DVDs in Review

New in Town

Title: New in Town (2009)

Release date: June 29 2009

Certificate: 12

Format: Reviewed on DVD, available on Blu-ray

DVD RRP: £19.99

Rating: 2.5/5

Renee Zellweger plays the highflying Miami businesswoman Lucy Hill who is sent to a tiny, snow-filled and quirky Minnesotan town (think 'Fargo') to take charge of a factory in order for it to become profitable for her corporation.

Naturally, redundancies have to be made and the town doesn't take to her at first, which is fine as she isn't overjoyed about mingling with this different breed of folk - this job is just a career stepping stone. But her cruel business tactics attract scorn from the local union rep, Ted (Harry Connick Jr).

Some sub-zero slapstick later and a love story begins to blossom in a film that wouldn't feel out of place as a 1940s or 50s screwball with Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. The trouble is Zellweger and Connick Jr are pale comparisons.

They're both fine actors at times (Connick Jr is especially underrated as a performer - he made the daunting transition between pop/jazz singer to convincing serial killer in 'Copycat') but not much really clicks, and what chemistry they do have is bogged down by a clichéd script.

Of course, he's a single dad whose wife died leaving him stuck with a daughter he can't fully work out and she's the woman who put her career first when all she really needed was a taste of love and family life. It's all too easy to make for compelling viewing. There's no doubt, no surprises and nothing new.

However, there are a few decent shots at comedy and Connick Jr comes off far more charming and flatly humorous meanwhile Zellweger plays it like a girl whose read 'Bridget Jones' a few too many times. 'New in Town' is forgettable but very enjoyable and easy to watch. The DVD from Entertainment in Video contains deleted scenes and featurettes.