The Mama’s Family Favorites Collection DVD Review

• Language: English
• Number of discs: 6
• Rated: Not Rated
• Studio: Time Life/WEA
• DVD Release Date: March 7, 2017

        “Mama’s Family” originally began as a sketch known as ‘The Family’ on “The Carol Burnett Show,” recurring for much of the eleven seasons that it was on air. Burnett herself was originally intended to play Mama Harper, but preferred the supporting role of Eunice and instead suggested Vicki Lawrence. Lawrence, despite only being in her early 30s, played the older matriarch in her 60s with such success that it led to a standalone spin-off series from 1983 to 1990 (primarily in syndication). There had actually been offers to make the series as early as 1975, but Lawrence was hesitant to appear disloyal to “The Carol Burnett,” and only agreed years later at the suggestion of Burnett herself.

Kendra on Top: The Complete Fourth and Fifth Seasons DVD Review

• Actors: Kendra Wilkinson
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rated: Not Rated
• Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
• DVD Release Date: March 7, 2017
• Run Time: 743 minutes

        Does anyone really expect quality television from Kendra Wilkinson? The former Playboy model made her name by being the live-in girlfriend (one of three) for Hugh Hefner, which made her a reality TV pseudo-celebrity. It was enough to get her two consecutive standalone reality series and appearances as a contestant on countless others, despite the fact that she doesn’t have any talent or much personality. Actually, I retract that. She has plenty of personality, but it just happens to be very ugly in contrast to her looks.

Man Down Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Kate Mara, Shia LaBeouf, Jai Courtney, Gary Oldman, Clifton Collins Jr.
• Director: Dito Montiel
• Disc Format: AC-3, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region A/1
• Rated: R
• Studio: LIONSGATE
• Release Date: March 7, 2017
• Run Time: 90 minutes

        I am typically quite adamant about not including any spoilers in my reviews of films, but I’m afraid that the only way to truly point out what is wrong with Man Down is by revealing the truth about the largest twist in the narrative. This revelation is also the only way to convey the main theme and apparent point of the story, which remains hidden by a silly and convoluted mystery for much of the run time. Even simply saying that this is a film about PTSD will likely give away the truth about the post-apocalyptic section of the narrative, while most are likely to be too irritated by the manipulation for the intended message to have any real impact once revealed.