Crackle Blog

New DVDs hit shelves today and Penn Jillette is right there in the middle of it all.

In the world of DVDs there are two things to mention this week. For starters, die hard Crackle fans can now own a piece of their favorite atheist, Penn Jillette, due to the release of the new Penn Says DVD. Then Iddo the Intern told me that this weekend is Valentine's Day. So no matter whether you're an analytical magic lover, or if you just have a man crush on Jon Favreau, this is your week.

Best of Penn Says: Religion (click for Amazon purchase)

It's 115 minutes of unrated rants and it includes three never-before-seen episodes. Starring: Penn Jillette Crackle Alternative: I suppose it would be silly to offer an alternative to our own Penn. If you loved such episodes as "Faith Heckle", "Atheist Eagles" or "Deuteronomy 21:10 -14" this is the DVD for you.

Of course, if you're in a love state of mind, maybe the below is the episode to check out ...

This next part comes directly from Iddo, "Valentine’s Day is coming up. Those of you who are trying to ignore it, go ahead and skip to A Serious Man. The rest, who are trying to find a DVD for after a romantic dinner, here is our menu of the new DVD releases accompanied with a side of Crackle cuisine."

For Those with Love Issues:

Couples Retreat (click for Amazon purchase)

When four couples go to a tropical island resort, two go for couples' therapy and the rest are there to play. Yet soon they discover that participation in couples' therapy is not optional. Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Jean Reno. Crackle Alternative: For all you Colts fans who are now waiting for next year's redemption, check out a young Jon Favreau in a true football love story, Rudy. Or if you were a fan of Vaughn and Favreau in The Break-Up, maybe you should check out their co-star, Jennifer Aniston in the 1996 romcom Dream For An Insomniac (and check out how Aniston looked 15 years ago).

For Those who Love, Love:

I Hate Valentine’s Day (click for Amazon purchase)

What happens to people when romance is forced upon them? If you are in a relationship, this is like going to zoo – you enjoy the animals, but deep down you're glad you're not in their place. Starring: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Judah Friedlander, Rachel Dratch. Crackle Alternative: Real love means being able to watch TV -- is that twisted? For more twisted takes on love and V.D. check out these bon-bon sized Minisodes: Married ... with Children: "Peggy Loves Al, Yeah, Yeah" or Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt in Mad About You (below).

For Those Trying to Spice Things Up:

Serious Moonlight (click for Amazon purchase)

An attorney learns that her husband was having an affair, so she ducts tapes him to the toilet right before a home invasion. The title may sound familiar but there is no connection to the David Bowie concert. Starring: Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Justin Long, Kristen Bell. Crackle Alternative: If you like crime and Timothy Hutton then the answer is the short lived TV show Kidnapped. If you'd rather be watching a light harted comedy sex romp, then get your fill with baby faced Rob Morrow, and baby faced Johnny Depp in 1985's Private Resort.

Valentine’s Day Free Zone:

A Serious Man (click for Amazon purchase)

The latest film from Oscar winning writer/directors Joel and Ethan Coen. It’s the story of an ordinary man’s search for clarity in a universe filled with Jefferson Airplane and F Troop. It's 1967 and Larry Gopnik is a physics professor trying to cope with the breakup of his marriage, his son’s discipline problem and a daughter who's filching money for a nose job. Starring: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Sari Lennick, Aaron Wolff, Jessica McManus. Crackle Alternative: Is there ever really an alternative for a Coen brothers movie? Instead, here's a guide for all those of you out there who are looking for that perfect gift for your gadget hungry better half. What's better, it comes directly from the Coen's favorite cinematographer. Barry Sonnenfeld (Blood Simple, Raising Arizona) walks through tech gifts on the Crackle Original show, The Esquire Digital Man.

Good Hair (click for Amazon purchase)

When Chris Rock's daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, "Daddy, how come I don't have good hair?" the comic committed himself to find out who had put that question into his little girl's head. Starring: Chris Rock. Crackle Alternative: Ice-T makes an appearance in this doc, so I suppose we should give a nod to his work in Johnny Mnemonic, but if we're talking fathers and daughters with a hairy twist, check out Al and Kelly in Married ... with Children: "Requiem for a Dead Barber".

Of course there are even more than the above hitting shelves today. In particular, we recommend checking out "This Week in DVD & Blu-ray" on /Film. Where you plan on celebrating Valentine's Day or not, I think we can all agree that TV and movies will love you no mater what.

Get in here and kiss the screen (We love you).

CJ - Crackle Blog Editor & Iddo - Crackle Intern