How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
November 3, 2009
Welcome to How to Spend $20, BOP's look at the latest Blu-ray discs and DVDs to hit stores nationwide. This week: The best Bushisms land on Broadway, attractive people get together for the holidays and a dork does his best to amaze Hayden Panettiere.Pick of the Week For people who can't say "strategery" with a straight face: Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America
Let's face it. Will Ferrell's leap from the small screen to the silver screen has been as average as a Saturday Night Live episode. (Unless Justin Timberlake is hosting). Save for some early hits in Elf, Old School and the cultish (but not really cultish) Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, the guy has hardly done anything of any particular merit lately. (I'm excluding, of course, the three of you who really really liked Semi-Pro. Stranger Than Fiction, too, because it was such a departure from what we've come to expect from Ferrell).
So with his comedy career in need of a little homegrown CPR, why not revive his fading stardom by returning to the SNL "character" (right alongside this dude) who helped define Ferrell's legacy at the late-night staple and, consequently, his brand of comedy? Why not indeed.
Broadcast live on HBO on March 14th of this year, You're Welcome America – A Final Night with George W. Bush featured Ferrell's triumphant return to playing the 43rd U.S. President. However, instead of airing strictly on television, Ferrell's play was presented at the Cort Theater in New York for a limited run on Broadway. The show scored a whole lotta green for Ferrell and his long-time comedy partner, Adam McKay, as You're Welcome America nearly topped $850,000 in a single week. (A number, in fact, that outpaced many of the Great White Way's biggest shows at the time).
Disc includes: Road to Broadway featurette, Bush on Bush interview, Its Time Has Come of Being a Decider, America: True or False Game, digital copy
For people who can't get enough of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You": Love Actually [Blu-ray] Having discussed Valentine's Day in last week's Trailer Hitch, it seems only natural that the movie – Love Actually – that likely inspired the upcoming American knock-off be profiled here in How to Spend $20 the following week. Thanks to the beauty of Blu-ray, I can get away with describing the beloved 2003 Brit comedy without looking too silly. Let's do it.
Arguing that only straight people can find love during the holidays – seriously, nearly a dozen interrelated storylines without a single one exploring a gay relationship? – Love Actually comes highly touted by women (and, let's be honest, men) everywhere as one of the best movies for making you feel all warm and fuzzy and good, even if you find yourself alone for a major holiday with nothing more than a pint of your favorite ice cream. Due out today is a Blu-ray version of the movie, which, among other improvements, will make the principal cast even more attractive on the eyes. Well, except for Bill Nighy of course.
Disc includes: Deleted scenes, The Music of Love Actually featurette, Kelly Clarkson's "The Trouble with Love Is" music video, Billy Mack's "Christmas is All Around" music video, The Storytellers featurette, audio commentary
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