The latest releases reviewed by Donald Clarke

Directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck. Starring Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Craig T Nelson, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Jenna. Fischer, William Fichtner 15 cert

Ferrell and Heder star as two ice dancers - the first a womanising drunk, the second a spoilt hot-house alumnus - who, after being banned from singles skating for brawling, are forced to perform together in the pairs competition. How could it not be funny? A decent array of extras complements a comedy that is just made for DVD.

Directed by Kevin Munroe. Voices of Laurence Fishburne, Ziyi Zhang, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Patrick Stewart PG cert

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a passably amusing comic, television series, film, video game and lunchbox from the 1980s, has been initialised, digitised and repackaged for a new generation. The animation is passable. A double-sided disk featuring so-so extras is available. Nothing else need be said.

Directed by Michael Apted. Starring Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Romola Garai, Ciarán Hinds PG cert

Just in time for the 200th anniversary of the eradication of the British slave trade, Apted brings us a solid study of William Wilberforce, the most iconic of the English abolitionists. Gruffudd is dignified in the lead role and the details concerning the parliamentary campaign are fascinating. The film is, however, as stodgy as it is worthwhile.

Directed by Zhang Yimou. Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li, Jay Chou 15 cert

The latest epic from the director of House of Flying Daggers takes us back to the latter years of the Tang Dynasty, where we find Chow's suspicious potentate plotting against Gong Li's haughty, severe consort. Violence follows. Looked at on the small screen, the sumptuous images are less effective at distracting from the hollow characterisation. Pretty, nonetheless.