Home Media Magazine - June 29 - July 5, 2008 - (Page 34)

"A wonderful family film. We award this family friendly film five Doves.” - The Dove Foundation REVIEWS I BUDS FOR LIFE Prebook 7/3; Street 8/5 Maverick, Comedy, $19.98 DVD, ‘PG-13’. Stars Kate Vernon, Roark Critchlow, Eddie Griffin Jr., Cathy Doe, Donn Swaby, Eugene Byrd. www.homemediamagazine.com ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEE ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEE GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEE DIANE LADD GRAHAM GREENE LEE MAJORS T INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY he friendship of four young men is put to the test in Buds for Life, an amiable, low-budget Los Angeles comedy from veteran actor and director Gabriel Bologna (The Trench, Girrl). Dante (Swaby of NBC’s “Passions”) is an ambitious intern at a law firm, where his amorous boss and fiancée (Vernon of TV’s “Battlestar Galactica”) may or may not have hooked up with his friend Pooch (Patton). Aside from that awkward situation, Pooch’s love of the ladies — he has a Bob Crane-like collection of video tapes to prove it — is stalling his life. Meanwhile, roommates Paul (Byrd of 8 Mile) and Weed (Griffin Jr.) have their own problems. Responsible and thoughtful Paul can’t get over the controlling girlfriend he left behind in New York, while Weed’s love of pot and Natalie Portman is all-consuming. Buds for Life is not without its surprising charms. Without resorting to whining or chest-thumping, Bologna and writer Swaby paint a sometimes stirring portrait of young adulthood. Also, the young cast (es- pecially Byrd) is very appealing. A few obstacles keep the movie from being a total success, namely Weed’s tiresome red-eyed antics, which play like outtakes from an unwatchable Friday sequel, and the plot’s complete lack of surprise: You can practically see the boys’ romantic possibilities take shape before the credits roll. If fans of movies that take a lighter look at the quarter-life crisis (The Best Man, Swingers) can overlook these flaws, they should find enough to make Buds for Life a worthwhile rental. – Pete Croatto Now on DVD Prebook date: 07/08/2008 Street date: 08/05/2008 The journey of a lifetime for young Lily Strickland begins not out of her love for adventure but out of heartache. Longing for the father she lost to the ocean and having no way to say goodbye, Lily strikes out on her own. Leaving behind a safe, loving environment with her grandparents and loving mother, she faces not only her fears but the obstacles the wilderness presents. I SIDE SHO A touching, and heart-warming tale one I highly recommend.” - VideoViews.org “Great family values. DVD National Marketing Campaign includes: Today’s Christian $24.95/SRP WHEN I FIND THE OCEAN / DVD Approx. 104 min./Color/Cat# 348122 UPC: 0 12233 48122 8 ISBN: 978-1-56994-424-0 THEMATIC MATERIAL INVOLVING VIOLENCE & RACIAL SLURS, & FOR LANGUAGE the Goodalls are ready to hightail it back to civilization. Unfortunately their minivan breaks down, leaving them Prebook 7/2; Street 7/29 Lionsgate, Horror, $26.98 DVD, ‘R’ for horror violence/gore, language, some stranded among the group of secluded mutant hillbillies, who seem to be the only ones left in the area. sexuality/nudity and brief drug use. Forced to spend the night in filthy nearby cabins, Stars John David Hart, Toni Robider, Dana Poulson, Elizabeth Bailey, J.R. things quickly go from bad to worse when the sun Reynolds, Hunter Ballard, Renee Derossett, Christopher Derek Lee, Bob goes down and the madmen from the sideshow Mumford. move in and kidnap the women with the intention of using them for breeding. ollowing in the footsteps of TexWith the three ladies locked up in cages, as Chainsaw Massacre and House it’s up to John (Hart) and his son to help of 1000 Corpses, Side Sho is an their family escape the deadly carnival offbeat tale of terror that pits a suburban before the deranged mutants slaughter family against a clan of savage, inbred them all. bumpkins. Despite being a low-budget slasher The story centers on the Goodalls, flick, and the first release from the Lucky who are on a road trip across Florida Kitty production company, Side Sho is a to take their daughter and her friend to real treat for fans of old-school horror. softball camp. Along the way, the father The film’s unusual characters, ghastly makes repeated stops at odd roadside attractions so he can photograph them for a coffee story and attention to detail throughout — from its table book he’s working on. Their final stop is an old, electrifying score to the ingenious ways of killing rundown sideshow and roadside museum of freaks people — make it more entertaining than a lot of the that they stumble upon after getting lost in the back mainstream horror films out today. Winner of the best feature film award at the 2007 roads of the Deep South. After getting a personal tour of the exhibits from a foul, Terror Film Festival, Side Sho is simple, scary and fun, one-eyed barker and meeting some of the local wackos, making it the perfect summer rental. – Matt Miller F for ordering assistance Call 1 800 424 2593 www.montereymedia.com monterey media… a uniquely independent studio 34 Home Media Magazine June 29–July 5, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://VideoViews.org http://www.montereymedia.com http://www.montereymedia.com

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