Respect this: wheelchair rugby
“March of the Penguins”
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French documentary filmmaker Luc Jacquet captures the annual trek of Emperor penguins from the ocean across Antarctica to mate. From the initial march of both Charlie Chaplin-like sexes to the efforts of the fathers to keep the chicks safe from the winter storms, the film should appeal to all ages (though the attack by the sea lions might be a bit much for the very young). The only real flaw in the film is the absence of any dangers posed by global warming, say, or pollution of the waters from which the penguins draw their sustenance. The march has gone on for thousands of years, the movie tells us. But can it last all that much longer? DVD includes making-of featurette, extra penguin sequences and a Bugs Bunny cartoon titled “8 Ball Bunny.” (1:20; rated G)
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”
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Secrets between husband and wife can be dangerous, especially when the spouses work for competing intelligence agencies. The humdrum lives of the Smiths (Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie) get particularly exciting when they are assigned to kill each other. The conceit of the two protagonists speaking to the camera (they’re supposed to be speaking to a therapist, voiced off-screen by William Fichtner) works well enough. But when, during the final reel, the violence becomes a bit too Peckinpahish, the humor fades. Pitt and Jolie, both natural actors, relate to each other well. It’s the script that lets us down. DVD includes commentaries by director Doug Liman, screenwriter Simon Kinberg and crew members, deleted scenes and a making-of featurette. (2:00; rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, intense action, sexual content, brief strong language)
“Sky High”
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Two famous super heroes (Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston) send their son (Michael Angarano) to a “special” high school, where he hopes to discover his own powers. The standard plot turns occur when a villain, who holds a particular grudge against the boy’s parents, threatens the world. Following in the fashion of Robert Rodriguez’s “Spy Kids” series, this little bit of Hollywood formula offers not a single surprising moment. DVD features include alternate opening, a pair of making-of featurettes, “super bloopers” and a music video by Bowling for Soup. (1:40; rated PG for action violence, mild language)
“Empire”
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Trying to compete with HBO, which is never a good idea, ABC offers this lame attempt at capturing the story of Gaius Octavius, who became Caesar Augustus. Blending some facts (yes, the Roman senate did assassinate Julius Caesar) with outright fiction (Octavius’ protector is a former gladiator, played by Jonathan Cake), and casting beefcakely Santiago Cabrera as the youthful, sickly Octavius, “Empire” not only isn’t HBO’s far superior “Rome,” it’s enough to make Roman history seem more “Days of Our Lives” than history according to Livy. Two-disc DVD includes making-of featurette and deleted scenes. (4:17; not rated)
“Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo”
Deuce (Rob Schneider) goes overseas to help his friend, romances women more gross than even he is (one spews liquid from a hole in her throat) and tries to unearth a … killer? DVD includes making-of featurette, deleted scenes and “Man Hoe 101.” (1:25; rated R for pervasive strong, crude and sexual humor, language, nudity, drug content)