Our Picks Reviews - Page 47

It’s great to hear great new music from an old friend. The leader of the classic band Creedence Clearwater Revival makes a glorious return with a CD that recalls the good-rockin’, swamp-gumbo gusto of his ‘60s Creedence roots, but also comes out swinging at various contemporary issues, including the current administration in the White House and certain unnamed fast-lane celebrities who run their lives into the ground (Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton and Brittney Spears, are you listening?).
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Steve Caroll (Evan Almighty) is terrific in this sensational TV “mockumentary”-style send-up of office politics, dynamics and dysfunction, which was nominated for an impressive nine Emmy Awards earlier this year. Four DVDs feature all 22 episodes from the 2006-07 season, plus more than three hours of deleted scenes, bloopers and commentary from the cast, which includes Jenna Fischer (Blades of Glory), Rainn Wilson (Six Feet Under) and John Krasinski (License to Wed).
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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The musical parodist known for his silly-fied send-ups of hit country songs devotes a whole CD to saluting one of his heroes, Ray Stevens, by respectfully re-doing rib-ticklers from the master funnyman’s catalog. The title comes from a line in one of Stevens’ biggest hits, “The Streak,” which gets a special assist here from Stevens himself. Vince Gill, Wynonna, Charlie Daniels, Joe Diffie and other country hitmakers help Judd flex the funnybones of “Guitarzan,” “Ahab the Arab,” “It’s Me Again, Margaret,” “Shriner’s Convention” and “The Mississippi Squirrel Revival,” and spotlight Stevens’ serious side with “Misty” and “Everything is Beautiful.”
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Four siblings come together to shepherd their mother (Sally Field) though the last days of a terminal illness in this touching 2006 comedy-drama. Mixing humor and heartbreak, it’s a poignant portrait of one of life’s passages for anyone who’s ever had—or will one day have—to say goodbye to a parent. The strong supporting cast spotlights several familiar faces from television, notably Tom Cavanaugh ( Ed), Julianne Nicholson (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) and Glenn Howerton (ER), and special features include a guide for using Two Weeks as the basis for a discussion on dealing with the loss of a loved one. (Rated R)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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TV’s one and only Gumby celebrates his 50th anniversary in this re-mastered collection of “clay-mation” adventures from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘80s. Created by Art Clokey, who studied to be a minister before applying his talents to stop-motion animation with molded clay, the little green guy was an odd-looking TV star—featureless except for eyes, nose, mouth and eyebrows, with mitten-shaped hands, bell-bottom legs and a pompadour-like swell on the left side of his head. But he entertained several generations of kids with wholesome vignettes about honesty, fairness and friendship, and it’s good to have him back.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Through the magic of technology, the songs of the late, great Dean Martin get a groovy guest-star gloss with new “duet” tracks by Grammy-winning Joss Stone and Shelby Lynne, country superstar Martina McBride, actor-singer Kevin Spacey and other singers and instrumentalists who sound like they’re having a ball aboard this ultra-cool collaborative bandwagon. You’ll have to continually remind yourself that Martin, who died in 1995, isn’t really sidled up and smiling alongside his partners, who swing, slide and swoon their merry way with Dino through “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face,” “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Everybody Loves Somebody” and ten other tunes.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Lynch, an award-winning wildlife photographer, spent 28 years and logged more than 313,000 miles all over the Earth documenting one of nature’s most intriguing birds. Penguins—the only family of bird in which all members are flightless—have captured our imagination for decades, and Lynch brings them up and close and personal with more than 130 stunning color photos, maps, charts and a fact-filled flow of details that bring you cozily inside their endangered, ever-shrinking world.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Behind every great puppet was a great puppeteer, and this 2001 PBS documentary profiles some of the greatest, including Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop, “Buffalo Bob” and Howdy Doody, Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney and Jim Henson and his Muppets. It’s a warm, nostalgic reminder of the many memorable ways the magic of puppeteering has made America smile.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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It’s got Dukes of Hazzard all over it, but star/writer/director John “Bo Duke” Schneider obviously couldn’t use the name or anything directly associated with the fondly remembered ‘80s TV series for this 2006 escapade—which he made as a family-friendly alternative to Hollywood’s raunchy 2005 Dukes of Hazzard big-screen adaptation, in which he was not involved. It does have a hopped-up orange Dodge Charger, a curvy female co-star, a couple of scuffles and lots of car stunts. And eagle eyes will even spot a number of playful visual salutes Schneider makes to his Dukes past as well as his role as Superman’s dad on Smallville. (Rated PG)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Considered spicy in 1967, The Graduate seems tame by today’s standards. Its droll tale of a young college grad (Dustin Hoffman in his first major role), the girl he adores (Katherine Ross) and her seductress mom (Anne Bancroft) cuts into the evolving morals, shifting-sand standards and “plastic” values of the ‘60s with a keen satirical edge that would continue to be sharpened by a new generation of young Hollywood directors. Extras include commentary by Hoffman, Ross and director Mike Nichols, several documentaries and featurettes, and a soundtrack CD with the film’s memorable Simon and Garfunkel tunes “The Sound of Silence,” “Mrs. Robinson” and “Scarborough Fair.” (Rated PG)
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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