DVD Review Duo

From Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Chloe (voiced by Drew Barrymore) is an adorable super-pampered Chihuahua whose cosmetics mogul owner Viv (Jamie Lee Curtis) gives her dog all the perks of a favorite child, including little booties to wear. When Viv goes out of town, she puts Chloe in the care of her niece Rachel (Piper Perabo) who is determined not to let her Mexican vacation/road trip be spoiled by doggie-sitting. Little Chloe is piled into the car with Rachel and her galpals but, once the gang is in Mexico, the little pooch is grabbed by dog nappers who want to use her as bait for illegal dogfights! Will Viv's hot gardener's feisty, street-smart Chihuahua Papi (voiced by George Lopez) and other doggie and human friends be able to save Chloe?

Special Features: It might be aimed at kids, but I enjoyed the little animated history of the Chihuahua breed "Legend of the Chihuahua." It's cute! You get 3 "Deleted Scenes" (one an alternate ending with intros by director Raja Gosnell.) Okay. The goofs are on "Blooper Scooper" and are standard but fun. The "Director's Commentary" is informative but not a laugh riot. There is a musical trailer with the cute song "Chihuahua" (you know where tons of the little guys are gathered at the ancient city singing and "dancing"?). This will please you or at least your younger siblings.

Wrapping Up: Okay, it's a talking dog movie but it's sweet and the pups are really adorable. Both Drew and George do a great job voicing lead Chihuahuas Chloe and Papi. I thought the idea of the bad guys running dog fighting rings was pretty awful especially after the Michael Vick convictions but, at least dogs are rescued and you don't see any doggie violence. Bottom line, this is just a fun movie to rent, watch and collect. It's one that you can put on while babysitting and it will please the little ones and certainly not bore you to death. A cute winner!

From 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

The Haunting of Molly Hartley

"When is cute "Gossip Girl" heartthrob Chace Crawford going to do a movie?", you say? Check out this horror thriller in which Chace plays a rich high school hottie who is more than what he seems.

As her 18th birthday approaches, new girl at private school, Molly Hartley (Haley Bennett, "Music and Lyrics") isn't a big hit socially except with a born-again gal (Shanna Collins) who is trying to convert her. She has constant nosebleeds and headaches and hears some weird voices calling her name. Her mom, who also heard voices etc. has been locked away at the local funny farm and once tried to kill her daughter. Molly's dad keeps hoping for a logical medical reason for Molly's pain etc. and for a little while, seems to find one.

The school counselor (Nina Siemaszko) isn't much help but, on the plus side, the local hottie/rich kid Joseph (Chace Crawford) seems really keen to hook up with troubled teen Molly. Finally, Molly learns the creepy truth behind what will happen as her 18th birthday dawns.

Special Features: "Cast and Crew Interviews" - Darn it, no Chace - you get the rest of the cast and the director just talking about the film and their roles with nothing very meaty. No big entertainment value here. There is also a not-very-scary trailer for the film.

Wrapping Up: Haley Bennett does a decent acting job as Molly and, of course Chace is cute but the story has a lot of holes, including a weird intro about another girl who had the same kind of voice-hearing weird problem on her 18th birthday and evidently ended up dead, that has next to zero to do with the rest of the movie. The story isn't all that original but had a small twist I didn't guess. This movie is PG-13 so don't expect a gore-fest. I'd say worth a rental for Chace fans and those who prefer their horror to be less graphic blood and slash.