HOME. (Blu-ray/DVD Artwork). ©20th Century Fox.
By ANGELA DAWSON
Front Row Features
Celebrate family, friendship and fun with “Home,” available Tuesday, July 28 on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD. The animated comedy already is available on Digital HD.
From the creators of “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Shrek!” comes this tale involving Oh, a lovable misfit alien from another planet who meets a girl on earth named Tip. The two unlikely friends embark on a journey home. Directed by Tim Johnson (“Over the Hedge,” “Antz”), “Home” features the voice talents of Emmy winner Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”), Grammy winner Rihanna (“Battleship”), Oscar and Emmy winner Steve Martin (“The Pink Panther”) and Golden Globe nominee Jennifer Lopez (“American Idol”).
The Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD feature a Boov-tastic party of never-before-seen bonus features that will inspire the whole family to get their groove on, including “OH’s Boovy Jukebox” of top tracks, “Oh’s Shake Your Boov Thing,” a fun music video mash-up, deleted scenes, character-drawing tutorials and more.
The hit British mystery “Vera,” starring Brenda Blethyn and the British crime drama “Chasing Shadows,” starring Alex Kingston (“Doctor Who,” “ER”) both premiere Monday, July 27 on Acorn.TV.
Would-be campers may want to reconsider the family camping holiday this summer after watching Jonas Govaerts’ “Cub,” a frightening thriller, that is available On Demand Friday, July 31. The DVD edition will be available Monday, August 3.
Sam is an imaginative but vulnerable 12-year-old, who heads off to camp with his Cub Scout troop. Mistrusted by pack leader Peter and isolated from the other scouts, he becomes convinced a terrible fate awaits them in the forest after he discovers a mysterious lair. Though he tries to warn the other campers, they ignore him and his darkest fears soon come to life as one by one his fellow scouts are hunted down, leaving him to fight back to survive.
Katherine Heigl plays another bride with family issues in the dramedy “Jenny’s Wedding,” arriving in theaters and On Demand Friday, July 31. Only this time, the statuesque actress plays Jenny Farrell, a woman who has led an openly gay life, though she has kept it secret from her family, who hold traditional values. When she finally decides to start a family and marry the woman her family thinks is simply her roommate (“Gilmore Girls” star Alexis Bledel), the small, safe world that Farrell inhabits changes forever. She and her bride leave Jenny’s family with choice—either accept them as a couple or don’t bother coming to the wedding.
“Northmen: A Viking Saga,” starring Tom Hopper (BBC’s “Merlin”) and Ryan Kwanten, sails into theaters and Digital HD Friday, July 31, and on VOD, DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday August 11. The period action drama, directed by Claudio Fah, tells the story of a ship of Vikings who in the ninth century set sail for Britain, aiming to plunder the rich monasteries in the northern part of the country. But a storm smashes the ship to pieces on the rocks off the coast of Scotland, the only part of Britain without any Viking settlements. Soon after, the daughter of the Scottish King falls into their hands and the Vikings see this as an opportunity to demand a large ransom. The King immediately sets his “wolfpack”—a group of mercenaries well known for their savagery — on the Vikings. The “Northmen” with their hostage now have to force their way through the rough highlands, where they meet the brave and mysterious Christian monk Conall (Kwanten). Having the wolfpack close on their heels, a desperate race against time begins as well, leading up to a battle royale.
