A failed con job and a heroic rise are subjects of two new DVD releases this week.
• “The Hustle”: The biggest con in the new comedy “The Hustle” is the ball of comedy fire Rebel Wilson and the versatile Anne Hathaway have come together to make a movie that is going to be entertaining. That’s criminally not the case. What they have dropped is an insulting reimagining of the clever 1988 feature “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” built on uninspired writing and predictable plot twists.
The only way a movie built around con artists works is if the writing is so intelligent that at least one major twist will get a gasp from the audience. Check out “Ocean’s 8” for a great example. Sadly, the big twist from director Chris Addison is so obvious, the only way it could have been more transparent would have been to buy a major billboard outside every movie complex with the twist printed in massive letters.
It only takes a few minutes to realize “The Hustle” has little going for it other than Wilson and Hathaway.
• “Arrow: The Complete Seventh Season”: The series is based on the DC Comics character, but it’s anything but a comic book-inspired TV show. “Arrow”‘s core has always been family drama, which gets ramped up even more with this season as Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) faces a relative problem.
The season picks up with Queen’s decision to turn himself over to the FBI and reveal his identity as the Green Arrow to the public. For five months, his team is left behind to protect Star City. Once Queen gets out of prison, the series gains real steam, including a glimpse into the future.
There is plenty of action for those who like productions based on comic books, but “Arrow” is so much more.
Also on DVD
• “Perception”: Wes Ramsey stars in this tale of a real estate developer whose life is changed by a psychic reading.
• “The Harder They Come”: Young Jamaican man who wants to be a singer gets involved with corrupt record producers and drug pushers. Originally released in 1972.
• “Aniara”: Spaceship helping save the human race gets knocked off course.
• “The Assault”: Two women must flee after their plans for revenge go wrong. Tom Sizemore stars.
• “The Brink”: Manhunt is on when a police inspector embarks on a mission to crack down on a gold-smuggling scheme.
• “A Dog’s Journey”: Dog remains loyal despite going through multiple lives. Dennis Quaid stars.
• “S.W.A.T. Season 2”: Shemar Moore stars in this CBS series that follows an elite tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles.
• “American Gods: Season Two”: Epic fantasy battle between gods continues.
• “Blue Bloods: The Ninth Season”: Tom Selleck series about a family who has a deep connection to law enforcement.
• “Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season Six”: Andy Samberg stars in this network comedy set in a police station.
• “NCIS: New Orleans: The Fifth Season”: Scott Bakula headlines this series about a group of naval investigators working in the Big Easy.
• “The Walking Dead: Season 9”: This season of the cable series follows Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) to his exit from the world of zombies and death.
• “The Sun Is Also a Star”: Love story that looks at whether our lives are determined by fate or the random events of the universe.
On digital HD
• “Men in Black: International”: Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson plays members of the organization that monitors alien situations. Will be available on DVD and Blu-ray Sept. 3.
• “Booksmart”: Best friends and academic overachievers (Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein) realize they’ve missed out on pretty much all fun during high school. Look for it on DVD and Blu-ray Dec. 3.
• “Ma”: What looks to be a dream situation for a teen becomes a nightmare. Octavia Spencer stars. Will be on DVD and Blu-ray Sept. 3.
• “Head Full of Honey”: Charming senior can no longer hide his battle with Alzheimer’s. Nick Nolte stars.
• “Ambition”: A driven musician begins to worry when competitors begin to die bizarre deaths.
