New on DVD: ‘The Tree of Life’

The Tree of Life

20th Century Fox DVD/Blu-ray, $39.99

You can’t make a movie about the nature of existence without getting a little pretentious, so anyone who watches writer-director Terrence Malick’s long-gestating “The Tree of Life” will have to forgive the celestial music, impressionistic editing and interludes that tell the story of the birth and death of the planet Earth. At its core, though, this luminous experimental drama is about an ordinary Texas family in the mid-20th century, with a father (Brad Pitt) who tries to teach his sons discipline, and a mother (Jessica Chastain) who tries to teach them joy. Malick’s dealing with common concerns: how to lead, how to follow and what role God has in the choices we make (or fail to). The style might be abstract and shot through with poetic rumination, but the themes are universal and should resonate strongly with viewers willing to be receptive to what “The Tree of Life” is trying to do. The DVD and Blu-ray offer a featurette, but otherwise maintain the mystique of the reclusive Malick.

Green Lantern

Warner Bros., $28.98; Blu-ray, $35.99/$45.99

Not much goes right with the big-screen telling of the adventures of the ring-wielding comic book superhero Green Lantern. Ryan Reynolds is too smirky and aloof to play fearless test pilot Hal Jordan, director Martin Campbell brings nothing distinctive to the story of the hero’s origin and initiation into a brotherhood of space cops and the much-fussed-over script packs in so many characters that the movie never has a chance to develop any atmosphere or attitude. This one’s for fanboys only — and even they’re likely to be disappointed that a classic DC Comics character didn’t get his due. The DVD and Blu-ray are fairly blah too, sticking with the usual deleted scenes, featurettes and picture-in-picture commentary.

Horrible Bosses

New Line, $28.98; Blu-ray, $29.99/$35.99

A sort of modern-day “Nine to Five” (with a twist of “Strangers on a Train”), the comedy “Horrible Bosses” stars Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day as miserable working joes who come up with a plan to kill one another’s bosses. Like most modern Hollywood comedies, “Horrible Bosses” is clumsily structured and shaggy, but when it’s funny, it’s very funny, thanks to an ace comic cast that also includes Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. These actors don’t need a strong plot, so long as they have room to riff. The DVD and Blu-ray gives them even more room, via an extended cut and an assortment of deleted scenes.

Zookeeper

Sony, $30.99; Blu-ray, $35.99/$45.99

The words “Kevin James: Zookeeper” will be enough to tell most people whether they want to see the latest movie from the Adam Sandler comedy factory, but those inclined to auto-shun “Zookeeper” should know that James is quite sweet in this story of a lovelorn man who gets romantic advice from his animal pals. And those expecting “Zookeeper” to be a funny family film about talking critters should know that the humor is quite crude at times and that the focus on the hero’s pathetic love life is likely to elude the young ones. Otherwise, the movie is exactly what one would expect — for better or worse. The DVD and Blu-ray add a blooper reel, deleted scenes and multiple featurettes.

And …

Beautiful Boy

Starz/Anchor Bay, $26.98; Blu-ray, $29.99

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer

20th Century Fox, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.99

Scarface

Universal Blu-ray, $34.98

Terri

20th Century Fox, $22.98; Blu-ray, $29.99

The Trip

MPI, $24.98