What’s New

The Animal (2001). “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo’s” Rob Schneider returns in a raunchy, clever summer comedy as a nerdy small-town police department clerk who, after a car wreck, finds himself a veritable superman with a wide array of amazing abilities and weird traits. With “Survivor’s” Colleen Haskell, John C. McGinley and Ed Asner. Columbia: no list price; $27.96; (CC); PG-13, for some crude and sexual humor.

Shrek (2001). A gleeful piece of computer animation, this version of William Steig’s fractured fairy tale about an ogre who rescues a princess is all comic attitude, all the time. It benefits from its superb voice talent, including Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow and an unstoppable Eddie Murphy as a donkey sidekick. DreamWorks: $24.99; $26.99; (CC); PG, for mild language and some crude humor.

Swordfish (2001). A dirty fairy tale of cyber-terrorism in which nasty people inhabit a trash-talking world of fast cars, complaisant women and major explosions, this John Travolta-Halle Berry-Hugh Jackman vehicle is what you’d expect from commercial video director Dominic Sena and action fan-producer Joel Silver. Warner: $22.98; $24.98; (CC); R, for violence, language and some sexuality/nudity

What’s Hot

* Last week’s Top 5 VHS rentals:

1. Cats & Dogs (2001). A very resistible movie made from what sounds like an irresistible premise, it proves one more time that it’s easier to make animals talk than give them anything interesting to say. With the human actors (Jeff Goldblum, Elizabeth Perkins) marking time, it becomes a series of expensive special effects in search of a scenario worth the price tag. PG, for animal action and humor.

2. The Mummy Returns (2001). Writer-director Stephen Sommers, co-stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz plus key creative personnel prove that the second time is the charm as they combine for a sequel that is much improved over the 1999 version. An old-fashioned sensibility plus computer-generated special effects have no trouble holding our attention. PG-13, for adventure action and violence.3. Along Came a Spider (2001). There are mysteries and surprises in this reasonably diverting albeit frequently improbable thriller, but the biggest mystery of all is hardly a surprise: How does star Morgan Freeman manage to give a master class in acting every time he appears on screen? R, for violence and language.4. A Knight’s Tale (2001). Writer-director Brian Helgeland’s idea of marrying modern rock music to 14th century jousting was a good one, but he’s too parsimonious with it. We spend too much time watching a tedious romance between Heath Ledger and Shannyn Sossamon. PG-13, for action violence, some nudity and brief sex-related dialogue.

5. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001). A cheerful and cheeky confection that survives its excesses and the liberties it takes with the best-selling novel about the comic agonies of being single in a married world. Cleverly written and, with Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and the appealing Renee Zellweger in the lead roles, ideally cast as well. R, for language and some strong sexuality.

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* Last week’s Top 5 DVD rentals:1. The Mummy Returns

2. Angel Eyes (2001). Jennifer Lopez plays a crackerjack Chicago cop, but her film’s potential thriller opening unexpectedly--and rewardingly--leads to an unusual love story between Lopez’s beautiful and formidable policewoman and an enigmatic, clearly traumatized young man (Jim Caviezel). With Terrence Howard, Sonia Braga. R, for language, violence and a scene of sexuality.3. Bridget Jones’s Diary4. Along Came a Spider 5. Cats & Dogs* Last week’s Top 5 VHS sellers:1. Cats & Dogs

2. The Mummy Returns 3. Barbie in the Nutcracker 4. Scooby Doo: Cyber Chase 5. Spy Kids (2001). An engaging premise (two preteens have to rescue spy parents Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino from the bad guys) is made into a winning family film that’s imaginative and possessed of a playful sense of humor. PG, for action sequences. * Last week’s Top 5 DVD sellers:1. Stars Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace (1999). Though this prequel to the original “Star Wars” trilogy is serviceable, it’s noticeably lacking in warmth and humor. Though its visual strengths are considerable, from a dramatic point of view it’s ponderous and plodding. “Episode I” stars Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor as the Jedi knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala of Naboo and Jake Lloyd as young Anakin Skywalker. PG, for sci-fi action/violence.2. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Disney’s first animated feature is the crown jewel of the Disney animated canon. The tale of the angelic princess Snow White--menaced by her evil stepmother and forced to flee for her life in the dark woods, where she discovers the charming house of the Seven Dwarfs--is as heart-rending and amazing as it was in 1937. G.3. Cats & Dogs

4. The Godfather Collection. Francis Ford Coppola offers commentary you can’t refuse. The five-disc set includes all three “Godfather” epics, plus three hours of bonus goodies. Coppola is a master storyteller in his commentaries, especially with “The Godfather,” his 1972 Oscar-winning adaptation of Mario Puzo’s best-selling novel. The first four discs in the set contain the three movies (“Godfather II” takes two). The extras include “The Godfather: A Look Inside,” a 1990 documentary offering a look at the films’ origins, with footage of rehearsals and screen tests. R.5. The Mummy Returns (wide screen).

What’s Coming

Tuesday: “Baby Boy,” “The Golden Bowl,” “Legally Blonde.”

Nov. 13: “America’s Sweethearts,” “Bride of the Wind,” “Calle 54,” “crazy/beautiful,” “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” “Osmosis Jones,” “Under the Sand.”

Nov. 20: “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Planet of the Apes.”

Nov. 27: “Made,” “Bread and Roses,” “Pootie Tang.”

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Rental video charts provided by VSDAVidTrac, sales charts by VideoScan Inc.