Confessions of a Shopaholic
Touchstone, $29.99/$32.99; Blu-ray, $39.99
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Touchstone, $29.99/$32.99; Blu-ray, $39.99
The first novel in Sophie Kinsella's "Shopaholic" series was published in 2001, when the economy was booming and consumption was more happily conspicuous. The movie adaptation "Confessions of a Shopaholic," starring Isla Fisher as a free-spender who becomes involved with a frugal magazine editor, was released in early 2009, as a global recession neared its trough. Fisher makes an appealing romantic comedy lead, and there's something undeniably fulfilling about watching people spend money, as opposed to, say, nervously monitor an investment portfolio. Still, nearly every aspect of "Confessions of a Shopaholic" -- its stock plot, its obsession with designer goods -- feels out-of-date. The DVD's bonus features are limited to some deleted scenes and a blooper reel, while the Blu-ray throws in a few fashion-focused featurettes.
--
Inkheart
New Line, $28.98; Blu-ray, $35.99
A general glut of kid-targeted live-action fantasy films kept "Inkheart" from drawing the audience it deserved in theatrical release, but the lively adaptation of Cornelia Funke's juvenile adventure novel ought to thrive on home video. Brendan Fraser plays a single dad with the power to bring fictional characters to life, and to banish real people into the pages of book. Breezy fun ensues, cut with clever literary references. The "Inkheart" DVD comes with a featurette about bibliophilia; the Blu-ray adds a commentary track from director Iain Softley and behind-the-scenes featurettes.
--
Phoebe in Wonderland
Image, $27.98
The indie drama "Phoebe in Wonderland" stars Elle Fanning as a precocious 11-year-old who deals with a crippling social disorder by taking the lead in a school production of "Alice in Wonderland." But her behavior outside of the play becomes so erratic that it tears apart her academic parents, played by Bill Pullman and Felicity Huffman. "Phoebe" focuses too hard on how an irresolvable problem can be fixed with the right combination of approaches, although writer-director Daniel Barnz's anxieties about child-rearing -- combined with harrowing scenes of the heroine's debilitating obsessiveness -- are real enough to earn the movie's moments of uplift. The DVD contains no special features.
--
The Pink Panther 2
MGM, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.99