacho Libre" your kids will be flying through "The Fox and the Hound." The 25th Anniversary Edition of this Disney classic is now out on DVD - with a few extras thrown in for good measure. 

Still the selling point is the story which tells of the friendship between a fox and a hound. These species are supposed to be veritable enemies but they don't know that. They just know they are friends, and that is the way they want to stay. But forces are at work to make them revert to their true natures - or what is supposed to be their true natures.

This is a beautifully animated, wonderfully enjoyable story. Make sure you get the "25th Anniversary Edition of the Fox and the Hound" for your family. Tonight!

For sci-fi lovers there is a new DVD out you will not want to miss. It is titled "Final Days of Planet Earth" and stars Daryl Hannah, Campbell Scott and Gil Bellows. They help create a movie that can be viewed as a serious "alien invasion" film, or a spoof on that type of movie. The choice is in the viewing manner you take to it.

The plot involves an alien species tagging along on a moon probe mission when it returns to earth. These alien insect type creatures feed off humans in order to survive. So you can see the quandary.

Take it seriously or take it as a spoof - the choice is yours. Either way you will find something to like in "Final Days On Planet Earth."

"Night of Terror" is a DVD that concerns a family in trouble. There is a little unfaithfulness going on between the main members of the family. But when they try to get away for the weekend they run into a mad killer. Now that is a real problem.

Mitzi Kapture and Nick Mancuso co-star in this supposed to be suspenseful movie. Somehow the tension in the script didn't make its way into my brain. I was less than impressed.

Michelle Williams and John Diehl co-star in "Land of Plenty" which is a film about post 9/11 America. In this movie two people decide to investigate a shooting for wildly opposite reasons. They both are trying to do "what's right" but their motives are unique.

This movie explores our ideas and suspicions in the world after 9/11 and offers great insight into how we now act and react to incidents that might not have bothered us before. Williams and Diehl are solid in their roles and help create a movie that challenges us to think.

"Bad Santa" was a big hit for Billy Bob Thornton, come to think of it I think it was his last big hit. Everything since then has gone down the tubes. So what better for your enjoyment than "Bad Santa: Director's Cut."

Terry Swigoff is the director of the film and he gives his commentary as the movie progresses. Plus you get comments from Editor Robert Hoffman. They explain why certain scenes should be moved, deleted, added or whatever.

The movie is still Billy Bob at his rudest and crudest as a department store Santa with a drinking problem. Lauren Graham and the late John Ritter co-star in this quirky and depressing DVD. Others have found it to be a laugh riot - but not me.

 

 

 

 

 

©2006 Jackie K. Cooper

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