‘Planes’ lacks originality, but fun enough for DVD

Animation and comedy are part of Tuesday’s new DVD releases.

• “Planes,” B: The film draws on a common theme of Disney movies: A young dreamer longs for a bigger life. In this case, it’s Dusty, a crop-dusting plane (voiced by Dane Cook) who is in a tailspin over his ambition to race. Win, lose or get drawn, the journey is the most important part of the story.

For a movie that was originally planned to be a direct-to-DVD release – and borrows heavily from the plot of “Cars 2” – “Planes” offers some high-flying fun.

• “The World’s End,” A-minus: A group of friends reunites to drink their way through the pubs in their hometown. Simon Pegg stars.

The first 30 minutes of the film is a tedious trip down memory lane as King (Pegg) acts like he’s still the top dog in town and the rest of his mates follow him. That’s when the movie makes a 90-degree turn. The bland buddy comedy turns into a mixture of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” “Alien” and “Barfly.”

The comedy gets cranked up as the night of drinking turns into a hilarious battle for survival.

• “We’re the Millers,” C-minus: Aims for mediocrity and hits it with a dull thud. The comedy, about a small-time drug dealer, David Burke (Jason Sudeikis), who puts together a fake family as a way of slipping out of Mexico with an RV full of marijuana, has enough laughs to fill a TV sitcom. The problem is the movie has a running time of 110 minutes.

• “The To Do List,” D: A high school graduate (Aubrey Plaza) makes a list of the sexual activities she wants to complete before heading off to college.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a classic film like “The Summer of ’42” or a broad comedy like “American Pie.” There’s one key ingredient in a coming-of-age movie: You have to like the person who’s facing the big moment. In the case of this monumental flop, Brandy, the nerdish character who wants to lose her virginity, is unlikable, annoying, grating and so unpleasant there’s no reason to care whether she will or won’t.

Put this new DVD release on your “do not” list.

• “Paranoia,” D-plus: A man is forced to become a corporate spy. Harrison Ford stars.

The corporate thriller from director Robert Luketic is called “Paranoia” because throughout a major portion of the movie, there’s a nagging fear nothing is ever going to happen. Even when something does occur, there’s a trepidation everything is going to play out as expected – and it does.

Also new on DVD this week:

“2 Guns”: Mark Wahlberg, Denzel Washington star in this film based on the graphic novel of the same name.

“The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series”: Includes all 156 episodes of the Rod Serling series.

“My Little Pony – Friendship Is Magic: A Pony For Every Season”: Features six episodes of the TV show and a singalong.

“Treme: the Complete Third Season”: Two years after Hurricane Katrina, crime and corruption are on the rise in New Orleans.

“Here’s Edie: The Edie Adams Television Collection”: Includes the 21 episodes of the variety show starring Edie Adams.

“Danger in the Manger”: New teacher must lead his class to singing victory. David Tennant stars.

“She’s Still Not Our Sister”: Four-part sequel to the gospel play production “She’s Not Our Sister.”

“Anton Corbijn Inside Out”: A look at the artist who has spent much time hidden from the public eye.

“The Little Mermaid 2” and “The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning”: Both films are now available on one Blu-ray.

“I Am Zozo”: Five teens decide to summon up the spirits.

“Danguard Ace: The Movie Collection”: Japanese animation series that features a transforming robot.

“Star Trek: The Next Generation”: Blu-ray release includes the episode “Darmok.”

“The Rutles: Anthology”: Mockumentary on Beatles-like group.

“Smithsonian Channel’s The Day Kennedy Died”: A look at the events leading up to the assassination.

“Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet”: The Tardis arrives in December 1986 at a South Pole Space Tracking station.

“Tank Girl”: The film about a poster girl for the Apocalypse is now on Blu-ray.

“Eve of Destruction”: An android goes on a killing spree. Gregory Hines stars.

“Assault on Precinct 12”: John Carpenter film about a Los Angeles police station that is attacked.

“And While We Were Here”: A writer reaches a personal and professional crossroads.