ShareThisNew and current DVD releases
The House Bunny
"The House Bunny" is practically a scene-by-scene rip-off of "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Legally Blonde," which is only half OK, because its screenwriters also wrote the latter movie. But the movie benefits from the multiple talents of Anna Faris, whose insane hotness makes people forget that she's also a very gifted comic actress. Rated PG-13. 97 minutes. -- Peter Hartlaub
Mamma Mia!
The ABBA musical experiences some awkwardness in its transfer to the screen. Film is more literal than stage, and there are moments that feel odd and insincere close-up that would just seem festive from 40 feet away. Yet the movie is fun, the music's terrific, the cast is appealing -- what's not to like? Rated PG-13. 108 minutes. -- Mick LaSalle
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Even Rob Cohen's kinetic action sequences can't save this tired, light-on-plot third installment of the modern "Mummy" series, this time with our heroes (Brendan Fraser and Maria Bello) trying to stop an evil Chinese emperor from reconstituting. It's stretched out and dull. Rated PG-13. 112 minutes. -- Mick LaSalle
Traitor
Jeffrey Nachmanoff's espionage thriller offers an interesting tweak on the action genre -- the protagonist, Samir Horn (Don Cheadle), is a devout Muslim and possible terrorist -- but sticks too close to convention to show audiences anything truly new. Rated PG-13. 113 minutes. -- Reyhan Harmanci
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Must credit the San Francisco Chronicle
