In 2011, audiences around the world embraced Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis as Nick, Dale and Kurt, the hapless heroes of Horrible Bosses. The actors portrayed working stiffs who struggled under the yoke of supervisors so monstrous and out-of-control that they felt their only recourse was to bump them off. Fortunately, they were spectacularly unsuccessful, bungling the job at every turn in an escalating cycle of panic and insanely bad decisions that propelled the film to worldwide box office heights — and suggested that not everyone is cut out for homicide, however justifiable. Also, that these three might want to reconsider their career paths.
In Horrible Bosses 2, Nick, Dale and Kurt do exactly that, rallying with an original invention and another run at the American dream. “They develop a product they think they can make, market and sell,” says Jason Bateman. “They put everything they have into it, and decide to bet on themselves, which is just not a good idea with these guys. It doesn’t take very long for things to go wrong.”
The new venture takes the three into uncharted territory and up against formidable new foes, but with the same unbeatable chemistry, crazy energy and go-for-broke enthusiasm that Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis first brought to their leading roles. “It’s the little things that sometimes get the biggest laughs,” says Day, “like when they’re breaking into a house, or breaking out of a house, or just sitting in the car trying to figure out how to pull things off that they have no capacity to do. I think that’s the charm of it.”
“We can still surprise each other,” admits Sudeikis. “Charlie, Jason and I become sort of a self-governing unit with a lot of checks and balances. I’ve been very lucky to have worked with some great ensembles, and this is one of the best.”
Director and co-writer Sean Anders, who worked with Sudeikis on the hit comedy We’re the Millers, would concur. “They were on fire,” he says. “We spent a lot of time working on the script in the month or two before shooting and then, on the day, we’d talk about the scene and come up with different ideas. We’d get a take or two that was more-or-less on script, and then we’d open it up and let the guys go nuts, and that’s where some of the funniest moments came from. Sometimes my job was to watch the fireworks go off and hone in on the best stuff, because there was so much of it.”
With such a comedically-gifted cast, collaboration and improv reigned, and not only with Bateman, Day and Sudeikis. Among the returning stars, Jennifer Aniston takes her portrayal of sex-addicted dentist Julia Harris to another level, and Jamie Foxx takes on an expanded role freelance crime consultant and world’s worst negotiator Dean “MF” Jones; while Chris Pine, Rex Hanson, runs the gamut from suave to playful to totally unhinged. Even Christoph Waltz, whose baddie character Bert Hanson is written as intimidating and mirthless, rolled with the punches.
Anders was specific about what he wanted the sequel to offer, saying, “Our driving thought was that it had to be its own story, not just three new bosses and three different ways to them. What we wanted was these guys, who are so funny and who we all love, in a whole caper that takes them to desperate places they couldn’t imagine, and the desperate solutions they come up with.”
“Like most people, what I loved about the first movie was not only the concept but the phenomenal comic interplay,” says producer Chris Bender. “It made me want to see what these guys were going to do next. They’re such great characters that we wanted to put them into another impossible situation, turn them loose and see what happens.”
This time, it’s their nascent dreams of entrepreneurship that are crushed when an unscrupulous investor steals their invention and every penny they have. Or, considering the massive loan they’re still on the hook for, every penny they will ever have. Granted, not everyone who gets the short end of a business deal would kidnap the
swindler’s grown son to recoup their losses, but thinking outside the box is what makes Nick, Dale and Kurt so much fun. Their earlier attempted murders didn’t work out so well, in retrospect, but maybe that just wasn’t their thing, as Dale suggests and to which Kurt heartily agrees. Kidnapping… now that’s something they might really have a talent for. And, bonus: nobody gets hurt. But things start to get complicated when their intended victim takes the upper hand.
Expanding on that potential, producer John Morris, who co-wrote the Horrible Bosses 2 screenplay with Anders, says, “We loved the idea of them concocting and then calling off a kidnapping plot, only to have the victim force them to go through with it. Plus, it puts the three of them, who clearly have no business committing crimes, into a position of figuring out what to do, based on all the movies they’ve seen.” At the same time, “We were making fun of that, too, the we all watch those movies and comment on the mistakes the criminals are making, as if we could do it so much better.’”
Horrible Bosses 2 Bonus (Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet) Features: “Endless Laughter Guaranteed!” – Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis and filmmakers will do almost anything for a laugh; “Let the Sexual Healing Begin” – follow the road to recovery with the sex addict group and “Off the Cuff: One-Liners You Didn’t See” – they came thiiiis close to making the final cut.
