DVD Corner

Visit www.weekinrewind.com, the new archive of Christopher Smith’s movie reviews, which appear each week in the DVD Corner.

“Arrested Development: The Complete Second Season”: Well-developed lunacy backed by some of the best writing on television. It’s the dysfunction, the eccentricity and the general cluelessness of the Bluth family that allow this five-time Emmy Award-winning series to achieve its fresh blast of comedy. The irony begins with the series’ title – nothing about this show’s development is arrested. Throughout, formula is repeatedly tossed to the pavement, which likely is one reason the series almost was canceled by Fox; audience didn’t know how to respond to it, which some will remember was just the case when “Seinfeld” premiered. The 18 shows in this second season find the series hitting its stride without forgoing what it does best – taking chances, and then taking more, until you sense the wheels are about to come off, which they don’t. That’s a testament to the first-rate direction, the writing and the cast, which includes Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, Jeffrey Tambor, Tony Hale and Jessica Walter. Grade: A-

“Bewitched”: Befuddled. Going into this high-concept bore, you at least expect a reasonably entertaining twist on the popular ’60s television show on which it’s based. What you get instead is a movie that feels as if it crawled out of “George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead.” Somehow, zombies got hold of this movie and laid their undead imaginations all over it. The film squanders Will Ferrell, Nicole Kidman, Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine with a lame script that has no energy. It’s one of the worst sort of movies, cashing in on our collective memories of a pop-culture favorite that never had the luxury of being bankrolled by a large budget. Instead, the television series became a hit because it had to rely on what matters – good writing, strong characters, solid chemistry. The folks behind this movie have a different agenda. They’re betting that the hard work and creativity generated by people four decades ago will draw audiences to it. It will, but not without a caveat. Negative word of mouth will sink this DVD release soon enough. Grade: D

“Bob Newhart: Complete Second Season”: It’s the genius of Bob Newhart’s reactions – his blank, questioning expressions, his passive-aggressive outbursts, the sense that the world is having its way with him (and not the other way around) – that are the gift of Newhart’s comedy. Here, in this second season of “The Bob Newhart Show,” which aired during the 1973-74 television season, Newhart’s psychologist, Dr. Robert Hartley, takes group therapy to new lows and highs thanks to his troubled cast of characters. As Hartley’s wife, Suzanne Pleshette strikes the balance, keeping the series – and Hartley – as down to earth as possible; she’s his foil. Working against her are Bill Daily, Peter Bonerz, the towering Marcia Wallace, and a host of others. Highlights include the episodes “Fit, Fat and Forty-One” and “Mutiny on the Hartley.” Just try getting through them without stretching out on your own couch with a good laugh. Grade: A

“Fantastic Four”: Fantastic bore. It’s impossible to watch Tim Story’s disappointing superhero movie without being reminded of last year’s Academy Award-winning superhero movie, “The Incredibles.” In every sense, the latter movie – which also follows four superheroes trying to defeat a nasty little zealot with an attitude problem – is superior. Instead of breaking free from expectations and raising the bar for superhero movies, as Christopher Nolan did in “Batman Begins,” Story never goes deeper than the ink on a comic book. His film about five people whose DNAs are altered by a radioactive space cloud features no surprises. It’s never more than slight, uninteresting kitsch wrapped around some of the worst special effects of the year. Rated PG-13. Grade: D

“Herbie: Fully Loaded”: Here’s an idea – give Lindsay Lohan the keys to a car and see what wreckage comes of it. In “Herbie: Fully Loaded,” a remake of all those Disney “Herbie” movies some of us grew up on as kids, the good news is that the actress of so many recent car accidents has more than enough pluck to pull through; her likeability salvages a so-so script the moment she salvages a scrap VW Beetle from a junk yard. The car has a personality of its own, though the same can’t be said for Matt Dillon as the film’s villain; he’s out of his element here and some will question whether the paycheck was worth it. Still, like the car at the movie’s core, the film is good-natured entertainment. NASCAR factors big into the plot, but with marketing driving so much of the formula, it likely had to, didn’t it? Rated G. Grade: B-

“Kicking and Screaming”: A soccer movie for kids, with Will Ferrell in the lead as a beleaguered coach with esteem issues, Mike Ditka – yes, Mike Ditka – in a supporting role as Ferrell’s tense neighbor and Bob Dylan’s son, Jesse, in the directing chair. Add to this odd mix Robert Duvall as Ferrell’s competitive father, and what audiences get is a strange hybrid, indeed. Still, as strange hybrids go, this movie gets the job done for its core audience of tots – and for no one else. The script is limited, with broad, repetitive echoes of the superior “The Bad News Bears.” Ferrell occasionally scores a few laughs, but it’s a struggle, as adults will find as they push to get through the movie. Rated PG. Grade: C