Video Reviews: '50 First Dates,' 'Station Agent'

'50 First Dates' (PG-13) There's no question Adam Sandler has a special kind of charm that makes nearly every film of his a hit, but when he teams with Drew Barrymore, it is absolute magic.

That's the case again with "50 First Dates," where the dynamic duo re-teams for the first time since the 1998 smash "The Wedding Singer." A funny, romantic and in some ways, a tug-at-your-heart-strings type of comedy, "Dates" is sure to satisfy fans who committed themselves to the couple the first time around.

Sandler plays Henry, a womanizing veterinarian in Hawaii who has a smooth knack for loving and leaving 'em alone. But there's something special about Lucy (Barrymore), whom he falls for the instant he sees her having breakfast at a local restaurant. When gets the nerve up to go over to her table, they instantly click, spend the whole day together and agree to meet again for breakfast the next morning.

But there's a big surprise in store for Henry: when he sits down at her table the next day, she gives him the brush-off like she doesn't know him.

And technically, she doesn't. That's because thanks to a head injury suffered in a car crash, Lucy has short-term memory loss and wakes up every morning with no recollection of the previous day. But Henry is determined not to be another one of Lucy's lost memories: and through the blessing of her protective family, seeks to find a way to cure Lucy so they can live more than a day of happiness.

Like "The Wedding Singer," Sandler proves he has the moxie to be a romantic leading man and Barrymore is equally up to the task and simply unforgettable as Lucy. They both have a glowing presence that makes you instantly fall for them.

Like Sandler's previous efforts, the comedian isn't afraid to step back and let an unusual supporting cast of characters steal the show with funny lines or physical humor. He once again employs the talents of his former fellow "Saturday Night Live" cast member Rob Schneider -- who is hilarious as usual as Henry's trusted buddy -- and gives Sean Astin (who mostly played it serious as Samwise Gamgee in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy) a chance to show a unique comedic gift as Lucy's well-intended half-wit brother.

Another important character is the setting of Hawaii itself, as the culture and the tropical surroundings play a major part in the development of the film. Mark your calendar for this joyously entertaining movie -- "50 First Dates" is one date you won't want to miss.

DVD Features: Commentary by director Peter Segal and Barrymore; deleted scenes with optional commentary; production featurettes; gag reel; Comedy Central "Reel Comedy" special and more. (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment)

'The Station Agent'(R) Spirited performances and a remarkably original storyline drive writer-director Tom McCarthy's "The Station Agent" -- a brilliantly conceived dramedy that easily ranks as one of the best films of 2003.

Peter Dinklage plays Finbar McBride, a railroad enthusiast who leads a relatively uneventful life who inherits an abandoned depot in the outskirts of New Jersey.

Thinking he'll find solitude in the depot after years of being ridiculed because of his dwarfism, Fin instead finds strange company in an eager-to-please food wagon vendor (Bobby Cannavale) and an artist (Patricia Clarkson) haunted by a family tragedy. There's potential for a bond to form between the trio; that is, if Fin can open up.

What's interesting about Dinklage's performance in "The Station Agent" is that for the first half of the film, he has very little dialogue. But with dialogue or not, it's easy to see why Dinklage commands your attention on the screen -- he has the looks and presence of a young Robert Redford.

But the charismatic turn by Dinklage isn't the only thing that gives the station agent its steam. Cannavale is instantly likable, and provides the backbone of the film's humor as a guy who's fascinated by Fin's stature, but doesn't treat him any different because of it; and the stunningly beautiful Clarkson balances the comedy with a complex performance as a person barely inching forward with her life despite her emotional devastation.

If there's anything wrong with "The Station Agent," it surprisingly comes to an abrupt end. For the sake of moviegoers, that's a bummer because we can't get enough of the trio onscreen.

But in a way, the ending is appropriate because it leaves some questions unanswered, as it should. It begins to tie up the loose matters at hand, of course, but since we've come to love these characters, we can't help but wonder what life has in store for them. It's a deeply affecting character study.

DVD Features: Commentary by McCarthy, Dinklage, Cannavale and Clarkson, deleted scenes and more. (Miramax Home Entertainment)

TV On DVD: If you can't get enough of America's first (animated) family on television, then you'll revel in the release of "The Simpson: The Complete Fourth Season" on DVD.

Among the uproariously funny 22 episodes on the four disc set are the classic episodes "Kamp Krusty" and the debut of Itchy and Scratchy in "Itchy and Scratchy: The Movie" (which lampoons Mickey Mouse's debut "Steamboat Willie"). The disc set includes commentary from creator Matt Groening and several of his collaborators (including Conan O'Brien, who produced a couple of shows) on all 22 episodes, commercials, animation featurettes and more. (Fox Home Entertainment).

Other television box sets new on DVD this week include season four of "Xena: Warrior Princess" (Anchor Bay Entertainment); season two of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (Warner Home Video) and season one of "Nip/Tuck" (Fox Home Entertainment).