RELATED ARTICLE: Jennifer Aniston gets sexy in ‘Horrible Bosses’
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Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance)
In this Academy Award-winning Best Picture, star Michael Keaton delivers the best performance of his career in this wildly witty and frenzied film from co-writer/director Alejandro G. Inarritu. When a has-been movie superhero (Keaton) risks everything for Broadway, he faces harsh critics, a deranged alter ego, his estranged daughter (Emma Stone) and a difficult stage star (Edward Norton). Also starring Naomi Watts and Zach Galifianakis, Birdman is a brave, innovative and bold piece of cinematic artistry. Bonus (Blu-ray + UltraViolet) Features: A conversation with Michael Keaton and Alejandro G. Inarritu; “Birdman: All-Access” and Gallery: Chivo’s on-set photography.
Altar
With a cast that includes Olivia Williams, Matthew Modine and Rebecca Calder, Altar follows one family as they move into a timeworn, dilapidated country mansion in order to restore it to its former splendor. But, in the process, they awaken the ghosts of the house s original inhabitants whose curse still looms darkly over the haunted estate. What follows is a hair-raising ordeal of spectral apparitions and demonic possession that threatens to destroy the lives of Altar‘s desperate protagonists in this early realm and beyond.
The Saint, Set 2
Simon Dutton (Dangerous Beauty, By the Sword Divided) returns for more adventures as the dashing Simon Templar, known from his initials as the Saint in this series of TV movies from 1989. Created by Leslie Charteris, Templar is a brilliant sleuth, an unrepentant womanizer, and a thorn in the side of police everywhere. Filmed in Paris, Berlin, and the English countryside, these three feature-length movies find the Saint in pursuit of a known terrorist, investigating a deadly corporate takeover, and solving the murders of several scientists. Includes “Wrong Number,” “The Big Bang” and “The Software Murders.”
The Frank Darabont Collection
The Frank Darabont Collection features a trio of acclaimed films from the noted director/writer. The Collection includes two of the most successful titles in the Warner Bros. library — the recently released 15th Anniversary Edition of The Green Mile and Darabont’s signature movie, The Shawshank Redemption. The third is The Majestic, Darbont’s stylistic homage to Frank Capra starring Jim Carrey and will have its Blu-ray debut with this new collection. The Green Mile Special Features: “Walking the Mile”(Extended Version); Commentary by Frank Darabont; The Teaser Trailer: A Case Study; “Walking the Mile: The Making of The Green Mile“; “Miracles and Mystery: Creating the Green Mile” – Stephen King: Storyteller, The Art of Adaptation, Acting on the Mile, Designing the Mile, The Magic of the Mile and The Tail of Mr. Jingles; Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Frank Darabont; Michael Clarke Duncan’s Screen Test; Tom Hank’s Makeup Test; Teaser and Trailer. The Majestic Special Features: “Movie Within the Movie: Sand Pirates of the Sierra”; Deleted Scenes and Trailer. The Shawshank Redemption Special Features: Commentary by writer/director Frank Darabont; “Hope Springs Eternal: A look Back at The Shawshank Redemption,” “Shawshank: The Redeeming Feature”; The Charlie Rose Show Segment featuring Darabont, Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman; Comic Spoof The Sharktank Redemption; Stills and Collectibles Galleries and Theatrical Trailer.
Anzac Girls
Rich in detail and authenticity, the new hit Australian drama is a moving six-part miniseries based on the true and largely unknown stories of five brave Australian and New Zealand nurses at Gallipoli and the Western Front during World War I. Based on the book The Other ANZACS by Peter Rees, and drawing on the original diaries, letters and photographs that passed between the nurses and their lovers, families and friends, as well as on countless historical records, the miniseries is one of the first to be told from the points of view of courageous nurses.
Richard Pryor: Omit The Logic
Mike Epps, Richard Pryor Jr. and others recount the culture-defining influence of Richard Pryor one of America’s most brilliant comic minds in this new documentary. Pryor remains an inspiration to many: a man who broke taboos, provoked change and propelled himself through life as a result of sheer force of personality. Directed by Emmy winning filmmaker Marina Zenovich, executive produced by Emmywinning producer Roy Ackerman and Pryor’s widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor. Bonus Feature: Additional Interviews with David Banks, Mel Brooks, Whoopi Goldberg, Quincy Jones, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Lee Pryor, David Steinberg and Lily Tomlin.
