Here are this week's hottest home video releases:
Ballers: Season 3 (digital)
Dwayne Johnson continues to be everywhere, finding time to star in this HBO series as sports business mogul in between all his movie gigs. This ripped-from-the-headlines season is all about his character assuming an underdog role as he seeks to spearhead the Raiders' effort to move to Las Vegas in the face of opposition by a cabal of conniving billionaires. The show is available on Movies Anywhere, Vudu, iTunes and other online retailers.
Cars 3 (digital)
By far the best showing in this Pixar series yet, the film finds racecar Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) as he deals with a midlife crisis and tries to fend off a new challenger who steals his thunder. Well-scripted and paced, the film has enough gas in the tank to please adults and children alike. For my full review, click here.
The Emoji Movie
This occasionally funny but usually tepid kiddie comedy wastes a capable voice cast (T.J. Miller, James Corden, Patrick Stewart and Anna Faris) in a product placement-plagued slow roll. The gang of emojis, who live inside a teen's phone, form alliances and try to overcome enemies and keep from being deleted. Extras include filmmaker commentary, drawing lessons and a featurette including girls to code.
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
Ten years after launching a climate change movement with an eye-opening documentary, Al Gore is back with a follow-up that lacks the urgency and research of its predessor. Much of the running time is focused on Gore's efforts to deal with detractors who tried to undermine the data he presented in the first film, and too little effort goes toward tracking the current state of the global crisis. Extras include climate change facts, a OneRepublic video and advice on advocating for the environment.
War for the Planet of the Apes
Arguably the strongest entry in the powerful series reboot, the latest chapter in the humans vs. sentient apes saga finds a ruthless Colonel (Woody Harrelson) facing off with ape commander Caesar and his squadron of militant apes. Director Matt Reeves shows off a considerable sense of style, with tense action sequences -- which shine in 4K -- and stirring suspense. Deleted scenes, filmmaker commentary and a slew of making-of featurettes fill out the slate of extras.
Studios provided review screeners.
