NEW ON THE SHELF:

“Jersey Boys,” John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen. The Broadway hit charting the rise of Frankie Valli (Young) and the Four Seasons gets the big screen treatment by no less than director Clint Eastwood. The music and performances are top notch, but where Eastwood truly excels here is in presenting just how much work goes into show business, and how hard it is to make something so strenuous look so easy. An accomplished musician in his own right, Eastwood is a better fit than audiences accustomed to his “Dirty Harry” persona might be led to expect, and as such “Jersey Boys” transitions to the screen quite successfully. Rated R. Running time: 2:14. Suggested retail price: $28.98; Blu-ray $35.99.

“How to Train Your Dragon 2,” animated, with the voices of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera. That rare sequel that manages to improve on the original (itself one of the best animated features of the decade), “How to Train Your Dragon 2” continues the thrilling and emotional saga of Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless, who this time around discover an ice cave inhabited by hundreds of unknown wild dragons and home to an ongoing battle they find themselves in the middle of. Rated PG. Running time: 1:30. Suggested retail price: $29.98; Blu-ray $38.99.

“Let’s Be Cops,” Jake Johnson, Damon Wayans Jr. Affably underachieving comedy follows a pair of 30-something losers who attend a party dressed as police officers, then decide to pose as the real thing after enjoying the respect and fear the outfits inspire, an idea that becomes more hilariously ill-advised as the film progresses. Improv-heavy and gleefully self-aware, “Cops” is brisk dumb fun for audiences pining for the glory days of “Superbad.” Includes a commentary from director/co-writer Luke Greenfield. Rated R. Running time: 1:45. Suggested retail price: $29.98; Blu-ray $39.99.

“Tammy,” Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon. Fired from her fast food job and jilted by her husband, force of nature Tammy (McCarthy, who also co-writes and produces) throws her alcoholic grandmother Pearl (Sarandon) in the car and hits the road for greener pastures, namely visiting relative Lenore (Kathy Bates) and her lover Susanne (Sandra Oh), a trek repeatedly thrown off course by Pearl’s unruliness and penchant for getting thrown in prison. Fans of McCarthy will find plenty of the comic intensity that have made her such a favorite, but the cast and screenplay provide enough pathos to even it all out, with Bates a particular standout. Rated R. Running time: 1:37. Suggested retail price: $28.98; Blu-ray $35.99.

NEW TO DVD:

“Getting On: The Complete First Season,” Niecy Nash, Alex Borstein. This critically praised HBO offering is about as dark as comedies get, wringing whatever laughs possible from the patently unfunny environment of a neglected geriatric rehabilitation ward. Adapted from a British series, “Getting On” succeeds best in its natural and humorous scenes of banter between nurses Nash (“Reno 911!”) and Borstein (“Family Guy”), both of whom turn in Emmy-worthy performances as incredibly put-upon employees. Chances are you’ll appreciate your own job all the more after a few episodes, worth watching for that alone! Not rated. Running time: 3:00. Suggested retail price: $29.98; Blu-ray $39.98.

“True Blood: The Complete Seventh Season,” Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer. HBO’s divisive but never boring vampire drama finally draws to a fitting close for its seventh season, wrapping up the plasma-drenched travails of Sookie, Jason, Hoyt and the rest of the bloodsuckers populating the popular program. Running time: 10:00. Suggested retail price: $59.99.


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