New On DVD, Blu-Ray: 'This Is It'

'Michael Jackson's This is It' (PG)
In April 2009, Michael Jackson proclaimed to a screaming crowd in London, "This is it, this is it" -- the name of presumably what would be his final concert tour.

And what a cryptic message "it" turned out to be.

Little could anyone have predicted that Jackson would die unexpectedly two months later, leaving behind a legacy of hit records and 120 hours of video footage chronicling the rehearsals of his ill-fated tour that was meant for his personal library. Whittled down to two hours and packaged as a documentary film, "This is It" not only became self-fulfilled prophecy for Jackson, but a final gift to his adoring fans.

And as difficult as it may be for the rest of us, if you are able to cast your suspicions about Jackson's highly controversial private life and disturbing legal toils aside, you may find "This is It" to be a surprisingly moving tribute to the self-proclaimed King of Pop. A lavish spectacle of music, lights and dance, the film is a fascinating look into the professional life of the legendary performer.

The musical performances are the center of "This is It," of course (just because it's rehearsal footage, it doesn't diminish the quality -- think of yourself as a huge part of a small audience that includes members of the dance and technical crews), from a moving rendition of the Jackson Five hit "I'll Be There," to an elaborately staged rendition of "Thriller" with his dancers dawning the costumes of monsters and otherworldly ghouls. Pulling much of the material from his "Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad" and Jackson Five albums, the performances, whether they're meant to frighten or entertain, are stellar.

While the high-energy performances of Jackson are to be expected in "This is It" (apart from his thin frame, there's no real visible evidence that he's in any sort of failing health), the personal side we see of Jackson in the film is revelatory. Gone is the quirky, aloof behavior that defined him as freak show in the ensuing years after the earth-shattering success of "Thriller." Instead, you get a highly confident and complimentary professional who's deeply involved in the creative process of his work.

Often alongside tour choreographer and film director Kenny Ortega ("High School Musical"), Jackson, acting like a completely normal human being, is there for all crucial decisions of the process, from auditioning the group of dancers who will accompany him on the tour and working out his own moves on stage, to fine-tuning his singing and encouraging the musicians to step up and into the spotlight. There's no denying that personally, Jackson was a mess. But in his element, he was a creative genius.

One gets the sense that if footage of Jackson in this light would have surfaced somehow before his death, he wouldn't have been drubbed so much in the media for being an oddball. But as we know, Jackson couldn't get out of his own way and his "Wacko Jacko" persona ultimately played a big part in his own undoing.

Ironically, seeing Jackson in a normal light is the only sour note that emerges from "This is It," because it's what's might have been had he opened himself up a bit. The film celebrates his legacy, but it's also a tragedy.

Bonus Features: "Making of" documentaries and production featurettes; Blu-ray version includes vignettes that focus on "Smooth Criminal" and "Thriller" performances, and more. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

Also New:
'Whip It' (PG-13): Why the studio seemingly gave up on "Whip It," Drew Barrymore's brilliant directorial debut in its brief theatrical run will remain one of the great movie mysteries of 2009. It's smart, funny, original and energetic.

Ellen Page stars as Bliss Cavendar, a socially awkward small town Texas teen who finds her calling in rough-and-tumble roller derby league. The problem is, she has a stringent mom (Marcia Gay Harden) whose intent on making her daughter a beauty pageant queen, a person standing in the way of Bliss being the true person she is.

While Page carries the film with her charm and vulnerability (in a role dramatically different than her Oscar-nominated turn in "Juno), she's accompanied by a colorful supporting cast, including Barrymore, "Saturday Night Live" star Kristen Wiig and Zoe Bell ("Death Proof") as her close derby allies, and Juliette Lewis as her biggest rival. Jimmy Fallon delivers an amusing turn as the derby announcer and Daniel Stern shines once again as Bliss' sensitive, yet somewhat oddball, father. Landon Pigg also turns in a great performance as Bliss' rocker boyfriend.

Hopefully "Whip It" (named for a derby move) won't suffer the same bumps and bruises with home video viewer. It's too great of a movie to miss. (Fox Home Entertainment).

'The Invention of Lying' (PG-13): Even though his recent host gig at the Golden Globes solidified Ricky Gervais' place as one of the funniest people on the planet, it would be a lie to say that his comedy is an out-and-out laugh fest. Truth be told, it's a great comedic idea that never quite realizes its full potential.

Gervais stars as Mark, a television movie screenwriter who slogs through day-to-day life in a world where everyone -- everyone -- tells the truth. For you see, Mark lives in an alternate world where no one can tell a lie, that is, until the lonesome loser accidentally discovers how he can be deceitful. Using his new gift to gain riches and notoriety, Mark soon finds out that lying also produces unintended consequences.

Co-written and co-directed by Gervais and first-time filmmaker Matthew Robinson, "The Invention of Lying" screams hilarity out of the gate with an original if not thought-provoking script. But at the midway point, the film takes an unexpected serious turn, as the tricky subject matter of religion enters the fray. Fans of satire may find Mark's Moses-like presence to be a hoot, but others will likely feel confused and uncomfortable in the way the film uses a unique if not controversial parable to address the power of the almighty entity Mark dubs "The Man in the Sky."

Jennifer Garner is adorable in the film as Mark's potential love interest, and comic Louis C.K. fits comfortably into the sidekick role as Mark's best friend. Rob Lowe nails his supporting role as Mark's brutally honest screenwriter nemesis that looks to destroy any chances of Mark finding romance.

Bonus features: "Prequel: The Dawn of Lying: Documenting a Monumental Occasion in History" featurette; a "making of" and other production featurettes; Gervais' and Robinson's podcasts; deleted scenes and outtakes. (Warner Home Video)

'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' (PG): Based on the best-selling children's book, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" makes for a tasty animated movie, too.

"Saturday Night Live's" Bill Hader voices Flint, an ambitious young inventor who out-does himself with a device that turns water into food -- and makes food fall from the sky. But when greed leads to some strange weather events, Flint finds his hometown in serious trouble.

While the animation is unique, the colors are vibrant and the action is swift, "Cloudy" becomes a full movie meal with a clever script. It's one of the best animated movies of 2009.

Bonus Features: The DVD includes commentary by Hader and filmmakers; and interactive "splat" button to throw "food" at the screen during the movie; production features and extended scenes. The Blu-ray version includes Flint's Food Fight Game.( Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)