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Anchor Bay's February '07 Releases

Bug Buster (January 29/07)

So low-rent it almost makes Roger Corman's flicks look expensive, Bug Buster is an absolute failure of a horror movie that follows a small town as they attempt to combat increasingly hostile insects. The film's cast is teeming with familiar faces - Katherine Heigl stars, while Randy Quaid, James Doohan, and George Takei pop up in supporting roles - and yet there's virtually nothing here to hold the viewer's interest. The complete lack of scares - a problem that's compounded by the thoroughly ridiculous special effects - certainly doesn't help matters, nor does the film's emphasis on unreasonably broad bits of comedy (Quaid's disastrously over-the-top performance is an ideal example of this). The many deficiencies within Malick Khoury's incompetent screenplay are exacerbated by Lorenzo Doumani's lifeless directorial choices, with the end result a piece of work that's flat-out interminable for much of its running time.

out of


Eddie Murphy "Delirious" (January 30/07)

It's not difficult to see why Eddie Murphy has been hesitant to allow the DVD release of Eddie Murphy "Delirious", as the filmed concert is teeming with harsh language, racial stereotypes, and an overall vibe of vulgarity - which is certainly a far cry from the family-friendly image the erstwhile comedian has adopted for himself in recent years. And while the movie does seem to have its fans, there's just no overlooking the general lack of laughs - a problem that's compounded by Murphy's antiquated views on various topics (ie homosexuality). For every joke that does work - ie a humorous routine on men and their willingness to openly fart around each other - there are another dozen or so that just fall completely flat (Murphy's hacky schtick on the differences between white people and black people, for example). The inclusion of an absolutely interminable bit in which Murphy discusses his abusive, alcoholic father ensures that Eddie Murphy "Delirious" will primarily appeal to the comedian's fans, as there's exceedingly little here to draw in neophytes.

out of


The Night of the Living Dorks (February 23/07)

Ostensibly a horror/comedy, The Night of the Living Dorks is unable to elicit either scares or laughs from the viewer - a problem that's exacerbated by writer/director Mathias Dinter's reliance on woefully conventional elements. The film's relatively intriguing premise - three horny teenagers are unwittingly transformed into zombies - is consequently (and consistently) undercut by an emphasis on puerile, American Pie-style hijinks, with the end result an entirely needless piece of work. Dinter has clearly been inspired by virtually every high school comedy ever made, as the film contains almost all of the touchstones that viewers have come to expect out of the genre (ie the nerdy hero has a crush on the hottest girl on campus, wholly unaware that his tomboyish best friend has been lusting after him since childhood). The Night of the Living Dorks is ultimately not even remotely as fun as one imagines it's meant to be, and there's just no overlooking the distinctly inept vibe that seems to have been hard-wired into the proceedings.

out of

About the DVDs: Anchor Bay Entertainment offers up an unusually terrible full-frame transfer for Bug Buster (and no bonus features), though both Eddie Murphy "Delirious" and The Night of the Living Dorks look fine. Eddie Murphy "Delirious" comes equipped with some bonus footage and a brand new interview, while The Night of the Living Dorks contains a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted and extended scenes, and a copy of the film's trailer.
© David Nusair