New DVDs:

“Villains,” a 2019 comedy thriller, is about a young couple (Bill Skarsgard and Maika Monroe) who play quirky, much-in-love criminals that break into a house when their car runs out of gas. When the duo find a girl chained in the basement they postpone leaving and meet the owners of the house: A married couple (Jeffrey Donovan and Kyra Sedgwick) reminiscent of the “perfect family,” which matches the retro decor of the home. Surprisingly courteous, their true psychological problems start to show when they hold the criminals hostage. Quirky and uneasy, this comedy thriller had me questioning what each character would do next.

“Emma,” a 2020 movie version based on Jane Austen’s book of the same name, has gorgeous sets with vivid colors. Despite finding some of the characters unlikable, especially Emma, I still enjoyed their motivations and the development of their personalities. Any fan of Jane Austen and romantic period pieces will enjoy this film.

“VHYES,” filmed entirely on VHS video, is a blast from the past. Ralph gets a camcorder on Christmas and accidentally tapes over his parents’ wedding. That’s okay though — we learn about his friends and family, and a bizarre 1987. The snippets from late night comedies, daytime television, and commercials feels like a parody of the late 80s and yet incredibly genuine of the time period. This home movie wraps you in nostalgia waiting to see how it all ties in together.

Despite the high critic and audience reviews, I thought the 2020 version of “Little Women” directed by Greta Gerwig, wasn’t engaging. I didn’t find the characters as likeable as I thought but perhaps that’s the point. It’s a coming-of-age story of four sisters. Perhaps the appeal is how the characters interact in realistic ways, as opposed to some movies where characters always seem to get along no matter what. Either way, the acting was good and I enjoyed the set design. Anyone who is a fan of “Little Women” would probably enjoy this version.

By Stephanie Garn

Reference Department