Odds are stacked against characters in these new comedy and romantic comedy film releases fresh from the movie theaters. There’s a working woman juggling too many responsibilities to be the superwoman she strives to be (I Don’t Know How She Does It); a single woman who believes she has too many lovers in her past to find a husband (What’s Your Number?); and a young man who’s told his chances of surviving cancer are only fifty percent (50/50). How these characters fight against the odds delivers the comedy…and occasionally true love.
I Don’t Know How She Does It (Widescreen and Blu-ray)
A married woman with two children has difficulty managing her family life when she takes on a high-stress job at a financial management firm. Her situation becomes even more difficult when she’s required to go on frequent trips with her handsome new boss. Based on a popular novel, it’s a familiar story with the twist of a gender-switching primary breadwinner.
- Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan, Christina Hendricks, Olivia Munn, Seth Meyers, Kelsey Grammer, Jane Curtin
- Director: Douglas McGrath
- Writers: Aline Brosh McKenna (screenplay); Allison Pearson (novel)
- Genre: Comedy
- Run Time: 89 minutes
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sexual references)
- DVD Release Date: January 3, 2012
- Additional Information: Click here to visit the official website.
What’s Your Number? (Widescreen and Blu-ray)
After Ally (Anna Faris) reads a magazine article that says a woman’s chances of finding a husband diminish drastically after 20 lovers, she begins to panic because her number of ex-lovers is so high. She enlists the help of her handsome playboy neighbor to track down her previous boyfriends to see if she might have overlooked Prince Charming the first time around. During this search, Ally must confront her role in these failed relationships.
- Also starring Chris Evans, Ari Graynor, Blythe Danner, Ed Begley Jr., Chris Platt, Zachary Quinto, Martin Freeman, Andy Samberg, Aziz Ansari, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Heather Burns
- Director: Mark Mylod
- Writers: Gabrielle Allan, Jennifer Crittenden (screenplay); Karyn Bosnak (novel “20 Times a Lady”)
- Genre: Romantic Comedy
- Run Time: 106 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R (for sexual content and language)
- DVD Release Date: January 10, 2012
50/50 (Widescreen and Blu-ray)
The winner of several awards from film festivals and associations, 50/50 is much funnier than its premise sounds. A young writer is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer and is given only a fifty percent chance of survival. As he copes with the reality of his situation and endures treatments, he comes to fully appreciate his best friend, family, and a young therapist at the cancer center.
- Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas-Howard, Anjelica Huston, Serge Houde, Andrew Airlie, Matt Frewer, Philip Baker Hall
- Director: Jonathan Levine
- Writer: Will Reiser
- Genre: Comedy Drama
- Run Time: 100 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R (for language throughout, sexual content, and some drug use)
- DVD Release Date: January 24, 2012
- Additional Information: Click here to visit the official website.
Older Comedies Released on Blu-ray in January
- The Breakfast Club (1985): Blu-ray Release Date: January 10
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982): Blu-ray Release Date: January 10
- Stripes (1981): Blu-ray Release Date: January 24
Older Romantic Comedies Released on Blu-ray in January
- Serendipity (2001): Blu-ray Release Date: January 3
- She’s All That (1999): Blu-ray Release Date: January 3
- Legally Blonde (2001): Blu-ray Release Date: January 10
- The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005): Blu-ray Release Date: January 10
- When Harry Met Sally (1989): Blu-ray Release Date: January 10
- Shallow Hal (2001): Blu-ray Release Date: January 10
- Never Been Kissed (1999): Blu-ray Release Date: January 10
- Annie Hall (1977): Blu-ray Release Date: January 24
- Manhattan (1979): Blu-ray Release Date: January 24
- Shakespeare in Love (1998): Blu-ray Release Date: January 31
Older Romantic Dramas Released on Blu-ray in January
- The English Patient (1996): Blu-ray Release Date: January 31
- Cold Mountain (2003): Blu-ray Release Date: January 31
- The Piano (1993): Blu-ray Release Date: January 31
To learn more about any of these films, 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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