DVD previews: ‘Silver Linings Playbook,’ ‘The Guilt Trip’

Coming April 30

“Silver Linings Playbook” (R, 117 minutes, Starz/Anchor Bay): This fractured fairy tale of mental illness, family drama, ragged romance and die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fandom has landed in the superbly capable hands of director David O. Russell. As the movie opens, Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) is being discharged from a psychiatric facility having been sent there after an incident involving his estranged wife. Meanwhile, he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a sharp-tongued young widow with an acute nonsense-detector and a knack for brutal honesty equaled only by Pat’s own impulsive, socially disastrous candor. From the moment they meet and compare medication history, Pat and Tiffany settle into a staccato, argumentative rhythm. The tart, brutally frank chemistry that fuels “Silver Linings Playbook” plays out in the film’s visual approach, which eschews airbrushed Hollywood aesthetics for a far more jagged, intimate imperfection. Contains language, some sexual content and nudity. Extras: deleted scenes, featurettes “Silver Linings Playbook: The Movie That Became a Movement,” “Dance Rehearsal” and “Going Steadicam With Bradley Cooper.” Also, on Blu-ray: Q&A highlights and “Learn to Dance Like Pat and Tiffany” featurette.

“The Guilt Trip” (PG-13, 96 minutes, Paramount): Anne Fletcher’s lifeless comedy about an overbearing mother and her exasperated adult son has no flawlessly delivered punch lines. It does have a series of clunky, episodic scenes of ersatz intimacy in which Seth Rogen — here playing an organic scientist named Andy Brewster — tries desperately to play off Barbra Streisand as she preens and poses for a camera she wants very badly to still love her. As Joyce Brewster, a middle-class single mom from New Jersey who accompanies Andy on a sales trip across the country, Streisand asks the audience to believe she’d be wowed by a budget motel and the prospect of a free continental breakfast. That’s just one of myriad whoppers that this utterly undistinguished enterprise tries to get past viewers who might expect more. Admittedly, there are one or two memorable moments. The fearless, laser-focused Streisand of yore peeks out briefly during a come-to-Jesus speech Joyce delivers to Andy as he begs her to stop talking. And darned if the film’s payoff, when the duo finally reach San Francisco, doesn’t land right in the sweet spot. But such fleeting moments aren’t worth a tedious, cliched schlep. Contains profanity and some risque material. Extras: None on DVD; on Blu-ray: deleted scenes, gag reels, alternate takes and featurettes “Barbra & Seth,” “Barbra’s World,” “Guilt Trip: A Real Mother of a Road Trip,” “In the Driver’s Seat” and “Not Really a Road Trip Movie.”

“Broken City” (R, 109 minutes, 20th Century Fox): The crime drama “Broken City” turns out to be much better — and funnier and more suspenseful — than its trailer suggests. Mark Wahlberg plays Billy Taggart, a New York cop forced to hand in his badge and gun after being involved in the shooting death of a teenager. The mayor (Russell Crowe) tells Billy his actions were heroic. But the city’s residents are outraged, and Billy’s law enforcement career must end. Seven years later, the former police officer makes a living tailing and photographing cheating spouses. Just before Election Day, Mayor Hostetler — running neck and neck with his opponent — contacts Billy. It appears that the mayor’s wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is cheating on him, and he wants pictures and information about the man who’s cuckolding him. The job, of course, is not quite as straightforward as it seems; it’s a mere thread in a web of political corruption. Billy could just walk away, $50,000 richer, but that would be a lot less thrilling than taking on the creepy, orange-faced, misogynistic and homophobic mayor. There are a few too-convenient plot developments, but overall, this is an entertaining diversion. Contains crude language, violence and sexual situations. Extras: alternate ending, deleted and extended scenes, behind-the-scenes featurette including cast profiles, “Anatomy of a Thriller” featurette and a “Black List” script. Also available in DHD (digital hi-def), which includes bonus material.

Also: “Not Fade Away,” “Texas Chainsaw,” “The Details,” “Dangerous Edge: A Life of Graham Greene” (documentary, PBS), “The Scarlet Pimpernel” (1982), “Walk Away Renee,” “Young and Wild” (Chile), “If You Really Love Me” (Dove-approved family film), “G-Dog,” “Ben Hur” (2010, three-hour British-German-Spanish-Canadian miniseries), “Manborg,” “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters” (animated), “Lifeforce Collector’s Edition” (1985), “NOVA: Earth From Space” (PBS), “The Wicked,” “History of the Eagles” (three-disc set), “Bruce Lee Double Feature” (1971-72, “The Big Boss” and “Fist of Fury”), “Bruce Lee Double Feature” (“Way of the Dragon,” 1972, and “Game of Death,” 1978), “The Notebook Collector’s Gift Set” and “Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection.”

Television series: “30 Rock: Season 7” (last 13 episodes), “The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries: Complete Collection” (six-disc set, BBC, Acorn Media), “The Syndicate” (U.S. debut of British series being adapted by ABC, Acorn Media); “Tom and Jerry Kids Show: The Complete Season 1” (1990), “Nickelodeon Favorites: Once Upon a Rhyme” and “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic — Princess Twilight Sparkle.”