A beloved sitcom following a family adapting to change in isolation tops the new DVD releases for the week of Nov. 10.
• “Schitt’s Creek Complete Collection”: This year’s Emmys offered a well-earned victory in a tough year. Canadian sitcom “Schitt’s Creek” won a total of nine awards, completely sweeping the comedy category, from outstanding comedy series to acting wins by Eugene Levy’s no-nonsense Johnny Rose, Catherine O’Hara’s whimsically wacky Moira Rose, Daniel Levy’s ostentatious David and Annie Murphy’s vapid but lovable Alexis.
Created by Daniel and Eugene Levy, the peak comfort TV series could have plateaued as a selfish once-rich family struggling in small-town life, as the Roses lose their fortune and are forced to move to the titular town Johnny once bought as a joke. But as vile as the family comes across in the beginning of the series, its heartbeat grows as the characters mature and find their voices.
The delightfully outlandish performances (not to mention the wardrobe and wigs) give the series stakes in otherwise everyday situations, grounded by an equally wonderful supporting cast (Emily Hampshire’s sardonic motel clerk Stevie, Jennifer Robertson’s sweet-natured Jocelyn and Sarah Levy’s tragically cheerful Twyla just some of the best). A family thrown into chaos and not only growing from it, but developing a community through eventual empathy? It’s a perfect, timely binge, absurdities and all.
Also new on DVD
• “Bill & Ted Face the Music”: The infamous best friends (Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter) travel through time to cheat their way out of having to write a universe-saving song.
• “A Rainy Day in New York”: A young couple’s (Timothee Chalamet and Elle Fanning) romantic weekend in the city is thwarted by forces pulling them apart.
• “Dark Figures”: Hikers in Arizona encounter an evil spirit and its followers. Stars Kelly McCart, Shelby Lyn, Dan Nufer.
• “Guest House”: A couple (Mike Castle and Aimee Teegarden) is unpleasantly surprised to find an obnoxious partier (Pauly Shore) as a resident on their dream home’s property.
• “I Met a Girl”: A musician (Brenton Thwaites) sets off to find a love interest while struggling with schizophrenia.
• “Mortal”: A man (Nat Wolff) discovers he has powers right from ancient Norwegian gods. In Norwegian and English.
• “Spontaneous”: A pair of high school seniors (Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer) fight for survival as people begin to spontaneously combust.
• “Tennessee Johnson”: The 1942 biopic of the first-ever impeached U.S. President Andrew Johnson (Van Heflin) has been remastered.
• “Upside-Down Magic”: A girl (Izabela Rose) and her friends hone their powers at a magic school.
• “Penance”: Sundance Now thriller miniseries follows a married woman and grieving mother (Julie Graham) who hits it off with a man in her support group.
Digital HD
• “Jungleland”: A boxer (Jack O’Connell) and his brother (Charlie Hunnam) embark on a long, perilous journey to a supposed last match.
• “Lie Exposed”: A recovering alcoholic (Leslie Hope) poses for a Los Angeles photographer after receiving some bad news.
• “Out Stealing Horses”: A widower (Stellan Skarsgard) heads to the woods and reminisces about his youth. In Norwegian.
• “The Retreat”: A backpacking man (Grant Schumacher) is accosted by an evil Native American spirit.
• “Sasquatch Among Wildmen”: Documentary follows the history of the infamous folklore creature.
• “Sleepless Beauty”: An abducted woman (Polina Davydova) is tortured with sleep deprivation and forced to carry out violent acts. In Russian. Out on DVD and Blu-ray Nov. 17.
• “Transference: A Love Story”: An affair between two nurses (Raffaello Degruttola and Emilie Sofie Johannesen) turns dark due to overwhelming mental health issues.
• “Words on Bathroom Walls”: A high school senior (Charlie Plummer) is ashamed by his mental illness diagnosis and attempts to keep it a secret. Look for it on DVD and Blu-ray Nov. 17.
