New to DVD: 'Real Steel' '50/50' and 'Paranormal Activity 3'
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Hugh Jackman gives instructions to Atom while his son, played by Dakota Goyo, looks on in "Real Steel."
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Robots long have been movie mainstays, whether they're mismatched as in "Star Wars," gentle visitors from outer space discovering their humanity as in "Iron Giant" or handling man's menial or unpleasant chores as in "I, Robot."
In "Real Steel," we get 8-foot, 2,000-pound steel robots that have replaced flesh-and-blood fighters in the ring. Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) once put up his dukes, now he just drives his 'bot around, booking his remote-controlled robot in small-time fights at Texas carnivals and the like.
He's also wracking up losing wagers and angry debt collectors until he hatches a scheme to trade his parental rights to the son he hasn't seen in years for some cash. The mother of 11-year-old Max (Dakota Goyo) has died, and her wealthy sister is desperate to gain custody. Charlie cuts a secret cash deal to watch him over the summer.
"Real Steel," based in part on the Richard Matheson short story "Steel" that inspired a 1963 episode of "The Twilight Zone," tracks the pair as they play a high-tech high-stakes version of Rock 'em, Sock 'em Robots. Some scenes seem straight out of "Warrior" except instead of mixed-martial arts fighters as underdogs, we get mixed-metallic fighters and a father-son team as underdogs.
We've seen this dad-son story before, but Dakota Goyo, a Canadian who was young Thor in "Thor," is spunky and cute. The opponents may not have beating hearts but, thanks to Max, Charlie and their remarkably expressive robot Atom with his glowing blue eyes, the movie manages to have heart.
The actors explain in the extras that it's due in part to director Shawn Levy's decision, on the advice of producer Steven Spielberg, to build 19 full-scale robots. Mr. Jackman says, "Having a real robot for the actor makes a huge difference." Another featurette shows how boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard got in the ring to show Mr. Jackman how to throw a real punch.
The deleted scenes add a whole thread regarding a sentimental butterfly charm that was dropped from the movie.
-- Post-Gazette
The title "50/50" refers to a cancer victim's chance of survival. It also reflects the film's comic/dramatic ratio -- and the chance of disaster in trying to combine the two.
There's nothing malignant about our hero, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Here he's Adam, whose well-ordered life is progressing just fine, in its quietly uneventful way. He likes his job at a Seattle public radio station, and he has a satisfactory if not exactly thrilling relationship with Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard), his live-in girlfriend. The closest thing to a problem he has is best bud Kyle (Seth Rogen), a sloppy, potty-mouth, ne'er-do-well womanizer who hates Rachael and constantly badgers Adam to find another Eve.
But Adam has a pain in his back. That drives him to his doctor, who callously delivers the news that he has a rare form of spinal cancer.
Kyle's relentlessly one-track advice is for Adam to hit the cruising circuit and bed as many chicks as he can, with whatever remaining time he has. It makes for a dubious support system.
Sitcom goes serious, or at least more muted, when the chemotherapy sessions and hair-loss kick in, and Adam is forced to share the company of a trio of older men in similarly grim circumstances.
To the extent that it works, this delicate balancing act depends on the very appealing Mr. Gordon-Levitt. Most of the laughs are officially delegated to Mr. Rogen, in one of his better roles. Some of the film's best scenes involve visits by Adam's Alzheimer-ridden father and control-freak mother. Anjelica Huston comes dangerously close to caricature but stops just short of it -- to good final effect.
The result is neither great drama nor great comedy but sufficient to make you care.
Extras include a featurette, commentary with the filmmakers and deleted scenes.
-- Post-Gazette
The third "Paranormal" movie in three years spins the clock back to 1988 when previously introduced sisters Katie and Kristi are girls living with their mom, Julie (Lauren Bittner), and her partner Dennis (Christopher Nicholas Smith) in suburban California. He's a wedding videographer. So, when things start to go bump in the night -- again -- he sets up cameras around the house.
Eerie evidence starts to mount that something sinister is happening and maybe Kristi's imaginary friend has a mean streak. Young Jessica Tyler Brown is particularly good as the cherubic Kristi, who scares us, as much as we're scared for her, while Chloe Csengery is Katie, who has a literal hair-raising experience.
"Paranormal Activity 3," directed by the "Catfish" team of Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, is surprisingly effective as it takes a terrifying turn and leaves the door open for a fourth film to further connect the dots. Not to mention the dread and the goose bumps.
-- Post-Gazette
ALSO THIS WEEK:
• "The Whistleblower" (2 stars): An American police officer (Rachel Weisz) uncovers corruption in post-war Bosnia.
• "Annie Hall": The Woody Allen masterpiece is being released on Blu-ray.
• "Underdog: Complete Collector's Edition": There's no need to fear, the set includes all 62 episodes.
• "Mannix: The Sixth Season": Mike Connors stars in this TV detective series.
• "Limelight": A look at the 1980s club scene in New York.
• "Ancient Aliens: Season 3": Cable series about possible early close encounters.
• "Queen of the Sun: What Are The Bees Telling Us?": Documentary looks at the global bee crisis.
• "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Season One": Gil Gerard plays the American astronaut who finds himself in a future world because of a space accident.
• "Kojak: The Complete Movie Collection": Film stars the detective played by Telly Savalas.
"Meet the Browns: Season 4": Tyler Perry's cable series stars David Mann.
• "Timmy Time: Timmy Needs a Bath": A look at the life of barnyard preschoolers.
• "Wings": Restored World War I drama available for the first time on Blu-ray and DVD.
• "Happy, Happy": An optimistic young mother believes happiness is vital.
• "Morocco Fantasia": A 2009 concert shot in Morocco.
• "Memphis: Original Broadway Production": The Tony-winning production was filmed live on Broadway.
• "The Woman": Evil lurks behind a suburban American family.
• "Lethal Ladies Collection, Vol 2": Includes the Roger Corman films "The Arena," "Cover Girl Models" and "Fly Me."
• "Punished": A real estate tycoon's daughter is kidnapped and killed.
• "The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom": A coming-of-age story that explores the tension between creating identity and finding it within.
-- Rick Bentley, McClatchy Newspapers
First Published January 26, 2012 12:00 am
