Easy A - Emma Stone proves she’s one to watch with this teen comedy, in which she plays a high schooler plagued by geeky unpopularity—until a chance (untrue) rumor she starts about herself launches her into the spotlight. It’s not only a decent satire about the current state of affairs—when sleazy characters like the Jersey Shore cast make millions as public train wrecks—it’s also a terrific showcase for Stone’s comedic talents. Sure, it owes a lot to John Hughes, but who cares? Extras: Stone/director commentary, gag reel, Stone’s audition (DVD/BD); pop-up trivia, “Movies of the ‘80s” featurette, featurette on the vocabulary (BD)
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps - Gordon Gekko returns after a quarter-century, newly released from prison and hawking his new book and trying to reconcile with his estranged daughter (Carey Mulligan), who is dating a Wall Street hotshot (Shia LeBeouf). Michael Douglas isn’t in the movie nearly enough, and it’s kind of a snooze, but worth a look if you enjoyed the original. Extras: Oliver Stone commentary (DVD/BD); featurettes about the real Wall Street, deleted scenes, cast interviews and more (BD)
Salt - Somehow, Angelina Jolie has become Hollywood’s go-to action heroine du jour. If you can believe Angie has the ass-kicking ability of 10 men with those stickpin limbs of hers, then you can buy into this spy thriller that rips off the Bourne series with abandon and has a decent twist at the end. Extras: Filmmaker commentary, “The Looks of Evelyn Salt,” “The Ultimate Female Action Hero” (DVD/BD); making of, “The Real Agents,” “Creating a New Reality,” more (BD)
Step Up 3 - Street dancing comes to vivid life in this sequel, which features forgettable performances and plot holes galore—something about a ragtag group of underdog dancers who battle for desperately needed prize money to save their studio. No matter though; the crazy-creative and high energy breaking/crunking/parkouring choreography makes up for it. It’s available in three versions: single-disc DVD, 2-disc DVD/BD combo and 3-disc combo DVD/BD/ Blu-ray 3D. Extras: Music videos by Flo Rida, T-Pain and more, extra dance footage (DVD/BD); “Club Battle,” “Sneaker Montage,” “Capoeira,” “Opening World Jam” and more featurettes, deleted scenes (BD)
Devil - M. Night Shyamalan produced and co-wrote this thriller about five strangers trapped in an elevator who keep getting mysteriously killed off as the lights go out—turns out one of them is Beelzebub incarnate. Claustrophobics and Christians, beware. Extras: “Devil’s Meeting” featurette on the film’s mythology, “The Night Chronicles” preview with Shyamalan, “The Story” and deleted scenes (DVD/BD)
Also New
“Family Guy: It’s a Trap!” The third and final installment of the “Family Guy”’s Star Wars satire has Luke Skywalker (Chris) and Princess Leia (Lois) traveling to Tatooine to free Han Solo (Peter) who is caught in Jabba the Hut’s (Joe) lair. Meanwhile Darth Vader (Stewie) is conspiring to turn Luke to the Dark Side, and of course, those Ewoks make an appearance. Keep an ear out for the voices of Patrick Stewart, Adam West, Carrie Fisher and Rush Limbaugh as the reptilian Rancor. Fox celebrated the episode’s release along with the release of the complete “Family Guy” Star Wars trilogy box set with a red carpet event at Hollywood’s Supperclub, with a full house of VIPs including creator Seth MacFarlane (pictured, with Seth Green), Alyssa Milano, Bill Maher, Chris Evans and even Dr. Drew Pinsky on hand to check out a sneak preview and indulge in goodies at the chocolate fountain (and the open bar). Check out video from the event here.
