The latest DVD releases reviewed
THE LAKE HOUSE **
Directed by Alejandro Agresti. Starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Dylan Walsh, Christopher Plummer PG cert
Reeves and Bullock, the first of whom lives in 2004, the second in 2006, exchange letters through a magical mail-box and, charmed by one another's prose, fall deeply in love. Watch the DVD of this arid romance and you might gain a better understanding of that puzzling synopsis. If, that is, you manage to stay awake. Donald Clarke
POSEIDON *
Directed by Wolfgang Peterson. Starring Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, Jacinda Barrett, Emmy Rossum, Andre Braugher 12A cert
Oh no. The big boat's upside down. Time to make like Donkey Kong. Peterson has, to be fair, delivered a more economical (read: shorter) entertainment than Ronald Neame's 1972 disaster flick. But the two-disc edition is so full of pointless rubbish you may have trouble locating the original feature. Donald Clarke
JU-ON: THE GRUDGE 2 **
Directed by Takashi Shimizu. Starring Noriko Sakai, Chiharu Niyama, Kei Horie 15 cert
This Japanese horror movie sequel manages to conjure up a few decent scares, and it reveals a playful sense of humour, however twisted, but the plotting is generally formulaic and predictable. This time a pregnant horror movie actress participates in a documentary on a haunted house that has claimed many lives. Michael Dwyer
RV - RUNAWAY VACATION *
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Starring Robin Williams, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Daniels, Kristin Chenoweth, Joanna "Jo Jo" Levesque, Josh Hutcherson PG cert
Williams is on autopilot as an overworked executive taking his family on a road trip holiday to Colorado without admitting that he's going there on business. Predictable disasters ensue in a movie offering an unpalatable blend of scatological humour and treacly sentiment. Michael Dwyer
