Video Reviews: 'Chappelle's Show Season 2,' 'Aviator,' More

'Chappelle's Show Season 2 Uncensored' (Unrated) Sure, Dave Chappelle has a lot on his mind these days, and he should -- in light the wild success of the second season of his hit Comedy Central show, he has his hands full to match if not exceed expectations for a yet-to-be-determined third season on the air.

Brutally funny, honest, insightful and most importantly, unafraid of political correctness, the DVD set of "Chappelle's Show Season 2" is a welcome breath of fresh air. A combination of stand-up and film skits, the show makes fun of everybody and everything -- he's an equal opportunity offender, if you will. In particular, people offended by racially charged humor best get ready to squirm.

Apart from a bonus disc with outtakes and the like, the main difference between the episodes on disc and the television show is that the F-bombs aren't bleeped out -- which makes the already funny skits even funnier.

The set is loaded with great bits, from Chappelle as a black President George W. Bush (with a cameo, no less, from Jamie Foxx as a black Tony Blair) and an examination of his life if he were married to Oprah Winfrey; to his recollection as an O.J. Simpson juror, the nation's first s***-in (detailing a fictional Civil Rights fight ensuing from the first black person's use of a white person's toilet) and a "True Hollywood Stories" segment with Chappelle as the late funk master Rick James (and a cameo by James himself). An extended version of the James "interview" is available on the bonus disc, along with more stand-up from Chappelle and an hour's worth of deleted scenes and hilarious bloopers.

The irony is, among the 13 shows comes a prophetic skit, in Episode 12, where Chappelle suddenly up and quits the show (with his film skits already in the can). So, needing a replacement, Comedy Central hires former television talker Wayne Brady to take Chappelle's place. What results is one of if not the best skit of the first two seasons.

The hilarity hits a high point when a previously taped segment shows Brady and Chappelle hanging out, where the comedian finds out that his talk show host buddy isn't as fun-loving and a nice guy as his public persona suggests. Instead, Brady plays totally against type, leading Chappelle on a crime spree across the city. Brady is not only a scream (as in funny); he may have a future as a bad guy in the movies if he wants it. (Paramount Home Entertainment)

'The Aviator' (PG-13) Director Martin Scorsese's epic Howard Hughes biopic screams out of the gate like a rocket, loses its way mid-flight, but ends strong enough to justify it's leading 11 nominations at this year's Academy Awards.

The film recalls in great detail the wild life of the billionaire eccentric (gamely played by Leonardo DiCaprio), from the grand staging of his Hollywood films and premieres, to Hughes' romances with the likes of Kate Hepburn (Cate Blanchett in her Oscar-winning turn) and Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale), and his fascination with flight and revolution of the air industry.

Faults aside, there's too much greatness in this film to deny it the attention it so richly deserves. Thanks to a cargo-load of great performances, from DiCaprio and fellow Oscar-nominee Alan Alda as Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster, to screen stunners such as Blanchett, Beckinsale and singer Gwen Stefani as Jean Harlow -- there's no doubt that fans of the old Hollywood will revel in the epic tale Scorsese has brought to life.

Also fasten your seatbelts for some breathtaking flying (and crashing). It's about as real as it gets.

DVD features on the film's 2-disc set include commentary with Scorsese, a deleted scene, multiple production featurettes and more. (Warner Home Video)

'Team America: World Police' (R and Unrated Versions Both Available) "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone set out to offend as many people -- and succeed -- in this gut-busting send-up of the '60s action show "Thunderbirds," where marionette puppets went on dangerous missions. In "Team America's" case, the country's counter-terrorist unit, which effectively polices the world, drafts a Broadway actor to go undercover on its latest mission because, well, he's an actor -- and actors can do anything.

Nothing is sacred in "Team America" -- particularly celebrities such as Michael Moore, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, who pay the price for their anti-war views. The funny thing is, "Team America" doesn't lean left or right, politically. Straight up, the film pretty much takes everyone to task.

I should issue a warning, however: Since the "Team America" features cute puppets prancing, don't mistake this for a kids movie -- it's about as raunchy as it gets. Despite a lukewarm reception at the movie box office last fall, the film is destined for cult movie status and is sure to earn it with its release on DVD.

DVD features include extended scenes and outtakes, multiple production featurettes (Paramount Home Entertainment)

'Racing Stripes' (PG) Released just in time for the greatest horse races of the year, "Racing Stripes" doesn't quite have the same effect of another talking animal movie, "Babe" -- but it still crosses the cinematic finish line a winner.

"Malcolm in the Middle" star Frankie Muniz voices the lead animal role of Stripes, a baby zebra that finds his way into the hands of Kentucky farmer and former horse trainer Nolan Walsh (Bruce Greenwood) after the crate that's carrying him falls off a circus caravan. After a bit of coaxing from his daughter, Channing (Hayden Panetterie), Nolan decides to keep the zebra and raise it among a menagerie of barn animals. It is soon discovered that Stripes may, with a bit of training and boost of confidence, have the moxie to win horse races.

From there the film splits off into two parallel stories in that eventually intertwine. Unlike the "Frances, the Talking Mule" or "Dr. Doolittle" movies, the humans and animals can't talk with one another. That's not to say that the animals can't talk and communicate amongst themselves, though. And like humans, as Stripes finds out, they're just as wise, whimsical and unfortunately, annoying, as their two-legged counterparts.

Granted, it's not completely original, employing several familiar "kid movie" tactics to generate laughs from its target audience, to which it succeeds; but it also manages to take strides ahead of being a mindless kid comedy by layering within a story with heart.

The film's loaded with great performances from the voice and live action cast -- in particular from Muniz, Dustin Hoffman (who voices a weathered Shetland pony named Tucker), and Steve Harvey and David Spade a pair of horseflies that aid Stripes on the track and occasionally enjoy the delicacy of horse dung.

Not surprisingly, "Racing Stripes" has its fair share of gross-out material, but for the most part it's safe and fun family entertainment.

DVD features include commentary by director Frederik Du Chau, an alternate ending, deleted scenes, production featurettes, "Barnyard" outtakes, and more. (Warner Home Video)