Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada"
courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment
"Meryl Gets Mean, But Not Mean Enough"

When you watch the newly released DVD of "The Devil Wears Prada" remember that in Lauren Weisberger's biting novel about life in the world of high fashion, the boss from hell was truly a hell of a boss. In the movie version of her book the dragon lady gets de-fanged. She still rants and roars but she also is a little bit sympathetic, and that is what makes the movie just average rather than something special.

The story of the film is seen through the wide eyes of Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway). She comes to New York to become a big time journalist but ends up working at "Runway" magazine as an assistant to the ferocious and fearsome Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). This editor/diva demands all of Andy's time and attention, even when she is off the clock. This puts a strain on her relationships with her friends and boyfriend Nate (Adrian Grenier).

The DVD is fun to watch for the sarcastic remarks, and the inside look at the world of fashion. But if Meryl had stayed meaner the DVD/movie would be better.

Ron Howard's first directorial effort was a film he made with Roger Corman's studio titled "Grand Theft Auto." The Howard genius at putting a movie together was already in evidence in this fast paced and fun film about an elopement that just doesn't go right.

Howard not only directed the movie, he also starred in it with Nancy Morgan and Marion Ross. So take a look at the DVD of "Grand Theft Auto" and see where the director of "The Da Vinci Code" got his start.

How about a Steven Seagal adventure for the holidays? His latest DVD action film is "Attack Force." This one is about a military commander who loses his entire strike force team. When his superiors don't give good answers as to what happened, he takes it upon himself to investigate. This investigation could get him killed.

Seagal is always interesting to watch and he is still making movies that you can enjoy. They are action packed and have a basic plot. So get the DVD and have a Seagal night for Christmas.

The girls in your family will love "Molly: An American Girl On the Home Front." This movie based on the American Girl Book Series concerns a nine year old girl named Molly who has to cope with some hardships during the second world war. Played by Maya Ritter, Molly is sad to see her Dad go off to war to care for the troops and to see her mother going to work to help out. But then a girl named Emily comes to stay with them from England and Molly finds a new, true friend.

This is a positive film that your daughters will enjoy just as they did "Samantha: An American Girl Holiday" and "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure." If you don't have all these movies yet make sure you get them as a wonderful Christmas present.

Disney has come out with another innovative way to entertain your children. It is a blend of DVD animation and a board game. You have to see it work to believe how inventive and clever it is. The "Disney DVD Game World" is available on both the "Disney Princess Edition" and the "Disney Dogs Edition."

The virtual game allows kids to compete with each other in order to become a Disney Princess or to adopt a Disney dog. It's fun; it's funny; it's imaginative; and it is unique. So get these two Disney games immediately and let the fun begin.

Another fun adventure is in store for the kids when they watch the DVD of "What's New Scooby-Doo? Volume 10: Monstrous Tails." Yes the gang is gong to get involved with a variety of monsters in these new adventures. And the movies are going to be just scary, but not too scary, for the kids to totally enjoy.

There are five episodes on this DVD and that is a lot of "Scooby-Doo" fun. So get the DVD and let your kids watch any and all of the thrilling "monstrous" meetings. Scooby and the gang are waiting to start, so go get it!

 

 

 

 

 

©2006 Jackie K. Cooper

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