Updated 2008-11-17 04:01
The Grid: This week’s releases
★★★ BUY it ★★ RENT it ★ BORROW it (no stars) Yawn
| Books |
‘The Optimist’s Handbook: A Companion to Hope’/‘The Pessimist’s Handbook: A Companion to Despair’ Niall Edworthy, Petra Cramsie Free Press ★★ “The Optimist’s/Pessimist’s Handbook” is a whimsical little idea. Feeling happy? Read quotes full of inspiration from artists, writers, and famous people. Once you get your fill of such sunny outlooks, flip the book over and read all of the skeptical and cynical pieces of advice other quotable people have bestowed upon the world. It’s a perfect gift for all those bipolar people in your life. DOROTHY ROBINSON/METRO |
‘The Experts’ Guide to Doing Things Faster: 100 Ways to Make Life More Efficient’ Author: Samantha Ettus, Publisher: Potter ★★★ Do you ever feel like you just do everything wrong? Do you constantly call everyone in your phone book for help with how to choose an outfit or how to reduce debt? Well, stop being an annoying downer and pick up this handy little tome, in which the world’s leading authorities give easily-digestible advice and tips on how to live your life well. METRO/DR |
| DVDs |
‘I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Series’ Genre: Comedy Cast: Barbara Eden Larry Hagman ★★ This “I Dream of Jeannie” set contains all five seasons packaged within a bejeweled genie bottle that should be featured in the media center of Barbie’s Dream House. “Jeannie,” of course, is the loony, lovable 1960s sitcom about a sexy genie discovered by an astronaut. Those distracted by shiny things, as well as diehards craving the bonus commentary and cast interviews, will find this set to be a must-have. AMBER RAY/METRO |
‘Tropic Thunder’ Genre: Action/comedy Director: Ben Stiller Cast: Ben Stiller, Jack Black ★★ Ben Stiller is letting us in on a little Hollywood inside joke — everyone in the biz is craaaazy. That includes the action hero (Stiller), the comedian (Jack Black), the serious Oscar-winner (Robert Downey Jr.), and especially the studio head (Tom Cruise in a fat suit). Watching these pampered pop culture gods fend for themselves when the war movie they’re filming turns into an actual battle is hilarious in a gawking-from-the-in-side-out sort of way. METRO/AR |
| CDs |
‘I Am ... Sasha Fierce’ Artist: Beyoncé Label: Sony ★★★ “Sasha” lives up to her last name and then some. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” is “Crazy in Love” catchy, “Video Phone” is as sexy as it is timely, and “If I Were A Boy” packs a passionate and pissed persona we don’t often see from Lady B. The deluxe edition has five additional songs, including “That’s Why You’re Beautiful,” which could almost be mistaken for indie rock! The only problem is the songs in the middle, where each sounds like it was written simply to try to get next to Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” on Pandora. PAT HEALY/METRO |
‘David Cook’ Artist: David Cook Label: 19 Recordings/RCA (no stars) David Cook plays the type of hard rock that’s polished to a point where it’s hardly even hard anymore. There is still a market for this music, but barely. And because it has been “American Idol”-ized, thanks to Cook himself, the sound may finally be as forgotten as Guarini. There’s no doubt the dude has skill — you voted him best singer in the country — but he tends to sing in an affected way of grunge lite acts from the late ’90s. Hopefully if he gets to make “David Cook II,” he’ll add some more originality. METRO/PH |