What to Watch This Weekend: August 16, 2013

There are a lot of okay DVDs this week that you may want to check out if you really want to see a historical drama, romantic comedy, or action movie set at the White House (Emperor, The Big Wedding, and Olympus Has Fallen), but we have a lesser-known recommendation for you.

In Theaters: Kick-Ass 2

Kick-Ass 2 kicks the extreme violence and language of the original up a notch, possibly too much because it can be over-the-top. Its focus on superhero teams introduces a lot of fun personalities. Critics preferred the first film, but David loved KA2's comic book style and the addition of Jim Carrey.

On DVD: What Maisie Knew

This story of a 5-year-old girl stuck in the middle of her parents' messy divorce is unique because it's often told from the child's perspective. There's great acting done by everyone, especially Alexander Skarsgard and the cute Onata Aprile. The story has some preposterous moments, but those are accompanied by many genuinely emotional ones.

Streaming (Netflix): It's a Disaster

We haven't seen this indie black comedy starring David Cross, Julia Stiles and America Ferrera, but its "four couples stuck in a house" story sounds dark and witty. An event traps eight friends within the house where they met for brunch, and their ordeal causes secrets and true personalities to be revealed. I've seen positive comparisons to Polanski's Carnage.

Streaming (Amazon Instant) / VH1 on Saturday @ 10 pm: Sound City

Dave Grohl directed this music documentary about the little-known Sound City recording studios, a place visited by many legendary acts including Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young and Rick Springfield. The film discusses the art of making music and the analog recording process, and features interviews with over twenty artists who fondly remember the studio. It is much recommended, with a 4.8/5 star rating based on 460+ Amazon reviews and 100% at Rotten Tomatoes.

*Got basic cable but not Amazon Prime? Watch or DVR it on Saturday night @ 10 on VH1 or VH1 Classic, or look for reruns on VH1 Classic and Palladia next week.