New DVD releases

Look for these new DVD releases, now on store shelves.

"Angels & Demons": Tom Hanks, director Ron Howard and "The Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown re-team on Brown's earlier novel. As Robert Langdon, Hanks is recruited by a mysterious emissary of a mysterious biotech firm to help explain the mysterious death of a mysterious scientist whose chest was branded by his killer with the word "Illuminati," an ancient league of science-minded elites. What the killer was after was anti-matter, which the killer promises will be used to level St. Peter's Basilica. 2:18. Rated PG-13 (violence and gore).

"Four Christmases": Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn play San Francisco lovebirds who avoid Christmas with their divorced parents by planning vacations disguised as volunteer expeditions. But this year, a thick fog grounds all the flights. Before Christmas Day is out, the pair has to make four stops, one for each divorced parent. Unfortunately, the movie rushes from scene to scene before bad gags have time to land their bad punch lines. 1:22. Rated PG-13 (sexual humor and language).

"Funny People": As the film opens, comic superstar George Simmons (Adam Sandler) gets the news that he has a form of leukemia that's probably fatal. Meanwhile, Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) works the unpaid L.A. comedy-club circuit by night. George catches Ira's act and asks him to be his writing assistant and, it turns out, one-man entourage. Writer-director Judd Apatow's alert, crude and compassionate film takes digressive, thoroughly unexpected turns as George takes stock of his life. 2:26. Rated R (profanity, crude sexual humor and sexuality).

"Imagine That": Evan Danielson (Eddie Murphy) is a careerist investment banker redeemed by fatherhood and fantasy. Little Yara Shahidi is beautiful and natural as Danielson's daughter, Olivia; Thomas Haden Church is inspired as an inspired character, Johnny Whitefeather, a faux mystic who parlays American Indian spirituality into snake-oil salesmanship. As he struggles to maintain clients, Danielson discovers a quick path to happiness: In his daughter's fantasy world, there are princesses who can make winning stock predictions. 1:47. Rated PG (mild language and questionable behavior).

"Shorts": Toby "Toe" Thompson (Jimmy Bennett) lives in the company town of Black Falls, where his parents (Leslie Mann and Jon Cryer) work for Black Box Industries, which makes a device that can do everything from placing a phone call to brushing your teeth. While Mom and Dad Thompson desperately try to find a way to improve the Black Box lest they be fired, Toe finds a rainbow-colored "wishing rock" that will grant his every stated desire. The poor kid's first request is for friends. 1:29. Rated PG (mild action and rude humor).