Love & Friendship - Review

PG  |  92 min  |  Drama, Romance
Review - Matt Mungle

*In select theaters including the Angelika Plano May 20th*

Synopsis: Beautiful young widow Lady Susan Vernon visits to the estate of her in-laws to wait out the colourful rumours about her dalliances circulating through polite society. Whilst ensconced there, she decides to secure a husband for herself and a future for her eligible but reluctant daughter, Frederica. In doing so she attracts the simultaneous attentions of the young, handsome Reginald DeCourcy, the rich and silly Sir James Martin and the divinely handsome, but married, Lord Manwaring, complicating matters severely.

Review: The fact that LOVE & FRIENDSHIP is based on the Jane Austen novella "Lady Susan" will be a huge draw for many. Mix a decent amount of good natured humor with the expected Austen romance and you get a fun, lighthearted trip back to the 1790's. This one is dressed for success and ready to mingle in polite society.

To create a 90-minute film from a writing that was little more than a short story there has to be liberties taken. To the casual viewer these changes will be unrecognizable and those who have read the novella will find no harm either.The characters are plenty and each with their own quirks and eccentricities. Everything centers around Lady Susan (Kate Beckinsale) and her actions that would have been perfect for a Real Housewives of Churchill reality show. She is cunning but likeable, clever yet with an air of innocence. 

The men in Lady Susan's life are the most enjoyable to watch. Sir James Martin (Tom Bennett) is a hilarious addition and seems more suited for Faulty Towers or a Monty Python skit. He is easily the most fun to watch. Of course young Reginald DeCourcy (Xavier Samuel) is the Austen poster boy for charm and swoon worthy features. 

It must be stated that of all films based in the Jane Austen world this one certainly feels the most like an afternoon Soap Opera. The way the characters are introduced and the subtle ways the flirt and move about give it a staged feel and often causes the dialoige to be a bit too rehearesed and predictable. This is not a deal breaker but keeps it from being close the greatness of past tellings. 

LOVE & FRIENDSHIP is rated PG for some thematic elements. Content is on point for the time period and without a hint of anything objectionable. I give it 3 out of 5 little green peas and I can appreciate what they wanted to do. There is nothing remarkable to take away but a fairly fun stroll none the less. 

How to Be Single Digital HD on May 3 Blu-ray and DVD debut on May 24

• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: 
   R 
   Restricted
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: May 24, 2016
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Synopsis: There’s a right way to be single, a wrong way to be single, and then…there’s Alice. And Robin. Lucy. Meg. Tom. David. New York City is full of lonely hearts seeking the right match, be it a love connection, a hook-up, or something in the middle. And somewhere between the teasing texts and one-night stands, what these unmarrieds all have in common is the need to learn how to be single in a world filled with ever-evolving definitions of love. Sleeping around in the city that never sleeps was never so much fun.
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Review: 

BLU-RAY AND DVD ELEMENTS

“How to Be Single” Blu-ray contains the following special features:

• The Pros and Cons of How To Be Single
• Rebel Rabble: A Look at Rebel Wilson
• The Best Idea Wins! The Humor of How To Be Single
• Deleted Scenes
• Gag Reel
• Rebel Wilson Outtakes

“How to Be Single” Standard Definition DVD contains the following special features:

• Deleted Scenes

SOUTHBOUND Available on DVD May 17

• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: 
   R 
   Restricted
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: May 17, 2016
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Synopsis: On a desolate stretch of desert highway, weary travelers – two men on the run from their past, a band on their way to the next gig, a man struggling to get home, a brother in search of his long-lost sister and a family on vacation – are forced to confront their worst fears and darkest secrets in a series of interwoven tales of terror and remorse on the open road.
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Review: Plenty of blood and gore to sate the pickiest horror fan. The stories are not ground breaking but they do weave together fine enough. Not sure it is as good as the VHS series but a solid renter. Even a few extra bonus' to make it worth while. 

DVD Bonus Material:

·         Commentary

·         Deleted Scenes Reel

·         Outtakes Reel

·         Photo Gallery

PRIDE + PREJUDICE + ZOMBIES Debuting on Digital May 10 On 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ & DVD May 31

• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: 
   PG-13 
   Parents Strongly Cautioned
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entert
• DVD Release Date: May 31, 2016
• Run Time: 107 minutes

Synopsis: A zombie outbreak has fallen upon the land in this reimagining of Jane Austen’s classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) is a master of martial arts and weaponry and the handsome Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) is a fierce zombie killer, yet the epitome of upper class prejudice. As the zombie outbreak intensifies, they must swallow their pride and join forces on the blood-soaked battlefield in order to conquer the undead once and for all.

