Video Reviews: 'Tomb Raider,' 'Shrek'

'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider' (PG-13)

Perhaps the gamers will disagree, but as a film character, the role of Lara Croft in "Tomb Raider" seems like it was tailor-made for Angelina Jolie. With her mysteriously alluring off-screen persona already to her credit, Jolie slips right into Croft's skin-tight outfits (literally and figuratively) and pulls the role off without a hitch.

In the film, Croft is a well-schooled and wealthy adventure seeker who searches lost crypts and empires throughout the world. And while she seemingly has it all, she's constantly haunted by the disappearance of her father, Lord Croft (played by Jolie's real-life father, Jon Voight). But her latest adventure, involving the search for two halves of an ancient artifact that has the power to control time, may give her some answers, if she can get past a secret society with evil intentions for the piece.

Jolie's sleek portrayal is a breath of fresh air in the increasingly stale, male-dominated action-adventure movie world -- which, until the most recent incarnation of "Charlie's Angels," has had a glaring absence of female action heroes. And while "Charlie's Angels" and "Tomb Raider" are worlds apart in tone, it seems like "Raider" could have used the intensity that made the "Angels" update such a thrill ride.

It's when "Tomb Raider" gets archeological that it's at its best. There's no question that it is reminiscent of the adventure and the spiritual elements of the "Indiana Jones" trilogy, the stunning special effects, sets and vistas of the "Mummy" films and in some instances, the classic Ray Harryhausen stop-motion animation techniques of such gems like "Jason of the Agronauts." Still, since Jolie's Croft is such a distinct character, it doesn't feel like it's a deliberate knock-off of any of those films. She's most welcome for another raid as soon as she's ready.

DVD Features: Commentary by director Simon West; cast and crew interviews, documentaries on training, visual effects, stunts and the video game phenomenon, four deleted scenes and U2 music video ("Elevation") and DVD-ROM features (including "Tomb Raider" timeline and game demonstration).

'Osmosis Jones' (PG)

As reigning kings of the gross-out comedy genre, Peter and Bobby Farrelly take the body function laughs to new heights with "Osmosis Jones," a movie literally about functions of the body.

But the movie is not entirely about what you'd expect from a Farrelly movie. No, it's not all about flatulence jokes and other toilet humor, but a traditional cops-and-bad-guys movie smartly adapted to completely original surroundings. Combining animation with live action, it provides for a movie tame enough for kids to enjoy, and wise enough for the adults to absorb. It hits the mark on both levels.

Chris Rock voices the title character of Osmosis Jones, a white blood cell who's akin in human form to a renegade cop. His job is to track down the bad germs that enter this host body Frank (Bill Murray) and inflict the cure. The problem is Frank is a sad-sack whose slobbery ways open the floodgates for sickness - and his latest virus is a killer.

The greater majority of "Osmosis Jones" is played out through its animated sequences, and won't disappoint the fans of the art form. Its animation is highly detailed and vibrant in color, and is enhanced by powerful theatrical sound editing.

DVD Features: Filmmaker commentary by Animation Directors, behind-the-scenes documentary and voice session, deleted scenes and "Easter Egg" hidden features.

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'Shrek' (PG)

The fractured fairy tale "Shrek" can probably be best described in four words: "Movie of the year."

The fairy tale genre has literally entered a new dimension with the computer animated family comedy "Shrek," and like the stories it is based on -- and lampoons to an extent -- this movie is destined to become a classic (in fact, it feels like one already).

Mike Myers voices the title character, a huge green ogre who is sent by the unusually small but big-headed (literally and figuratively) Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) to rescue the imprisoned Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from her prison fortress. Along for the journey with Shrek is a donkey named Donkey (Eddie Murphy), a sharp-tongued outcast who revels in his own arrogance. But behind his confidence is a pain much like Shrek's -- he just wants to be accepted for who he is.

In fact, the movie employs the same sort of goofball humor that appealed to kids and the smart wit that spoke to adult audiences in the Mouse House's enormously successful "Toy Story" films, yet maintains the sort of strong, yet humbling messages that will no doubt speak to adults and children. There's always a risk involved with that approach because one half of its intended audience could be alienated: But "Shrek" pulls off the tricky balancing act without a hitch.

If there's a universal moral to this story for the Hollywood types, it comes in the impressive way in which yet another animated movie out-smarts its live-action counterparts. It engages you emotionally and suspends your disbelief in a way that few live-action movies can, and does so without sacrificing the content for cool visuals. The film was a labor of love driven by great material, and it shows.

DVD Features: The two-disc set includes a behind-the-scenes featurette, "The Tech of Shrek" game swamp (more than 15 interactive games and activities), Shrek's music hall, "Shrek's re-voice studio, (one of several DVD-ROM features), "Donkey's Tale" read-along, character interviews, filmmakers' commentary, "The Tech of Shrek" storyboard pitch of deleted scenes, technical goofs, character design progression reel.

'Cats & Dogs' (PG)

The great mystery of success at the movie box office has been unraveled: Don't give your actors any face time, and they'll work extra hard to give you great performances.

It worked for "Shrek," and is undoubtedly the key to the howling comedy "Cats and Dogs," a live-action adventure that combines the wonders of animal acting, wondrous animatronics from Jim Henson's creature shop and yes, from time to time, people acting.

The premise is simple, yet clever: A young beagle named Lou (voiced by Tobey Maguire) is adopted by the Brody family (Elizabeth Perkins, Jeff Goldblum and Alexander Pollock), but the intention is more than to just fetch newspapers in the front yard. Professor Brody is a bumbling research scientist looking for an end-all cure for people's dog allergies. Of course, this is a major concern to the cat world, in particular Mr. Tinkles (voiced by Sean Hayes), a power-hungry Persian hell-bent on making the earth a purr-fect place to live.

Backed by a smart script that sends up '60s British spy flicks and, to an extent, the "Austin Powers" movies, "Cats and Dogs" is essentially an inspired meeting between Dr. Dolittle and Dr. Evil - and the end result is just what both doctors ordered. It's often laugh-out loud funny and will manage to satisfy kids and adults with a sly combination of physical action, wit and over-the-top silliness, without stepping over any lines of good taste.

DVD Features: Commentary from actor Sean Hayes and filmmakers, behind-the-scenes documentaries: HBO "First Look" Special, storyboard comparisons, trivia game, and DVD-ROM features including an alternate ending, and a section where you can create secret identities for pets.