Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”
The R-rated comedy experienced a major resurgence in the mid-2000s thanks to movies like “Wedding Crashers,” “Anchorman” and others, but Judd Apatow’s “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” remains one of the best films of that era thanks to its fantastic ensemble cast, sharp script and instantly quotable dialogue. Though it never could have been made in today’s hyper-sensitive social and cultural climate, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” exists as a time capsule (for better or worse) of the type of raunchy comedies that have largely been phased out by Hollywood. It’s likely a very problematic movie when judged by today’s standards, but frankly, it doesn’t matter because it’s still one of the funniest movies of the past few decades. “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” is not only Apatow at the height of his comedic power, but it’s also responsible for launching so many careers that have helped define the comedy landscape for years to come.
Extras include an audio commentary by director/co-writer Judd Apatow, Steve Carrell and the cast, as well as a new Q&A from the 20th anniversary screening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, deleted scenes, Apatow’s video production diaries, audition footage, a gag reel and much more. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
Also Out This Week:
“How to Train Your Dragon” — The original “How to Train Your Dragon” was released in 2010, followed by two sequels in 2014 and 2019, so it feels a little too soon to be releasing a live-action adaptation, especially one that so closely mirrors its animated predecessor. Directed by Dean DeBlois, who also helmed all three animated films, the live-action version isn’t quite a shot-for-shot remake, but it hits all the major beats from the original without adding anything new to the story. The flying sequences look fantastic, and DeBlois has done a commendable job of bringing Toothless and the other dragons to life, but the story is just better served in animation, making this whole endeavor seem rather pointless. Extras include an audio commentary by DeBlois, a collection of behind-the-scenes featurettes, some deleted scenes and a gag reel. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“The Accountant 2” — 2016’s “The Accountant” was a pretty modest affair, and certainly not one that anyone expected would spawn a sequel, which makes this follow-up from director Gavin O’Connor a bit of an anomaly. Released nine years after the original, “The Accountant 2” does little to convince you that a sequel was warranted, as it fails to build on the characters or world in any meaningful way. The overly complex plot is ridiculous, dragging out the central mystery longer than necessary, while the action sequences are even sparser than in the first film. The only thing “The Accountant 2” does right is give the audience more Jon Bernthal, as he’s easily the most enjoyable part of the movie. But while Bernthal brings a chaotic energy to the proceedings that helps lighten the mood at times, and he shares great chemistry with star Ben Affleck, it’s not enough to make up for the film’s shortcomings. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