Written and Directed by Burr Steers and based on the novel by Seth Grahame-Smith, PRIDE + PREJUDICE + ZOMBIES is produced by Marc Butan, Sean McKittrick, Brian Oliver, Natalie Portman, Annette Savitch, Allison Shearmur and Tyler Thompson. Stephen Meinen served as co-producer with Sue Baden-Powell, Kimberly Fox, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Phil Hunt, Nick Meyer, Compton Ross and Lauren Selig as executive producers.

Review: This film is so much fun and makes the transition to the smaller screen perfectly. Solid script writing and vibrant characters make the Jane Austen world the perfect backdrop for Zombies and kick butt young ladies. Plenty of action and stylized violence for the zombie lovers out there. If you like loads of extras and behind the scene features this one has it. 

4K Ultra HD

§  Feature film in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR)

§  Dolby Atmos soundtrack (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible)*

§  Also includes the film and special features on high-def Blu-ray

* To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar; however, Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.

DVD Extras Include:

§  Two Featurettes

• “Courtship, Class and Carnage: Meet The Cast” 
•  “From Austen to Zombies: Adapting a Classic”

Blu-ray Extras Include:

§  Deleted Scenes

§  Mr. Collins Line-o-rama 

§  Gag Reel

§  Four Featurettes:

• “The Badass Bennet Sisters”
• “Creating the Unmentionables”
• “Courtship, Class and Carnage: Meet The Cast” 
•  “From Austen to Zombies: Adapting a Classic”

Digital Extras Include:

§  Deleted Scenes

§  Mr. Collins Line-o-rama 

§  Gag Reel

§  Four Featurettes:

• “The Badass Bennet Sisters”
• “Creating the Unmentionables”
• “Courtship, Class and Carnage: Meet The Cast” 
•  “From Austen to Zombies: Adapting a Classic”

TRIPLE 9 On Digital HD May 17 & Blu-Ray & DVD May 31

• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: 
   R 
   Restricted
• Studio: Universal Studios Home Ent
• DVD Release Date: May 31, 2016
• Run Time: 116 minutes

Synopsis: When a veteran cop and his rookie nephew discover a shocking conspiracy that leads dangerously close to home, they’ll stop at nothing to get to the truth in Triple 9, an action-packed tale of corruption and betrayal coming to Digital HD on May 17, 2016, and Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand on May 31, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Propelled by John Hillcoat’s (The Road, The Proposition) ferocious directorial style and a top-notch cast, Triple 9 races through a world where no one can be trusted in a “crime caper like no other” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). Triple 9 on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD includes deleted scenes and a peek backstage at the making of the most original cop thriller in years.

Review: A great cast and solid script made this a need to watch. Not enough meat to lay down box office ticket prices but more than enough for a download rental buy. Action packed from start to finish. 

BLU-RAY^TM, DVD & DIGITAL HD BONUS FEATURES:

• Deleted Scenes
• Under the Gun – The acclaimed cast of Triple 9 offers an in-depth look at its characters and the pulse-pounding twists and turns at the heart of the film.
• Authentic World – Director John Hillcoat and the cast of Triple 9 discuss how their grounded approach to filmmaking helped highlight the film’s gritty, authentic look and feel.

FREE OUTDOOR BALLET CLASS IN DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT

FREE OUTDOOR BALLET CLASS  IN DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT

Dance in Sammons Park with Complexions Contemporary Ballet 

Dallas – Freestanding ballet barres will fill Sammons Park at the AT&T Performing Arts Center campus for Big Barre, an outdoor ballet class for everyone, on Saturday morning, May 21. All levels of dancers, experienced or not, are welcome to participate. The class will be led by dancers from the premiere touring ballet company Complexions Contemporary Ballet, who will perform that evening in the Winspear Opera House at 7:30.

Big Barre is the second free, public ballet class staged in Sammons Park by TITAS Presents in association with the Center. As before, anyone can participate. Whether this is someone’s first class or if one is a seasoned dancer, they can experience this lesson outdoors in the beautiful Dallas Arts District. We recommend comfortable clothing (overalls, leggings), socks or sneakers, or shoes demi-pointe.

Class begins at 10:30 a.m. in front of the Winspear Opera House. Free parking is available for class attendees beneath the Winspear Opera House in Lexus Red Parking.

Prior to the Big Barre class, from 9 – 10 a.m., the Center will also host a dance fitness class as part of Local Motion, the weekly free outdoor fitness program. Power House of Dance, one of DFW’s most popular studios, will lead a Booty Bounce Twerk-Out class. So make it a day of dance at the Center: twerk, ballet, then see Complexions that evening.

Last May was the first free outdoor barre class like this on the Center’s campus. The idea proved popular, as more than one hundred participants lined up along Flora Street and around Sammons Park (even on the Center’s reflecting pool) to practice with the guidance of professional touring ballet dancers. This year’s class will be near the Center’s reflecting pool.

For information on the class and for Complexions Contemporary Ballet performance tickets, visit www.attpac.org or call 214-880-0202.