TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES.

This weekly feature reviews some of the releases available for the new technological toys in the world of home entertainment.

Excellent Good Fair Poor

VIDEOS

“The Mary Lou Retton Workout for Kids.” ABC. $29.95. If, as some claim, TV is ruining our children’s health and minds, here’s an antidote: Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton’s peppy workout--choreographed to a contagious disco throb. Backed by a quartet of supple kids, Retton introduces 10 specialized exercises (“Spine Tinglers,” “Working the Joints”) with a dazzling somersault or two, offers informative patter and keeps her audience in mind--”You can do it, kids at home--don’t just sit there, get up and stretch!” The exercises seem sane and invigorating. Big kids could use this 30-minute workout too.

--CONNIE KOENENN

“Judy Garland in Concert.” RCA/Columbia. $29.95. All too typical of videocassette packaging, there is nothing on the cover to tell you when or where this “concert” took place. You have to play the cassette before learning these two dozen black-and-white musical clips (ranging from “Swanee” to “Over the Rainbow”) were pulled from Garland’s early ‘60s TV series. The segments are uneven, but the highlights document why she was an electrifying performer who combined the show-biz aggressiveness of a Jolson and the imaginative phrasing of a Sinatra.

--ROBERT HILBURN

“Gameplan: The Language and Strategy of Pro Football.” USA Sports. $39.95. Hosted by Redskins running back John Riggins, this is a useful guide for moderately informed novices or fans who want to expand on a general knowledge of the game. The first part is an explanation of offensive and defensive formations, while part two, narrated by Raiders coach Tom Flores, gives a short history of each team. This 105-minute tape is fast-paced, informative and, with pretty women popping up to define various terms, enlivened by a touch of sex appeal. 1/2

--DENNIS HUNT

COMPACT DISCS

“Elvis’ Christmas Album.” Elvis Presley. RCA. This 1957 recording would lose to Phil Spector’s 1963 classic in a contest to name the greatest rock Christmas album, but Elvis wins by default because it is the only one available in CD. Presley sounds indifferent on a couple of traditional Christmas songs (including “Silent Night”) and embarrassingly self-conscious on “White Christmas.” But he’s terrific on country or blues-accented tunes (“Blue Christmas” and “Santa Claus Is Back in Town”) and even better on pure gospel numbers like “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.” --R.H.

“Upstairs at Eric’s.” Yazoo. Mute. If Alison Moyet’s commanding vocals on this year’s promising, but unfocused solo album caught your ear, you’ll want this more impressive showcase. In Yazoo (a British duo known simply as Yaz in this country), songwriter Vince Clarke framed Moyet’s husky, richly emotional vocals with sparse, but evocative synthesizer-based arrangements. The material is uneven, but the highlights--including the especially alluring “Only You”--offers a passion and bite that Moyet’s solo LP rarely approached. --R.H.