After gathering dust for a few years, this skewering of suburban lifestyles and XXX entertainment finally arrives on DVD after a limited theatrical run. Jeff Bridges stars as Andy, a down-and-out divorced father who sees that his ex (Jeanne Tripplehorn) is comfy with a wealthy new hubby (Tim Daley). In order to get out of his rut, Andy decides to make a porn film, prompting his pals (including Ted Danson, Joe Pantoliano and Patrick Fugit) and wannabe stars (Lauren Graham, Valerie Perrine, Glenne Headly) to come on board for the risqué project. The set-up isn’t bad, but the film runs out of steam at the half-way point, and Bridges’ narration seems like a tacked-on afterthought. Further, the film never lives up to its premise in terms of explicitness and comes off as a watered-down version of what could have been a much livelier movie.

Shelf Talk: The Amateurs is a real curio, with its checkered history (it went through several distributors before its release) and its marquee cast in a story involving the porn world. This should be enough to attract adventurous audiences, and Bridges remains a strong name in the marketplace, though he has been relatively quiet over the past year (he last charted in 2006’s Stick It). Nice artwork featuring a 35mm film reel outlining cast members’ faces and some Internet buzz will ensure a decent showing in all three formats.