New on DVD: Be Kind, Rewind, Chaos Theory and Fool’s Gold

by John P. Meyer

Appearing on the home video market this week are three films we reviewed during their theatrical release.

Fool's Gold turns out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy of a title, in the sense that all that glitters on the big screen isn't necessarily conducive to a bankable hit - or a particularly entertaining movie watching experience, for that matter. While Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson are fun to watch and generate genuine chemistry, I thought the movie just had too much going on to make it compelling. (Nice scenery, though.)

In Be Kind, Rewind, Jack Black and Mos Def play video store clerks who try to recover from an untimely industrial accident by re-making the films that used to exist on their store's inventory of VHS tapes. Director Michel Gondry's follow-up to his charming The Science of Sleep does itself prove intermittently charming, though it must be said that the characters are more entertaining when engaged in "sweding" than they are when living out their real (movie) lives.

And finally, Chaos Theory finds Ryan Reynolds portraying once again the kind of befuddled midlife-crisis family man who questions his relationship foundations - among other things. Making a memorable appearance is Sarah Chalke - in skimpy lingerie - as a businesswoman on the lookout for licentiousness.

Now, back to Unbeatable Banzuke Hand Walk...