Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz in "What Happens In Vegas"
courtesy of Fox Home entertainment
“Viva This Vegas”

The stars of a movie can really make a difference in the entertainment value of a film. The new to DVD film “What Happens In Vegas” is a run of the mill comedy made better than it should be by the two sparkling star performances by Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher. They take a plot you could write in your sleep and make it a romantic comedy gold mine. Some stars aren’t worth the money they are paid but in this film Diaz and Kutcher earned every nickel.

At the start of the movie Joy McNally (Diaz) gets dumped by her dense boyfriend Mason (Jason Sudeikis). Meanwhile also in New York City, Jack Fuller (Kutcher) gets fired from his job – by his father (Treat Williams). Rather than wallow in her misery Joy takes off to Vegas with her best friend Tipper (Lake Bell). Also headed to Sin City is Jack accompanied by his best friend Hater (Rob Corddry).

Of course Jack and Joy meet up, drink up, and end up married. This could be erased by a quick annulment or divorce except Jack borrows a quarter from Joy, puts it in a slot machine, and wins three million dollars. That three million is suddenly community property.

The presiding judge (Dennis Miller) at their court case to determine who gets the money, sentences them to stay married for six months and go to counseling. They also have to share Jack’s apartment, which is a pigpen. When Joy moves in the war of the roses is on.

Cameron Diaz is always good in her movies and in this one she shines. She is beautiful, romantic, funny and endearing. Everybody is pulling for Joy to find some joy. Opposite her Kutcher is the perfect match. He is a little dorky, a little handsome, a little immature and a whole lot romantic. The people they play are meant for each other but it takes a whole movie for them to get there.

This movie is the romantic comedy “Made of Honor”, another recent DVD release, wanted to be. The stars in that film are a little dull compared to Diaz and Kutcher. Whether fighting or loving, the “Vegas” duo is hot from start to finish.

If you just want a movie that is fun to watch and fun to remember, then get “What Happens In Vegas.” This is a good time film from beginning to end. Get it fast because word is going to get out that this is a fun film worth your time and money. Viva this “Vegas”!

“Married Life” is a comedic look at how a good marriage can go wrong – deadly wrong. Chris Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Patricia Clarkson and Pierce Brosnan star in this tale about a man who decides to kill his wife rather than divorce her. He has fallen in love with another woman and just doesn’t want to cause his wife the pain and shame the affair will bring.

Chris Cooper is the husband, Clarkson is the wife, McAdams is the mistress and Brosnan is Cooper’s friend who also wants McAdams. It all gets complicated but it is also fun to watch.

Later this month “Desperate Housewives” will be coming back to our TV screens with the start of its fifth season. This is the one where everything jumps ahead five years. So to get ready you need to get the DVD of “Desperate Housewives: The Complete Fourth Season Sizzling Secrets Edition.”

All of the fourth season episodes are there plus extras such as a “behind the scenes” with the making of the tornado set, deleted scenes, bloopers, etc. It is chock full of additional things that make the DVD even more enjoyable.

So get back into the Wisteria Lane mood with “Desperate Housewives: The Complete Fourth Season Sizzling Secrets edition.”

While catching up on “Desperate Housewives” you will also want to get and watch “Heroes: Season 2.” The writers strike caused problems for a lot of shows, and “Heroes” was one of them. It has been quite some time since we have seen a new episode of this show and so the DVD is a way to get caught up and refreshed.

There is also an unaired episode that shows where the show might have gone had the strike not intervened. Now that alone is worth the price of the DVD. You will also get an advance look at what is going to happen in the first episode of Season 3. Wow!

Later this month the new Nicholas Cage movie “Bangkok Dangerous” will open. This is a remake of an original movie by the Pang Brothers. It too was called “Bangkok Dangerous” and it is now available on DVD.

The movie is about a professional killer who finds a chance at redemption through the love of a woman. But putting his sociopathic ways behind him is not an easy thing to do. The redemption is a tough one and there are many, many obstacles along the way.

You will want to see this Pang Brothers original before you see the new Nicholas Cage version. The new one is also written and directed by the Pangs. 

Life doesn’t always follow a predictable path. This is shown clearly in the new film “The Art of Travel.” Christopher Masterson of “Malcolm In the Middle” fame stars as a young man who has his life spelled out in front of him, but then on the day of his wedding he finds h is fiancé’ is cheating with his best friend..

He ends up going on his South American honeymoon alone and finds adventures he never dreamed he would have. Brooke Burns and Johnny Messner co-star in this film that highlights the unpredictability of life.

In 1993 Tim Burton created an unorthodox “holiday” movie. It was an animated film titled “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and it was unlike anything anyone had seen before. After its initial release, and a short run on video, it went in the Disney vault and is finally being released on DVD.

The DVD is titled “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector’s Edition” and it has loads of extras in addition to being re-mastered for this showing. If you have never had the experience of seeing this Halloween/Christmas combination then you don’t want to miss it.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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