New on DVD: Rango, Lincoln Lawyer, Arthur

The new movies on DVD won't rock your world, but will give you a solid night's entertainment. 

Rango

Animated Film 

The Gist: A lost chameleon (voice of Johnny Depp) travels across the Ole West, acting his way into the role of sheriff to a town of strange animals. Somebody’s taking their water and they want it back. The city slicker chameleon turned cowboy will have to take on the scariest creature of all – a gun slingin’ rattler.

The Ups: Beautiful animation, wry humor, and quirky characters make this movie different than the usual kiddie fare. For adults, especially artsy hipster adults, it hits just the right notes.

The Downs: Yeah. Kids just don’t get that artsy hipster vibe. Does the chameleon fart, they want to know? No, no he doesn’t. Nor does he do anything kids will appreciate or find humorous. They’ll like it, but they’ll not ask to watch it again. Some of the innuendo humor will have adults cringing, but it’s wry enough to probably be over the kids’ heads.

The Verdict: Watch it. Once. Made by Hollywood, for Hollywood, it’s a disappointment in the family movie department but contains an unusual amount of skill and talent.

Be Aware: Rated PG for rude humor, language, action, and smoking.

The Lincoln Lawyer

Legal Thriller 

The Gist: Matthew McConaughey plays Mcik, a two bit defense attorney handed the case of a lifetime: a rich kid accused of murder. It just reeks set-up. Once Mick signs the paper to represent the boy, however, he’s trapped by certain ethical obligations. As the movie twists and turns, it morphs from an interesting legal case to a thriller. Read our full review.

The Ups: McConaughey plays the perfect slimy Southern lawyer with a moral code underneath. The film tickles the brain as it convolutes and twists. Plus, the radiant Marisa Tomei is Mick’s ex-wife, a prosecutor. I have yet to see her be bad in a role.

The Verdict: Watch it. The film is enjoyable and well made, a good entertainment for an evening.

Be Aware: Rated R for violence, sexual content and language.

Arthur

Comedy

The Gist: Playboy Russell Brand plays playboy Arthur in this remake of the beloved 80s movie. In line to receive a sizable inheritance, Arthur must marry to make the deal go through. The right society girl is already picked out for him. Too bad he’s fallen for another woman.

The Ups: If you’re a Russell Brand fan, this movie is all Russell Brand.

The Downs: It’s all Russell Brand. Playing Russell Brand. Being Russell Brand.

The Verdict: Skip it.

Be Aware: Rated PG-13 for alcohol use throughout, sexual situations, language, and drug references. Walks the line of PG-13.

Insidious

I haven’t seen this movie, but it’s a horror film about a haunted house. Rated PG-13 and supposed to be quite scary.