Mannequin: Double Feature
MGM
Available Now

Mannequin meets all the requirements of an essential '80s comedy, including a member of the Brat Pack, a powerful rock anthem by a craptacular band, and the obligatory slimeball appearance by James Spader.

The film - about a struggling artist (Andrew McCarthy) falling in love with a woman (Kim Cattrall) cursed to live as a mannequin for thousands of years before finding her soul mate - will probably only appeal only to people who grew up with it. It's a little too silly to win over new fans, and it only gets worse with the 1991 sequel, Mannequin 2: On The Move, which makes its DVD debut in this package.

William Ragsdale (Fright Night's Charley Brewster) lands a job at a department store aiding the fabulous window dresser, Hollywood, played by sole returning cast member, Meshach Taylor. Ragsdale brings a dummy that looks an awful lot like Kristy Swanson to life when he removes an enchanted necklace, much to the chagrin of the evil Count Spretzle, played by Weekend At Bernie's Terry Kiser.

The Lather Effect
Anchor Bay
Available May 27

First-time narrative director Sarah Kelly's excursion into Big Chill territory focusses on a bevy of thirtysomethings caught in a rare moment when family commitments are cast aside in order to relive lost youth. Connie Britton and Tate Donovan are the hosts of a "Come As You Were" party, which mainly consists of turning up as your favourite '80s pop novelty, consuming massive amounts of alcohol, and rockin' out to rockin' tunes (the soundtrack features Elvis Costello, INXS, and Billy Idol). Old flames are reunited and past affairs are exposed - you know the drill, but this time, the baby-boomers are cast aside for the familiar, aging faces of '80s young-adult mainstays such as co-producer Eric Stoltz and Ione Skye.

Extras include a making-of, an audio commentary and two featurettes picking apart Kelly's career as a PA and her committed obsession to the films of Cameron Crowe.

Upcoming Releases
May 13 - Youth Without Youth; Mad Money; The Great Debaters; Indiana Jones Trilogy; Saturday Night Live: Season Three.

Amanda Stefaniuk is a freelance writer who literally grew up in a video store.