Big Hero 6
With all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Big Hero 6 is an action-packed comedy adventure that introduces Baymax, a lovable, personal companion robot, who forms a special bond with robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to Baymax and his diverse group of friends – adrenaline junky Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred, who transform into a band of unlikely heroes. Bring home Disney’s Big Hero 6, featuring comic-book-style action and hilarious, unforgettable characters. Bonus (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD) Features: Feast Theatrical Short; “The Origin Story Of Big Hero 6: Hiro’s Journey”; “Big Hero Secrets”; “Big Animator 6: The Characters Behind The Characters” and Deleted Scenes.
Dying Of The Light
Academy Award-winner Nicolas Cage ignites a powder keg of action in this electrifying cloak-and-dagger thriller. Evan Lake (Cage), a veteran CIA agent, has been ordered to retire. But when his protege (Anton Yelchin) uncovers evidence that Lake’s nemesis, the terrorist Banir, has resurfaced, Lake goes rogue, embarking on a perilous, intercontinental mission to eliminate his sworn enemy. Bonus (Blu-ray + UltraViolet) Features: “Behind The Scenes of Dying of the Light” Featurette; Cast and Crew Interviews; Deleted/Extended Scenes and Trailer Gallery.
V/H/S: Viral
A stream of police cars chasing after a deranged ice cream truck driver has captivated the attention of the greater Los Angeles area. Dozens of teens flock to the streets with their video cameras and cell phones, hell-bent on capturing the next viral video. But there is something far more sinister occurring in the streets of L.A. As they’ll soon find out, these fame-obsessed amateur videographers, capturing salacious footage for the amusement of the public, are themselves the stars of the next big viral video – one where they face their own horrifying deaths. Bonus Features: Filmmaker Commentary; “Bonestorm” & “Dante The Great” Segments – an offering of behind-the-scenes Featurettes; Production/Behind The Scenes Galleries & Storyboards; Cast & Crew Interviews and AXS TV: A Look At V/H/S: Viral.
Force Majeure
This wickedly funny and precisely observed psychodrama tells the story of a model Swedish family handsome businessman Tomas, his willowy wife Ebba and their two blond children on a skiing holiday in the French Alps. The sun is shining and the slopes are spectacular but during a lunch at a mountainside restaurant, an avalanche suddenly bears down on the happy diners. With people fleeing in all directions and his wife and children in a state of panic, Tomas makes a decision that will shake his marriage to its core and leave him struggling to reclaim his role as family patriarch. Bonus Features: Interview with writer/director Ruben Ostlund and actor Johannes Bah Kuhnke and AXS TV: A Look At Force Majeure.
The Theory Of Everything
Starring Academy Award-winning Best Actor Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables) and Felicity Jones (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), this is the extraordinary story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde. Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. With Jane fighting tirelessly by his side, Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing he now has precious little of – time. Together, they defy impossible odds, breaking new ground in medicine and science, and achieving more than they could ever have dreamed. The film is based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Jane Hawking, and is directed by Academy Award-winner James Marsh (Man on Wire). Bonus (Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet) Features: Deleted Scenes; “Becoming the Hawkings” and Feature Commentary with director James Marsh.
White Bird In A Blizzard
Kat Connors (Shailene Woodley) is a young woman embracing her newfound sexuality when her glamorous but strange mother Eve (Eva Green) vanishes. At first Kat is excited by her new freedom, distracted by the boy next door (Shiloh Fernandez) and the cop working the case (Thomas Jane). But as disturbing facts about the disappearance surface, the mystery begins to haunt her. From acclaimed director Gregg Araki (Mysterious Skin, Smiley Face, Kaboom), based on the best-selling novel. Also starring Christopher Meloni, Gabourey Sidibe and Angela Bassett. Bonus Features: Commentary with director Gregg Araki and actress Shailene Woodley; Deleted and Extended Scenes; Interview with director Gregg Araki; Interview with actress Shailene Woodley; AXS TV: A Look at White Bird In A Blizzard and Theatrical Trailer.
Nurse Jackie: Season Six
The twisted and darkly funny Nurse Jackie returns for a sixth season with Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton, a role that has earned Falco her fourth consecutive Primetime Emmy nomination. Jackie realizes sobriety is the ultimate cover for getting high, and now she’s saving lives at work, taking care of her kids, and her boyfriend is loving the new her. She’s got everyone fooled, but what goes up must come down. Bonus (Blu-ray + UltraViolet Features: “Deceit, Descent, Destruction: Jackie’s Fall” and “Growing Up Peyton” Featurettes; Deleted Scenes and Audio Commentaries with Cast and Crew.”
