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Welcome to How to Spend $20, BOP’s look at the latest Blu-ray discs and DVDs to hit stores nationwide. This week: Californication jumps the shark, Michael Cera fends off evil exes and Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy talk and talk and...

Pick of the Week

For people who like stories about writers: Californication: The Third Season

I totally loved the first season of Californication. Well, that was true of me once the show’s characters fleshed out some and actual story was set in motion. Come to think, those first few episodes were pretty rough around the edges. The boy-likes-girl-who-got-away thing is pretty tired after all. But then Hank and Karen’s chemistry really started clicking, and it didn’t matter much to me anymore.

Anyway, season two was even better. Again, however, it took a moment for it to grow on me. The remarkable lives of Charlie and Marcy were interesting to explore once the cameras started following them home. I also enjoyed Hank’s season-long arc, which was about him struggling to write a book about a sex-crazed, drugged up record producer said to be based on Rick Rubin. What did it for me, though, was one particular dinner party at Hank’s place. The setting, the characters present, the conversation and the drama – totally for the people who’d paid attention up to that point.

What saddens me, then, is the direction the writers (and Showtime) took the series in season three. I gave up the season – and maybe the show – cold turkey after just a few episodes.

If ever there were a character that represented jumping the shark, it’d be Sue Collini, who was played in a recurring role by Kathleen Turner. The whole thing, really, was just over the top. As well, the episodes themselves felt artificial, like the writers were trying too hard to get a laugh instead of feeding off their characters’ banter and chemistry.

Disc includes: Blooper Reel featurette, Marcie’s Pajama Party featurette, Interviews with cast members, select episodes of The Tudors and United States of Tara





For people who didn’t know Michael Cera had it in him: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

So far, 2010 has been a sucky year for movies. And with the proliferation of 3D, it’s also been an expensive year for movies. I feel like more so than ever, I’ve been uber selective on what deserves to be seen on the big screen, and what’s worth the dollar, maybe, on Redbox. The Social Network and Inception are really the only movies I can think of offhand that were worth the admission price. Actually, both titles I would have seen twice – and I hardly ever say that. Generally, I go, “That was great! But I’m in no rush togoseeitagainrightnow.”

With that said, one of the few movies I made the mistake of skipping when it was in theaters in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, a movie I fully intend on seeing hopefully very soon. Good friends whose opinions I generally trust said it was great, and even went as far as to say it was a movie that should be seen big. (One of ‘em, too, was a vehement Michael Cera hater up until Scott Pilgrim). For that I feel like I missed out on something.

The casting for this one is stellar. I feel like nabbing folks like Anna Kendrick, Mae Whitman, Kieran Culkin and Jason Schwartzman was smooth. It complements the indie-ness of the whole thing quite brilliantly, actually. Brandon Routh and Chris Evans were inspired as well, considering they’ve been around the superhero/comic book block already.

Disc includes: Deleted scenes, Scott Pilgrim vs. The Bloopers, feature commentaries, Making Of featurette, You Too Can Be Sex Bob-Omb featurette, music featurette and video, alternate footage, Visual Effects featurette, Adult Swim: Scott Pilgrim vs. The Animation featurette, Pre-Production Footage featurette

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