DVD Releases - May 9

Movies can’t exist on operate ends of the spectrum much more than two of the movies in this week’s releases, as a sequel about an undercover cop disguised as an overweight old woman shares shelf space with the 1970s-set dramatization of an assassin squad assembled to exact revenge on terrorists. You can be sure these films will never be brought together as a double feature. Here’s a glance at some of the many new DVD’s coming your way for May 9:

“The Andy Griffith Show: Season 6” - The sixth season in Mayberry brought on some changes, as it was the first to show episodes in color, and Deputy Barney Fife would no longer be a regular character on the show. Incidentally, I recently happened to meet Betty Lynn, who played Barney’s long time girlfriend, Thelma Lou. She’s a very nice woman who obviously loved her time on the classic show.
Extras: All 30 episodes are on five discs, but other than that, you’re not catching any fish here.
No official web site

“Big Momma’s House 2” (PG-13) - Martin Lawrence is back in the latex fat suit again for yet another undeserved and unwarranted sequel. He goes undercover again to work as a nanny so that he can investigate a computer company executive up to no good. I could explain more about the plot, but does it really matter. It’s Martin Lawrence playing dress up for a couple of hours. So it’s not quite Shakespeare.
Extras: Commentary from director John Whitesell and others, along with a featurette and 12 deleted/extended scenes.
Official Web site

“Everybody Loves Raymond: Season 6” - The Barone family, including the incessantly nosy parents played by Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle, are back for the sixth season of the popular CBS comedy.
Extras: Commentary on six of the 24 episodes from the season, bloopers and deleted scenes, and a first six years retrospective.
Official Web site

“Facts of Life: Seasons 1 & 2” - Evidently, producers of “Diff’rent Strokes” were so taken with Charlotte Rae as the Drummond family housekeeper that she got to have her own spin-off show,“The Facts of Life,” beginning in 1979. So here’s the DVD debut of those precocious boarding school girls (Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie) and their episodic life lessons about being good and decent people. For me, this was a tough one to watch – too many girls. I’ll stick with the very special episodes of “Diff’rent Strokes,” thank you very much.
Extras: A couple of featurettes, but not much else.
No official web site

“Munich” (R) - For my money, “Munich” was the best movie of 2005 – an intense, but well constructed historical drama that also serves as a very effective thriller. Following the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, a group of five men are assembled to track down and kill the ones responsible. Steven Spielberg directs from a script by celebrated playwright Tony Kushner and Eric Roth.
Extras: The single disc only contains a brief introduction from Spielberg, while a two-disc special edition contains several featurettes covering numerous aspects of the film’s production.
Official Web site

“Nanny McPhee” (PG) - Oscar winner Emma Thompson wrote and stars as the title character in this family-oriented film about a mysterious woman who comes into the life of a recently widowed man (Colin Firth) to try and help tame his very naughty children. No, I’m not talking any corporal punishment here, just mostly magic. And no spoonfuls of sugar for these brats.
Extras: Deleted scenes, a gag reel and several behind-the-scenes featurettes.
Official Web site

“Rescue Me: Season 2” - Troubled fireman Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary) is back for more in the second season of the critically acclaimed FX drama. Separated from his wife and kids, Gavin struggles to get his life back together while battling alcoholism. Leary and co-creator Peter Tolan both earned Emmy nominations for their writing work on this last season. Season three begins May 30, so there’s little time to catch up for yours truly.
Extras: Several featurettes, lots of deleted scenes, a blooper reel and a look at season three.
Official Web site

“Rumor Has It” (PG-13) - A woman (Jennifer Aniston) comes home with her fiancé (Mark Ruffalo) only to be told that her family was the inspiration for “The Graduate.” Well, that’s certainly news you don’t hear everyday. Kevin Costner, Shirley McClaine and Mena Suvari co-star for director Rob Reiner in a generally poor received comedy. Maybe the concept is a bit too much of a stretch?
Extras: Can you count a trailer? No, I didn’t think so. Well, then it’s got nothing.
Official Web site

“Scrubs: Season 3” - This funny, creative sitcom frequently struggles in the ratings, but has managed to survive several seasons on NBC. Its diagnosis is still to be determined for next season, but thankfully, its getting some new life on DVD.
Extras: Numerous featurettes, a gag reel and commentaries on various episodes.
Official Web site