Not everything blooms in ‘This Beautiful Fantastic’
“This Beautiful Fantastic” (2017, Fox, PG, $22) is a British comedy with a strange flaw: it seems to be about the wrong characters.
The focus is on Bella Brown (“Downton Abbey’s” Jessica Brown Findlay), a bashful librarian and aspiring children’s book author who develops a crush on a quirky inventor (Jeremy Irvine). But Bella and her beau are such whimsical innocents that neither is believable for a second.
It’s a shame the movie didn’t spend more time with Bella’s cranky neighbor (Tom Wilkinson), a horticulturist who reluctantly helps Bella avoid eviction by transforming her overgrown garden into a little slice of heaven. As long as Wilkinson is onscreen, “This Beautiful Fantastic” blooms like a rose. Extras: none.
Also New To DVD
American Fable (2017, IFC, unrated, $25): The farm crisis of the 1980s provides the backdrop for this dreamy yet dark saga of an 11-yearold named Gitty (Peyton Kennedy) who is struggling to do the right thing by the mystery man (Richard Schiff) she discovers being held captive in her family’s silo. Director Anne Hamilton beautifully captures Gitty’s fears and frustrations as the youngster tries to piece together the chain of events that led to her father’s involvement in Schiff’s kidnapping. Even allowing for a bit too much vagueness, “American Fable” manages to be stylish, seductive and strangely haunting. Extras: deleted scenes and featurette. Stan Lee & Kevin Smith Save The World (20022006, Mill Creek, unrated, $15): If you’re a fan of Kevin Smith, step right up. On tap are two concert movies featuring Smith (“Clerks”) riffing about everything from the inspirations behind his films to shooting a stillunseen documentary about Prince to writing the script to a “Superman” feature. The set also includes “Stan Lee’s Mutants, Monsters and Marvels,” in which Smith geeks out with the creator of “Spider-Man” and “The Fantastic Four.” Extras: none. The Bird With The Crystal Plumage (1970, Arrow, unrated, $50): A precursor to the scores of slasher films which dominated the horror genre in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Dario Argento’s first film, now on Blu-ray, is a visual feast which overflows with unforgettable images and a genuinely surprising ending. Tony Musante plays an American writer living in Italy who witnesses a nearmurder and winds up becoming obsessed with trying to track down the perpetrator. Argento went on to blooddrenched masterpieces like “Suspira” and “Deep Red” but this suspenser is all about restraint and dramatic momentum. This is Argento at his most Hitchcockian. Extras: commentaries and featurettes. The Lodger (1927, Criterion, unrated, $30): Alfred Hitchcock’s third feature film – and his first true suspenser – signals not only his superior talent but also announces the “wrong man” theme he’d return to again and again throughout his career. Matinee idol Ivor Novello illuminates the role of a mystery man who takes up residence at a London boarding house just as a serial killer begins preying on young, blonde women. Part thriller, part love story and part commentary on the dangers of “group think,” this engrossing entry is still a dynamic experience nine decades after it was first released. Extras: featurettes and the Hitchcock feature “Downhill.” The Indian Fighter (1955, Kino, unrated, $30): Now on Blu-ray, this underrated oater from Andre DeToth centers on a frontiersman (Kirk Douglas) who is tasked with brokering a peace treaty between the Sioux and settlers who want to pass through to Oregon. Despite its rather odd title, “The Indian Fighter” stresses the humanity of Native Americans who are depicted as a peaceful people at one with nature. Douglas gives one of his most physical performances. He’s always jumping on horses, knocking out the bad guys (including Walter Matthau as a greedy gold prospector) and splashing around a stream with his Native-American girlfriend (Elsa Martinelli). Douglas – and the movie – are terrific. Extras: none. The Pink Panther Film Collection (1963-1982, Shout Factory, G-PG, $99): It’s a real treat to finally have all six of the collaborations between Peter Sellers and filmmaker Blake Edwards together in one nifty Blu-ray package. Both “A Shot In The Dark” and “The Pink Panther Strikes Again” look particularly stunning, thanks to new 4K remasters. Whether investigating murders, tracking down diamond thieves or thwarting the efforts of nemesis Charles Dreyfus (Herbert Lom), Inspector Clouseau always finds a way to bungle the job. But where Sellers goes, hilarity follows. Extras: featurettes and commentaries. Shag (1988, Olive, PG-13, $20): The rare coming-ofage comedy that not only focuses on women but was directed by a woman, this new-to-Blu-ray charmer revolves around four Southern belles (Bridget Fonda, Page Hannah, Phoebe Cates, Annabeth Gish) who spend a life-changing weekend in Myrtle Beach, circa 1963. It’s far from a great film – there’s too little screen time devoted to the girls’ friendship - but, for all its flaws, it possesses a youthful exuberance that’s hard to resist. Killer ‘60s soundtrack too. Extras: none. Striking Out - Series 1 (2017, Acorn, unrated, $40): The most popular drama on Irish TV arrives on DVD and it’s a keeper. Amy Huberman is terrific as a Dublin-based solicitor who decides to start her own practice after she catches her fiancé/co-worker (Rory Keenan) in bed with another woman. After setting up her own team, Huberman begins landing cases which often pit her against her former colleagues. This four-episode legal procedural is layered with ruminations on infidelity, loss and the difficulty of starting over. Extras: featurette. Incorporated (2017, Paramount, unrated, $40): From exec producers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck comes an intriguing series set in 2074, when the world has been ravaged by climate change and is now controlled by international companies with unlimited power. Enter a young executive (Sean Teale) with a secret past who infiltrates the Spiga Corporation with plans to execute his own agenda and discovers just how deadly life in the corporate jungle can be. The sci-fi drama, which airs on SyFy, is expertly acted by Teale, Julia Ormond, Dennis Haysbert and Allison Miller. Extras: featurettes and gag reel.