In theaters

LUCKY YOU, directed by Curtis Hanson, written by Hanson and Eric Roth, 124 minutes, rated PG-13.

Curtis Hanson’s new movie about casino gambling, “Lucky You,” recently opened in Bangor, which is about as timely as it gets. Any worries about whether there is an additional tax to see the film, however, should be put to rest.

For the moment, Augusta has little interest in this market and the film, as I write, presses on, with no one trying to swindle the movie out of its harvest.

Not that there’s much to take. Upon its release, the movie squared off against “Spider-Man 3,” and to say it lost its hand at the box office is an understatement. Still, in spite of being pitted against that movie – and after sitting for the past two years on Warner Brothers’ shelf (never a good sign) – the film isn’t the disaster some might expect it to be.

True, its title is regrettable, its characters’ names seem culled from the dust bin of bad clich?s, and it doesn’t pack the heat of the great gambling films, such as “The Hustler,” or even the absolute cool of the poker game in “Casino Royale.”

But this leisurely paced movie, which Hanson co-wrote with Eric Roth, has an introspective vibe that’s appealing, even if it doesn’t drum up much excitement along the way.

Eric Bana is Huck Cheever, a down-on-his-luck gambler whose poker skills were honed in childhood, when his father, the celebrated poker player L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall, excellent), taught him how to play at the dinner table.

Huck learned from the best, but he also learned from a cad. When L.C.’s relationship with Huck’s mother dissolved after years of mistreating her, his relationship with Huck soured along with it. Now, they circle each other with wary unease, a feeling that’s amplified when each enters a Vegas championship poker tournament, the prize for which is north of $2 million. Is Huck good enough to beat his father? The past says no. Unlike L.C., who respects the game, Huck’s brash, impatient style continues to undermine him.

“Lucky You” balances its father-son drama with the melodrama unfolding in Huck’s romantic life. Long a player of women with the reputation to match it, he is drawn to the dullest, nicest person on Earth when he meets Billie Offer (Drew Barrymore), an aspiring singer who favors what appear to be handmade frocks, and who Huck beds, robs blind, and teaches plenty.

Their relationship is the film at its weakest – Bana and Barrymore have no chemistry – so it’s good news that Hanson (“L.A. Confidential,” “Wonder Boys”) has his memorable opening with Bana trying to hustle the savvy owner of a pawn shop, as well as Duvall, whose knowing asides prove a necessity as the tournament gets under way.

Grade: C+

On DVD

A slew of new releases are just out on DVD, including Sony’s re-release of “Rent,” with its Bohemian-wannabe characters whipping themselves into such a heated froth, they break a hip upon the film’s awkward leap from stage to screen.

The movie collapses in ways from which it doesn’t recover, though God knows it tries. Homelessness, death, drug addiction, sexuality, HIV and AIDS all are tackled, yet in spite of this, the movie packs the dramatic punch of a feather. Grade: C-

The partly animated “Arthur and the Invisibles” hails from Luc Besson, the French director best known for his bloody, action-packed thrillers (“La Femme Nikita,” “The Fifth Element”). Here, he departs radically from form, though his brisk narrative drive remains intact. In spite of its long running time, this derivative movie moves, with young Arthur (Freddie Highmore) miniaturized to mix with the creepy Minimoys, all in an effort to protect his grandparents’ estate. Madonna, Snoop Dogg and David Bowie are among the voice talent, and they’re good – much better than the frenetic script. Grade: C

Also for children is “Red Sox Baby,” a brief, curious DVD that some might consider propaganda for kids – and which others absolutely won’t. Ben Affleck narrates, with the DVD designed for those grown-up Red Sox fans who want to initiate their children into the tumultuous life of a Red Sox fan. Fans of the team will champion it, but die-hard fans of other teams (Yankees, anyone?) likely will bluster that it borders on child abuse. You know who you are. Discuss. Grade: C+

New to high-definition is Sony’s Blu-ray version of “Donnie Brasco,” a rich, sophisticated mob thriller that stars Johnny Depp and Al Pacino in terrific performances as Lefty and Donnie. One is a real mobster, the other an undercover FBI agent, but just look how similar they are – and how much each needs the other. The film joins the new standard DVD version in that it extends the story with an additional 20 minutes of never-before-seen footage. Watching each version back-to-back underscores the difference in the quality of sound and picture the high-definition movement offers. Grade: A-

Finally, Koch Vision presents “The Tower,” a two-disc, eight-part series from the BBC that offers a rousing overview of the Tower of London – and all its messy history, which is explored in detail. The series features a few clunky re-enactments, but it is insightful and comprehensive, covering significant ground in a history lesson that sweeps nearly a full millennium. Grade: B+

Visit www.weekinrewind.com, the archive of Bangor Daily News film critic Christopher Smith’s reviews, which appear Mondays and Fridays in Lifestyle, and weekends in Television as well as on bangordailynews.com. He may be reached at Christopher@weekinrewind.com.