New DVDs: The Lucky One, The Pirates! Band of Misfits and Battleship

"The Lucky One"

(PG-13, 101 minutes, Warner Bros.)

"The Lucky One," adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel, features Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling in a sudsy romantic melodrama that lavishes good taste and sunsets on a story that devoid of genuine tension, conflict or combustible chemistry between its two stars, just prettily sits there. Efron plays Logan Thibault, who as a Marine in Iraq happens upon a photograph of a beautiful blonde and proceeds to see the picture as a talisman that saves his life. When he returns to the United States, he tracks down the girl – who turns out to be a single mother named Beth (Schilling). Most of "The Lucky One" consists in proving how sensitive Logan is. DVD extra: "Zac and Taylor's Amazing Chemistry" featurette.

"The Pirates! Band of Misfits"

(PG, 88 minutes, Sony)

The charmingly goofy animated feature showcases the business of pirating … that the pirates aren't so good at. Adapted by Gideon Defoe from his series of children's books, "The Pirates!" is built around the premise of a reality-TV-style contest between the Pirate Captain and three other blackguards. In his search for ships filled with booty, the Pirate Captain accidentally sacks the HMS Beagle, research ship of Charles Darwin, leading to a delightfully ludicrous adventure. Like many Aardman Animations films, this is awash with silliness. It has enough humor to keep Mom and Dad awake. As with Aardman's "Wallace and Gromit" films, there's a sardonic animal sidekick. Contains mild cartoon action and some rude humor. DVD extras: Filmmakers' commentary, "So You Want to Be A Pirate!" mini-movie and "Mr. Bobo's Flash Card Challenge." Also, on Blu-ray: "Pirate Disguise Dress-Up" game, making-of featurette, "Creating the Bath Chase Sequence" featurette, two Peter Lord shorts.

"Battleship"

(PG-13, 132 minutes, Universal)

"Battleship" is a blast of cinematic adrenaline. Deftly directed by Peter Berg, from a script by brothers Eric and Jon Hoeber that adds muscle, sinew and heart to the skeletal source material, the film is an enormously entertaining amusement-park ride. Yes, it's preposterous, not to mention loud. But it's also brisk and viscerally thrilling, with a genuine surprise or two. Sure, it may be beset by clichés, but it manages to outmaneuver them all in the end. Contains action violence, mayhem and some obscenity. DVD extras: Featurettes "Preparing for Battle," "All Hands on Deck: The Cast" and "Engage in Battle." Also, on Blu-ray: alternate ending pre-visualization and five featurettes, including a short on visual effects, a behind-the-scenes with director Peter Berg, "USS Missouri VIP Tour" and "Alien Tech 3D Model Turntable Explosions."

"Think Like a Man"

(PG-13, 122 minutes, Sony)

An all-star revue of some of the most physically stunning actors in Hollywood, "Think Like a Man" is a pleasure if only on a purely sensory level. The nine main characters might be archetypes-bordering-on-stereotypes, but all manage to resemble authentic human beings, thanks to the terrific actors who play them: Taraji P. Henson, Meagan Good, Regina Hall and Gabrielle Union. Each of these gorgeous, high-achieving, self-aware women faces a specific dating problem for which author Steve Harvey has just the right advice. Contains sexual content, some crude humor and brief drug use. DVD extras: deleted scenes, blooper reel. Also, on Blu-ray: four behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Also: "Headhunters," "The Viral Factor," "Darling Companion," "Maidstone and Other Films by Norman Mailer" (1968-70, two-disc set with "Maidstone," "Wild 90" and "Beyond the Law, Criterion Collection), "The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season," "Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Second Season," "Quadrophenia" (1979, the Who's classic rock opera, Criterion Collection), "Looney Tunes Mouse Chronicles: The Chuck Jones Collection," "Changing the Game," "Starship Troopers: Invasion," "Etta James: Live at Montreux 1993," "The Beach Boys 50: Doin' It Again," "The Jungle Bunch: The Movie," "Jersey Shore Shark Attack," "Battleground" (a.k.a. Skeleton Lake), "Two and a Half Men: The Complete Ninth Season" and "Apartment 143."

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