McCarthy lacks ‘Life’ while ‘Riverdale’ makes grade
A movie and TV show set in academic environments are among the new DVD releases this week.
“Life of the Party”: See how bad Melissa McCarthy can be when the role she is playing is uninspired, uninteresting and underwhelming.
A trip to take her daughter back to college goes sour for Deanna (McCarthy) as she’s abruptly told by her husband (Matt Walsh) that he wants a divorce. He’s fallen in love with Marcie (Julie Bowen), a superficial real estate agent. Deanna’s response is to make the decision to join her daughter at college to finish the degree she never received because she had dropped out to support her husband.
One of the problems with “Life of the Party” is it was directed by McCarthy’s husband, Ben Falcone, who also co-wrote the script with his wife. They have the same problems they had working on “Tammy” and “The Boss.” There’s not an outside voice that can point out when the material and direction is languishing just below the level of a cable TV comedy.
“Riverdale: The Complete Second Season”: These aren’t the all-American tales of Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead that made the comic books famous a halfcentury ago. The CW series has taken the familiar characters and given them a “Twin Peaks” twist to reflect changes with the comics in recent years.
The major story in the second season is how Riverdale deals with a serial killer who appears to be targeting people connected to Archie Andrews (KJ Apa). That’s just one thread in a whole pattern of lies, lust, betrayal, gang battles and even a few appearances by Josie and the Pussycats.
Included in this set are all 22 episodes from the second season plus three bonus features, the 2017 Comic-Con Panel, a gag reel and neverbefore-seen deleted scenes.
Also new on DVD and Blu-ray Aug. 7
“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Complete Series (25th Anniversary Edition Steelbook)”: The set includes the first three seasons of the “Power Rangers” TV series and “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie.”
“Big Fish & Begonia”: Young mystical girl goes on a life-giving mission.
“The Good Doctor”: Freddie Highmore stars in the ABC drama about a young surgeon who is autistic.
“The Boxcar Children”: Orphaned children spend summer living on their grandfather’s nearly uninhabited island.
“On Chesil Beach”: Young married couple face complicated issues in the bedroom. Saoirse Ronan stars.
“Here and Now”: HBO series about a suburban family where each member is hiding a secret.
“No Offence: Series 1”: Police procedural follows an unorthodox team of Manchester, England, cops.
“Measure of a Man”: Donald Sutherland, Judy Greer and Luke Wilson star in the story of a 14-year-old boy trying to deal with a crazy summer.
“Lowlife”: Mexican wrestler, ex-con and recovering junkie motel owner go in search of a kidney.
“Blackmark”: Military industrialist races to stop an incident that threatens to end the world in 1963.
“Kingdoms of the Sky”: Three-part series looks at the animals and people who make a home on the iconic mountain ranges of the world.
“The Rider”: Rising rodeo star is told his competition days are over after a tragic riding accident. Brady Jandreau stars.
“Wilding”: Young girl with special abilities finds it difficult to adjust to normal life. Bel Powley stars.
“Bye Bye Germany”: Group of Holocaust survivors look to strike it rich and get passage to America.
“Transporter 3”: The Jason Statham action film is now available on 4K Ultra HD.
“Six: Season 2”: Navy Seal Team Six must shut down a terrorist network responsible for deadly attacks on their leader.
“Breaking In”: Mother (Gabrielle Union) must save her children when intruders take over her home.
“Ghost Source Zero”: Homeland Security’s Cyber Crime Division is the only thing trying to stop the ’bots and ’borgs from taking over.
“Pyewacket”: Teen turns to dark arts to help her deal with a great loss. Nicole Munoz stars.
Being released on digital HD Aug. 7
“Deadpool 2”: Tragedy in Deadpool’s life sends him on a mission of revenge that turns into a trek of self-discovery. (Will be on DVD and Blu-ray starting Aug. 21.)