Robert Tanitch reviews the latest DVDs
THE STAG (Arrow). A bride-to-be orders the best man (Andrew Scott) to take the groom-to-be (Hugh O’Connor) on a stag camping weekend with his mates. They are joined by her macho, bossy brother (Peter McDonald), the very last person you would want to spend the weekend with. John Butler’s modestly funny Irish comedy is about male friendship, modern Ireland and bonding. Much publicity has been made of the nudity; but this is not a stag movie. The actors are unbelievably coy and careful to reveal nothing.
THE LEGO MOVIE (Warner Brothers) records the triumph of an ordinary regular guy, a construction worker, who saves the world. The best film about toys remains Toy Story but the animation, colourful, full of gags and endless references to other movies, is an amazing technical achievement. It’s fast-moving, it never lets up; it’s hard, in fact, to keep up, there is so much to take in at one viewing. Warning, there is a very serious danger that if you buy The Lego Movie for a child you will keep it for yourself.
TOO LATE BLUES (Eureka). An idealistic jazz singer (Bobby Darin) has to choose between doing what he wants to do or what the commercial distributors want him to do. He falls in love with a singer (Stella Evans). Darin is not really up to the role. He isn’t really the sort of actor a John Cassavetes’s film needs. The best performance is by Everett Chamber as the embittered agent determined to ruin his client’s career. Chambers never acted again. A great pity; he would have made a wonderful Iago.
NEED FOR SPEED (Entertainment One). One thing is for certain and that is there is absolutely No Need for Speed whatsoever. Based on a mindless video game it’s nothing but driving. There’s no story, no characters you are interested in; it’s just stupid, crazy, reckless driving, which results in manslaughter and a prison sentence. The police get the wrong guy. Who cares?
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