DVD previews: Dallas Buyers Club, About Time, Baggage Claim and more

Capsule reviews of the next week’s video releases, on DVD and Blu-ray, including special features:

‘Dallas Buyers Club’ (R, 117 minutes, Universal): As Texas electrician Ron Woodroof, Matthew McConaughey delivers an award-winning performance, characterized not just by an astonishing physical transformation but by a wellspring of deep compassion and fearlessness. ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ could have gone wrong in myriad ways, most of them having to do either with overkill or pompous self-seriousness. But director Jean-Marc Vallee, working with a lean, lively script by Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack, neatly avoids excess, letting Woodroof’s terrific yarn stand on its own and getting out of the way of his extraordinary actors, who channel the story without condescension or manipulative cheats. Contains pervasive profanity, some strong sexual content, nudity and drug use. Extras include a look inside the film and deleted scenes.

‘About Time’ (R, 123 minutes, Universal): Writer-director Richard Curtis (‘Notting Hill,’ ‘Love Actually’) throws a series of spanners into the works – digressions and feints that turn ‘About Time’ into something altogether deeper and more moving than a conventional rom-com. Perhaps more accurately, he has made a fam-com, a meditation on fatherhood, connection, sacrifice and simple, enduring love that sneaks up on the audience and blooms, like a slow-burning catch in the throat. Contains obscenity and some sexual content. Extras include commentary with Curtis and cast members Domhnall Gleeson, Bill Nighy, Vanessa Kirby, Lydia Wilson and Tom Hollander; deleted scenes, with set-ups by Curtis; blooper reel; Ellie Goulding ‘How Long Will I Love You?’ music video. Also, on Blu-ray: featurettes ‘About Tim and Time Travel,’ ‘The Look, Style and Locations’ and ‘The World of Richard Curtis.’

‘Baggage Claim’ (PG-13, 93 minutes, Fox): This breezy, cheesy, wildly uneven romantic comedy, directed by David E. Talbert and adapted from his novel, stars the gorgeous Paula Patton as Montana, a flight attendant who’s staring at the big 3-0 and is desperate to get married. There’s so much wrong with ‘Baggage Claim’ – from its outdated story line and similarities to the dreadful ‘What’s Your Number’ to Talbert’s clumsy directing – that it’s all the more surprising when things go right. But it would be unfair to deny that it doesn’t provide its own modest pleasures. Contains sexual content and some profanity. Extras include commentary with Talbert, cast interview and three featurettes.

‘Free Birds’ (PG, 91 minutes, Fox): Finally, there’s a movie vegetarian parents can enjoy with their impressionable offspring. The animated adventure ‘Free Birds’ follows a couple of modern-day turkeys who travel back in time to the first Thanksgiving and try to alter history, thus saving their brethren for generations to come. Catering to both children and their chaperones is a precarious balance. ‘Free Birds’ has the colorful palette, zippy action and silly story to keep kids giggling, but also delivers a few worthwhile winks to parents. Contains action and rude humor. Extras, on Blu-ray only, include ‘Birds Flipping History,’ two shorts on the animators and ‘Talking Turkey With Composer Dominic Lewis,’ and ‘Shake a Tail Feather’ music video.

‘Escape Plan’ (R, 116 minute, Lionsgate): It’s nice to know that, as they enter their golden years, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger can still carry an action flick, albeit a flimsy one like ‘Escape Plan.’ Still, there is modest pleasure to be had watching the Italian Stallion, at 67, and the 66-year-old Austrian Oak, as Schwarzenegger was known in his bodybuilding days, delivering justice to those who would disrupt their retirement. They may have to stop and rest a bit longer than they used to these days – allowing the movie to sag in the middle – but seeing them together is like a visit to Grandpa’s house for Thanksgiving: musty-smelling and overly familiar, but satisfying. Just don’t get your hopes up. Contains violence and obscenity. Extras include commentary with director Mikael Hafstrom and co-writer Miles Chapman and making-of featurette. Also, on Blu-ray: ”The Real-Life Tomb’ and ‘Clash of the Titans’ featurettes and deleted scenes.

Also: ‘The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete’ (this Sundance selection, a sad and scary story about two boys alone in the projects, made the Family Filmgoer’s best of 2013 list; Lionsgate), ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (featuring Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth), ‘A Case of You,’ ‘Jules and Jim’ (1962, The Criterion Collection), ‘Burton and Taylor’ (BBC biopic starring Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West), ‘The Little Penguin: Pororo’s Racing Adventure’ (Dove-approved animated film based on the Korean TV series, Lionsgate), ‘Scorned,’ ‘House of Versace’ (Lifetime original, Lionsgate), ‘Pride and Perseverance: The Story of the Negro Leagues’ (documentary), ‘Wings’ (animated, Dove-approved family film, Lionsgate), ‘Banshee Chapter,’ ‘The Divorce,”Care Bears: The Care-a-thon Games’ (animated, Lionsgate), ‘The Lady Vanishes’ (BBC ‘Masterpiece Mystery!’ adaptation of Hitchcock classic), ‘My Dog the Champion,’ ‘Nova: Cold Case JFK’ (PBS), ‘Pit Stop,’ ‘Masterpiece: Classic English Literature Collection, Volume 2? (PBS) and ‘Geronimo Stilton: Intrigue on the Rodent Express and Other Adventures’ (based on Scholastic book series).

Television Series: ‘Family Matters: Fourth Season’ (1992-93), ‘Laverne & Shirley: Seventh Season’ (1981-82), ‘Midsomer Murders, Set 23? (British mystery series, Acorn Media), ‘Joanie Loves Chachi: The Complete Series’ (CBS, Paramount), ‘The White Queen,’ ‘The Broker’s Man, Series 1? (British detective series, Acorn Media) and ‘Lalaloopsy: Friends are Sew Special!’ (Nickelodeon).