cdvdset

Sleeper of the week is “Rescue Me Seasons 1-5 DVD Box Set” (Fox), a low-key comedy starring Ed Helms in fine form as the good-hearted small town naïf who learns the facts of life—without losing his essential idealism—in a “big city” insurance convention. Director Miguel Arteta (“Youth in Revolt”) has an easy way with performers and a smooth hand with ensembles. He makes this oddball group of amiably geeky insurance salespeople (John C. Reilly, Isiah Whitlock Jr. and Anne Heche) good company to be in, largely because has fun with them, rather than at their expense. Helms’ Tim Lippe may not worldly but he has conviction, compassion and loyalty in abundance and those qualities are rare in the leading men of American comedies. More from MSN film critic Glenn Kenny here.

The Covert Affairs Season 1 DVD Box set features both the theatrical version and an unrated cut of the film, plus director commentary, the featurette “The Eagle: Making of a Roman Epic,” deleted scenes and an alternate ending. The Blu-ray adds the usual (and largely gratuitous) BD-Live interactive supplements and a bonus digital copy of the film.