New DVDs

The latest releases reviewed

ENCHANTED

Directed by Kevin Lima. Starring Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Susan Sarandon PG cert

Disney's delightful romantic comedy has fun reworking classical fairytale elements. After an animated prologue, live action takes over when the sweetly innocent heroine (radiantly played by Adams) is despatched to New York by a wicked stepmother (Sarandon). MD

FUTURAMA: BENDER'S BIG SCORE ****

Directed by Dwayne Carey-Hill. Voices of Billy West 12 cert

Defying the laws of physics (or, at least, TV), the makers of Futurama, Matt Groening's late lamented sci-fi cartoon, have delivered the first in a series of three straight-to-DVD features. Following Bender, the hilariously selfish robot, as he burgles his way through Earth's past, the film is a hoot and comes packed with spiffing extras. DC

YOU KILL ME ***

Directed by John Dahl. Starring Ben Kingsley, Téa Leoni, Luke Wilson, Bill Pullman 15 cert

Kingsley - now more often a mobster than a mahatma - stars as a Polish- American hitman who, after sleeping through an appointment to annihilate a rival boss, is sent to San Francisco for rest and rehabilitation. Dahl's flimsy comedy has just about enough jokes to sustain its short running time.

SILENT LIGHT/STELLET LICHT ****

Directed by Carlos Reygadas. Starring Cornelio Wall 15 cert

This luminous, unhurried drama, which details an adulterous romance among the Mennonite community of rural Mexico, finally confirms Reygadas, director of Battle in Heaven, as an enormously gifted film-maker. Watch it with the lights off, then check out the decent Making Of featurette. DC

LOVE SONGS/LES CHANSONS D'AMOUR ***

Directed by Chrstophe Honoré. Starring Louis Garrel, Ludivine Sagnier, Chiara Mastroianni, Clotilde Hesme 15 cert

This bittersweet modern musical is set among the self-absorbed young bourgeoisie of present-day Paris as they try to deal with their (very) complicated sex lives. All the actors provide their own singing voices and acquit themselves respectably in this appealing divertissement.

DON'T TOUCH THE AXE/NE TOUCHEZ PAS LA HACHE **

Directed by Jacques Rivette. Starring Jeanne Balibar, Guillaume Depardieu PG cert

Balibar stars as an indolent duchess who becomes the sexual prey of a Napoleonic war hero (Depardieu) in early 19th-century Paris, until he eventually reverses their roles. The film is loquacious, repetitive and ultimately over-stretched.

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS *

Directed by Tim Hill. Voice of Jason Lee PG cert

A record producer exploits Alvin and his veteran rodent chums. The film is scrappily written, indifferently acted and burdened with iffy digital effects. Yet it became one of the surprise hits of the Christmas period. Your kids deserve better, so buy them Bender's Big Score instead.