New on DVD: '22 Jump Street,' 'If I Stay,' 'Into the Storm'
Bob Bloom
A lively cop-action, buddy film, a young adult fantasy and a cliched disaster feature arrived on Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday.
'22 Jump Street'
(Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment ($40.99)
The lowdown: Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill return in this sequel that finds police officers Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) going undercover at a local college.
Besides solving a case, the two must deal with strains in their partnership.
The film retains the wacky charm of the original, part-buddy film, part-comedy and part-police action thriller.
The sequel, produced for $50 million, was released on June 13, and earned $191.5 million in the United States and $138.8 million overseas.
Critics jumped at the sequel, giving it an 84 percent positive rating at Rottentomatoes.com, where Gannett Chief Film Critic Bill Goodykoontz wrote, "What makes it all work is the chemistry between Hill and Tatum, which in turn, of course, is a rich source of the film's humor."
Don't miss: Among the extras are deleted scenes, line-o-ramas, a look at the directors, a commentary track, a joke-a-palooza, a featurette on ad-libbing on the set, a look at the casting of the film and a featurette showing the movie without the jokes.
Rated: R, violence, language, nudity, sexual content, drug use
Critic's rating: Three stars (Good)
'If I Stay'
(Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet). Fox Home Entertainment ($39.99)
The lowdown: A nonthreatening and idealized young adult movie about a young girl critically injured in a car accident who hovers between life and death and must decide if life is indeed worth living despite the tragedy that impacts her life.
The film is a sensitive, but manipulative romantic fantasy that teenage girls will embrace.
"Stay," produced for $11 million, was released on Aug. 22. It took in $50.5 million in the U.S. and $24.9 million in overseas markets.
Critics left disappointed, giving the movie a 36 percent positive rating at Rottentomatoes, where Goodykoontz noted, "Almost everything in the film feels either forced or false, so the tears aren't earned."
Don't miss: Bonus materials include interviews with filmmakers, the cast and author of the book on which the film was based, a music montage, deleted scenes, a commentary track and a music commentary and a music video.
Rated: PG-13, violence, language, sexual content
Critic's rating: Two stars (Fair)
'Into the Storm'
(Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet). Warner Home Video ($35.99)
The lowdown: An onslaught of tornadoes ravages a small town and storm chasers head for the area to record the power of the expected onslaught.
The film is loaded with clichés and formulaic situations. It is sort of a "Twister"-lite.
"Storm," produced for $50 million, was released on Aug. 8 and earned $47.5 million domestically and $110.2 million overseas.
Critics rained on this feature's parade, giving it a 21 percent positive rating on the tomatometer. Goodykoontz noted, " 'Into the Storm' plays like a special-effects demonstration in search of a movie, but you have to give it to the filmmakers: They take no half-measures."
Don't miss: Extras include a look at the conditions that create tornadoes, a featurette on the film's storm-chasing vehicle and a behind-the-scenes look at the cast recreating the effects of the high winds.
Rated: PG-13, intense and violent destruction and danger, language, sexual references
Critic's rating: One-and-a-half stars (Poor-to-Fair)