The Invention of Lying (PG-13): Ricky Gervais stars in this quirky comedy about a world in which humans have not learned how to tell lies. They also tend to blurt out their every thought, however rude it may be. Then Mark (Gervais), an out-of-work writer, stumbles across the concept of fibbing. With his newfound superpower, he is able to fool people who never suspect they aren't hearing the truth. The film mixes social and religious satire, but proves not be as clever as it wants to be. However, Gervais makes an appealing lead.
The supporting cast includes Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Rob Lowe and Tina Fey. Extras include a prequel in which prehistoric man comes up with the idea of lying, featurettes, video podcasts, outtakes and deleted scenes.
Gamer (R): In the near future, online role-playing games have taken a nefarious step forward, with people able to control the actions of other people, namely convicts who are forced to fight each other for mass entertainment. Gerard Butler stars as the most popular of the online warriors, who decides to rebel against the system and fight his way out. Michael C. Hall (Dexter) co-stars as the diabolical programmer of the game. Extras on the DVD include audio commentary, a documentary and a featurette; the Blu-ray has much more, including extensive behind-the-scenes extras and picture-in-picture commentary.
Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball (R and Unrated): The over-the-top 2006 action comedy Smokin' Aces, about a Vegas magician-turned-mob informant targeted by various offbeat assassins, wasn't a big hit at the box office, but it has gone on to have a successful afterlife on DVD. And so now we get a straight-to-video prequel on DVD and Blu-ray. A few characters from the first movie return, and new ones are introduced, including new members of the scene-stealing Tremor family. The cast includes Tom Berenger, Vinnie Jones and Autumn Reeser. The movie is more cartoonish and gory than the first Aces, which is saying a lot, but it lacks the spark of creativity of the original. Extras include deleted scenes, commentary and behind-the-scenes footage.
Smokin' Aces on Blu-ray (R): The superior first Aces also came to Blu-ray this week, with a cast that includes Ryan Reynolds, Jeremy Piven, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys, Common, Chris Pine, Ben Affleck, Ray Liotta, Nestor Carbonell, Jason Bateman and Taraji P. Henson. The Blu-ray is also loaded with extras, including two commentary tracks, deleted and extended scenes, and lots of behind-the-scenes footage.
Kingdom of the Spiders (PG): William Shatner's 1977 opus about a town under siege from killer tarantulas is now available in a new special edition, with extras including interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. The acting is as subtle and nuanced as you'd expect.
Whiteout (R): Kate Beckinsale stars in this thriller about a detective investigating the first homicide ever in the Antarctic, at a research station. The Blu-ray includes featurettes and deleted scenes.
Blood Creek (R): Joel Schumacher directed this supernatural thriller about brothers who uncover an ancient secret tied to Nazi experiments with the occult. Dominic Purcell and Henry Cavill star. The DVD includes commentary.
Inalienable (Unrated): Richard Hatch (of classic Battlestar Galactica, not Survivor) stars in this science fiction film created by Walter Koenig (Chekov from Star Trek) about an extraterrestrial parasite trying to create a hybrid of alien and human life. The cast also includes Trek veterans Marina Sirtis, Alan Ruck and Gary Graham.
New on Blu-ray: Matt Damon's three films as spy Jason Bourne -- The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum -- are now available in new "flipper" discs with Blu-ray on one side and DVD on the other.
-- relish staff and wire report
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