Beyond The Lights
Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is the music world’s latest superstar, but the pressures of fame have her on the edge… until she meets Kaz (Nate Parker), a handsome young cop with political ambitions who’s been assigned to protect her. Drawn to each other, Noni and Kaz fall fast and hard, despite the protests of Noni’s mother (Minnie Driver) and Kaz’s father (Danny Glover). But Kaz’s love might be the missing piece that gives Noni the courage to find her own voice and break free to become the artist she was meant to be. Bonus (Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet) Features: Commentary by filmmakers Gina Prince-Bythewood, Tami Reiker & Terilyn Shroshire; Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Filmmakers; Director’s Cut; “Escape to Mexico 2.0”; “Changing the Conversation”; Gary Theard: Boom Man and “Masterpiece” Music Video.
Brotherhood Of Blades
Lu, Shen Lian, and Yichuan. Three sworn brothers, and deadly Jinyiwei Secret Police of the Imperial Guard. The new Emperor’s first mission – find and annihilate the corrupt fugitive Eunuch Wei and his followers. But one mistake reveals the truth – the three men are pawns in a deadly game, unleashing a chain of secrets, conspiracies, and lethal consequences. Brotherhood Of Blades, the critically-acclaimed, action-packed sophomore effort from director Lu Yang (My Spectacular Theatre) featuring Taiwanese superstar Chang Chen (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).
The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya
From Studio Ghibli, the studio that brought you the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and The Wind Rises, comes a powerful and sweeping epic that redefines animated storytelling and marks a triumphant highpoint within an extraordinary filmmaking career for director Isao Takahata. Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter (James Caan) and his wife (Mary Steenburgen), a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady (Chlo Grace Moretz). The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her, but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime. Bonus (Blu-ray + DVD) Features: Announcement of the Completion of the Film; Japanese Trailers and TV Spots and “Isao Takahata and His Tale of The Princess Kaguya” – a feature-length documentary on the making of this masterpiece.
Z Nation: Season 1
Three years after the devastating ZN1 virus gutted the country, a team of everyday heroes must transport the only known survivor of a zombie attack – and humanity’s last hope to develop a vaccine – from New York to California. However, he’s hiding a secret that could endanger the mission. Z Nation: Season 1 is a rollercoaster of non-stop thrills, chills, and blood-splattering fun. Watch every episode back-to-back and uninterrupted, and join this rag-tag team on an epic road trip of survival across post-apocalyptic America. Bonus Features: Gag Reel; “Preparing for the ZN1 Virus”; “Race for the Cure”; “Making of a Znado”; “Creating the Gore”; “Music of the Apocalypse” and “Z Kill Reel.”
Wahlburgers: The Complete Second Season
A&E serves up a homegrown array of Boston-baked shenanigans and family fun in season two of Wahlburgers as Donnie, Mark, Paul, and Bob are joined by mom Alma, additional family members, their restaurant crew, and an eccentric array of close friends from Nacho to Johnny Drama. Look into the Wahlberg world, from the stress of running a restaurant to worldwide travels to domestic bonds, strengthened and frayed. Will the New Kids be able to stomach British fare in “An American Wahlberg in London?” Find out what happens when a father-son bonding experience takes a colorful turn in “Something’s Fishy.” Can Donnie live up to the challenge, and his self-proclaimed hype, of running the restaurant for a day? Bonus Features: Over 60 minutes of special features, never before seen on TV and the Bonus Episode: “4th of July Special.”
Zoey To The Max
Zoey, a thirteen year old foster child, watches her foster family’s dog get stolen while she’s in charge. The criminals, a pair of Home Alone-like thugs, are after the mutt because he is a famous show dog. Zoey runs away from the desert on a cross-country adventure with her techy new friend in order to track down the dog and save the relationship with her foster family. Throughout the film, Zoey must dig-in and fight for the life she’s always wanted, undergoing sudden personal growth in the process. Zoey To The Max stars Grant Bowler, Amy Smart, Cassidy Mack and Boyd Kestner.
Laggies
Keira Knightley and Chloe Grace Moretz shine in this feel-good comedy about two unlikely friends: Megan, a 28-year-old who’s not ready for adulthood, and Annika, a 16-year-old who wonders if there’s life after high school. As their paths intertwine in surprising and hilarious ways, Megan and Annika help each other to stop lagging… and start living. Bonus (Blu-ray + UltraViolet) Features: Deleted Scenes; Audio Commentary with director Lynn Shelton and “Lagging On with Lynn Shelton” & “Shooting Seattle: The Look of Laggies” Featurettes.
