Hollywood @ home

DVD reviews: 'Driven,' 'Someone Like You'

By Paul Chambers
Special to CNN

(CNN) -- Cars, comedy and chaos are on the menu at a video store near you. Sylvester Stallone is on the comeback trail as a race car driver in "Driven." Ashley Judd pines for Greg Kinnear in "Someone Like You." And, Arnold Schwarzenegger wishes someone could remember it for him wholesale in the award-winning sci-fi, "Total Recall." It's time to start your engines with some of the latest DVD's:

"Driven" (2001, Warner Home Video)

Get ready to rumble on the racetrack with Sylvester Stallone in the fast-moving world of formula racing. "Driven," co-scripted by Stallone, is the story of the men who race cars and the women who love them. Stallone plays a seasoned driver called in to assist a distracted rookie (Kip Pardue). The kid has talent, but not enough moxie to overcome his obsessive manager or his unhealthy fixation on the current champion. Renny Harlin ("Cliffhanger") directs this soap opera on wheels. The story flows like a bad music video, leaving the viewer bored and unexcited. Vrrroooom! That's the sound of consumers returning "Driven" to the store for a refund.

DVD extras: Two behind-the-scenes documentaries about the making of "Driven." Both are as poorly written as the film, filled with disjointed comments cloned from the feature film's publicity interviews. There are also deleted scenes from the movie, but who would want to see them? Subtitles in English, French and Spanish.

Rating: 2

"Someone Like You" (2001, Fox Home Entertainment)

Ashley Judd is a TV talk show talent scout who falls for her executive producer, Greg Kinnear, in this romantic comedy about failed relationships. When Kinnear gives Judd the heave-ho, our heroine begins her pop psychology thesis on why men can't be monogamous. She moves in with a womanizing co-worker, played by Hugh Jackman. Their relationship is far from physical, but a friendship develops. Now, try not to guess the ending. "Someone Like You" is predictable and filled with cliches. Judd is a major talent waiting-to-happen, but she really needs to re-think her career. One good move might be to dump her script reader. Her filmography reads like an obituary with such titles as "Eye of the Beholder" and "Where the Heart Is." Add this title to the list ... may it rest in peace.

DVD extras: There are seven extended scenes and an alternate ending (an alternate beginning and middle would have been nice, too). DVD also includes Dolby Surround sound, a commentary by director Tony Goldwyn, and a featurette.

Rating: 3

"Total Recall: Special Limited Edition" (Artisan Home Entertainment)

This 1990 sci-fi classic won an Academy Award for achievement in special effects. Most of the visual eye candy was produced the old fashioned way -- by hand -- as computer-generated effects were in their infancy when this adventure was being made. Arnold Schwarzenegger also owes a portion of his career to this film. He was perfectly cast as the lowly construction worker who may have a past life on Mars as a secret agent. Not for the squeamish: "Total Recall" has a remarkably high body count.

DVD Extras: This DVD is a newly remastered widescreen version with remastered Dolby Surround with Nearfield audio mix -- meaning your home theater system will really purr over this. An all-new documentary, "Imagining Total Recall" is definitely worth watching. One cheezy feature allows you to take a virtual vacation. It's not a lot of fun. Oh, and the disc comes in a metal case shaped like the planet Mars.

Rating: 7

Recently out on DVD and VHS:

"An American Werewolf in London: 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition" (Universal Studios Home Video)
"Blood Simple" (Universal Studios Home Video)
"Cape Fear" (1962) (Universal Studios Home Video)
"Cape Fear" (1991) (Universal Studios Home Video)
"Play Misty For Me: Collector's Edition" (Universal Studios Home Video)
"Startup.com" (Artisan Home Entertainment)
"The Tangerine Bear" (Artisan Home Entertainment)
"Luck of the Draw" (Artisan Home Entertainment)
"Operation Petticoat" (Artisan Home Entertainment)
"The Grass is Greener" (Artisan Home Entertainment)
"Veggie Tales: The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown" (Big Idea Productions)
"Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles/ The Tesca Campaign" (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment)
"The Luzhin Defence" (Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment)
"Spy Kids" (Dimension Home Video)
"Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles" (Paramount Home Entertainment)

DVD only:

"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (MGM Home Entertainment)
"Irma La Douce" (MGM Home Entertainment)
"Sayonara" (MGM Home Entertainment)
"King Solomon's Mines" (MGM Home Entertainment)
"Pocketful of Miracles" (MGM Home Entertainment)
"A Hole in the Head" (MGM Home Entertainment)
"Star Trek Original Series: Series 31" (contains episodes 61 and 62) (Paramount Home Entertainment)