Wanda Sykes and Paul Rodriguez star in standup comedy concerts this month, both of which feature the comics discussing their ethnicities and idiosyncrasies. Turner Classic Movies offers another fine collection of film packages; this time it’s four of The Marx Brothers best comedies. In addition, there’s the 2009 comedy ensemble hit Couples Retreat, which takes ordinary married couples dealing with a variety of problems and puts them on an extraordinary tropical island where they must confront their deepest fears – and even worse, their mates.
Look for these comedies on store shelves this month:
I’ma Be Me (2009)
Wanda Sykes co-produces and stars in her second HBO comedy special now available on DVD. Her standup comedy discusses being a lesbian, being an African American, and being an African American lesbian. In fact, sex and race are popular topics throughout her monologue, in addition to random subjects including Michael Jackson and bikini waxes.
- Starring Wanda Sykes
- Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller
- Genre: Standup Comedy Concert
- Discs: 1
- Run Time: 60 minutes
- Rating: Not Rated (explicit language)
- DVD Release Date: February 2, 2010
TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Marx Brothers (2009)
Four of The Marx Brothers funniest films comprise this DVD package from Turner Classic Movies. This package features a misfit racehorse in A Day at the Races (1937), the brothers working at a Casablanca hotel in A Night in Casablanca (1946); a theatrical producer trying to manipulate his landlord in Room Service (1938), and the brothers helping a circus owner in At the Circus (1939). Other big stars from that era appear in these films, including Allan Jones and Maureen O’Sullivan in A Day at the Races, Charles Drake and Paul Harvey in A Night in Casablanca, Lucille Ball and Ann Miller in Room Service, and Kenny Baker and Eve Arden in At the Circus.
- Starring Groucho Marx, Chico Marx, Harpo Marx
- Directors: Sam Wood (A Day at the Races); Archie Mayo (A Night in Casablanca); William A. Seiter (Room Service); Edward Buzzell (At the Circus)
- Genre: Comedy
- Discs: 2
- Run Time: 359 minutes (four films combined total)
- Rating: Not Rated
- DVD Release Date: February 2, 2010
Paul Rodriguez & Friends: Comedy Rehab (2009)
This comedy concert hosted by Paul Rodriguez features some of today most popular Latin comics. Filmed live in front of an audience in Santa Fe, this performance touches on Hispanic stereotypes and a variety of other subjects.
- Also starring Dennis Gaxiola, Manny Maldonado, Gene Pompa, Shayla Rivera
- Director: Gabriela Tagliavini
- Genre: Standup Comedy Concert
- Discs: 1
- Run Time: 85 minutes
- Rating: Not Rated (some language)
- DVD Release Date: February 2, 2010
Couples Retreat (2009) Widescreen and Blu-ray
Four couples go to an exotic island for rest, relaxation, and romance, but find that couple’s therapy sessions are requirements for staying there. Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, and Dana Fox co-wrote the screenplay, which takes a look at how romance and communication get sacrificed for practicality in most marriages. The assorted quirks of the couples and the eccentric island staff make for some amusing – and often heated – interactions.
- Starring Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Kristen Davis, Jean Reno
- Director: Peter Billingsley
- Genre: Comedy
- Discs: 1
- Run Time: 114 minutes
- Rating: PG-13 (for sexual content and language)
- DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
To watch a trailer for Couples Retreat, visit the official website. For more information about any of these movies, visit Internet Movie Database.
Leslie C. Halpern - Leslie C. Halpern, Romantic Films/Comedies Topic Editor, authored Passionate About Their Work, Reel Romance, & Dreams on Film.
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