New Releases on DVD – November 2009

The Accidental Husband

When New York’s most practical-minded ‘doctor of love’ convinces one of her distraught callers to break off her engagement, the caller’s unpredictable fiance decides to get revenge. Creating a fake marriage license, he ‘accidentally’ weds himself to the doctor, who is already engaged. A wildly unpredictable romance is set in motion that neither one expects to find. Cast: Uma Thurman, Colin Firth, Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Rated PG-13

Angels & Demons

Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of the most powerful underground organization in history, the Illuminati. Upon learning of an unstoppable terrorist act against the Vatican, Langdon travels to Rome and joins forces with Italian scientist Vittoria Vetra and together they will follow the 400-year-old Path of Illumination that leads to the Vatican’s only chance for survival. Cast: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Armin Mueller-Stahl.  Based on the novel by Dan Brown. Rated PG-13

The Answer Man

Reclusive author Arlen Faber (Jeff Daniels) — who’s intentionally been out of the spotlight since he penned an inspirational self-help book two decades ago — finds himself in need of spiritual healing in this quirky indie romance. Though everyone still looks to Arlen for answers, he’s an emotional cipher without a clue … until he meets an angst-ridden, overprotective single mom (Lauren Graham) and a recovering alcoholic (Lou Taylor Pucci). Rated R

Bruno

Flamboyantly gay Austrian television reporter Bruno (Sacha Baron Cohen) stirs up trouble with unsuspecting guests and large crowds through brutally frank interviews and painfully hilarious public displays of homosexuality. An incredible chameleon who completely disappears behind his flaming alter ego, the bold Baron Cohen serves up nonstop laughs in this comedy by successfully rubbing people the wrong way. Rated R

Four Christmases

Every Christmas, Brad and Kate escape divorced parents and exasperating relatives by getting on a plane. But this year, heavy fog shuts down the airport, forcing the couple to celebrate Christmas with four sets of relatives. Cast: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Voight, Sissy Spacek. Rated PG-13

Funny People

When a famous comedian discovers that he has less than a year to live, he decides to return to the places and people that matter to him the most. Cast: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman. Rated R

I Love You, Beth Cooper

When bookish high school valedictorian Denis Cooverman (Paul Rust) uses his graduation speech to express his adoration for resident hottie Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere), he gets the shock of his life when she responds by showing up on his doorstep that very night. Rated PG-13

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Manny and the herd discover a lost world of ferocious dinosaurs while Scrat goes nuts over the beautiful Scratte. Voices: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah. Rated PG

Is Anybody There?

Growing up in a seaside nursing home run by his parents takes its toll on 10-year-old Edward (Bill Milner), but things begin to look up for the lonely boy when a retired magician (Michael Caine) with a zest for life moves in. Set in the 1980s, this poignant tale follows the developing friendship between Clarence — a spirited old troublemaker hiding from his past — and death-obsessed Edward, a youngster unable to live life in the moment. Rated PG-13

My Sister’s Keeper

A former defense attorney (Cameron Diaz) finds herself back in the courtroom when she and her husband (Jason Patric) are sued for medical emancipation by their 11-year-old daughter, Anna (Abigail Breslin), who is expected to donate a kidney to her dying older sister. The subsequent trial tests ethical boundaries and the limits of parental love. Joan Cusack and Alec Baldwin round out the cast in this powerful drama based on Jodi Picoult’s novel. Rated PG-13

Not Forgotten

Every family has its secrets, and it’s those secrets that come back to haunt banker Jack Bishop (Simon Baker) when the disappearance of his daughter, Toby (Chloe Moretz), disrupts his picture-perfect life in a Southwest border town. Forced to face his past, Bishop travels to Mexico and back into the thrall of his former faith — the death-worshipping cult of Santa Muerte — as he searches for Toby.  Rated R

Nothing Like the Holidays

Debra Messing and John Leguizmo head up an all-star cast in this multicultural ensemble comedy that follows a trio of Puerto Rican siblings on their way home to Chicago for a Christmas season family reunion. Directed by Alfredo De Villa, the holiday tale also features performances by Alfred Molina, Luis Guzman, Jay Hernandez, Freddy Rodriguez, Vanessa Ferlito and Melonie Diaz. Rated PG-13

Star Trek

Capt. Kirk (Chris Pine) and his trusted team on the starship USS Enterprise boldly go where no man has gone before in this installment of Gene Roddenberry’s sci-fi franchise that follows the early days of the intergalactic adventurers. The crew includes Spock (Zachary Quinto), Chekov (Anton Yelchin), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Sulu (John Cho). Eric Bana co-stars, and Leonard Nimoy appears as an older version of Spock. Rated PG-13

The Taking of Pelham 123

When a group of hijackers led by criminal mastermind Ryder (John Travolta) take the passengers aboard a New York subway train hostage and demand a king’s ransom, it’s up to subway dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) to bring them down. This action thriller — an update of the 1974 film — also stars James Gandolfini, John Turturro, Luis Guzmán and Michael Rispoli.  Rated R

The Ugly Truth

The search for ‘Mr. Right’ has left Abby, a romantically challenged morning show producer hopelessly single. She receives an eye-opening education when she gets teamed up with Mike, a hardcore TV personality who wants to prove his theories on what makes men tick by helping her find true love. The unexpected results may surprise them both. Cast: Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Eric Winter, John Michael Higgins, Nick Searcy, Kevin Connolly, Cheryl Hines. Rated R

Up

Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Junior Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. Rated PG

Whatever Works

While falling for a young Southern belle (Evan Rachel Wood), an aging New York City eccentric (Larry David) finds himself caught in a series of bizarre situations involving the girl’s parents and his own Greenwich Village group of pals. Written and directed by Woody Allen, this romantic comedy also stars Patricia Clarkson, Ed Begley Jr., Michael McKean and Henry Cavill. Rated PG-13