Movies
To my knowledge, there has never been a movie made about love, hockey and Indian spirituality. I could be wrong. I miss a lot of indies. But I think it’s one of those dream combinations that audiences the world over have been pining for. Well, thanks to Mike Myers, the wait is over. “The Love Guru” is the latest comedy from the man who was the driving creative force behind “Wayne’s World” and the “Austin Powers” series. And it’s nice to have Myers back after a long and puzzling absence from the biz. He plays Pitka, who was raised by gurus outside of the U.S. but returns to seek his fortune in the self-help business. His first assignment involves a jilted hockey player. Leave it to Myers to put a fresh spin on the old fledgling guru genre. Jessica Alba co-stars. (Paramount Pictures, opens Friday)
Music
Coldplay is so big that everything the band does triggers a massive reaction. It’s a celebrity tabloid group with a charismatic frontman in Chris Martin, who is married to Gwyneth Paltrow, so naturally the boys’ musical legacy gets a lot of rocks thrown at it from those who overdose on Coldplay buzz. But much of that silly backlash should evaporate this week when the group’s new CD, “Vida La Vida,” hits the stores and the Internet. It’s an album that is getting generally favorable response from even the most grizzled cynics, thanks in part to input from famed producer Brian Eno. Some of the stronger tracks include “Strawberry Swing,” “Violet Hill” and the title song. It’s legacy polishing time. (Capitol)
Television
Every four years or so, mothers and daughters drag daddies and sons to the television set to watch gymnastics. That’s because the Olympics are just around the corner, and the gymnastics competition is among the more popular events in the games because anybody who has a tumbling and somersaulting little girl will want to see how world-class athletes tumble and somersault. To limber up those gymnastic-watching muscles, the “U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Trials” will take place over the weekend. Many girls and young women not much bigger than the little kids who idolize them will be taking to the apparatuses to chase the dream and win a ticket to Beijing. A lot of children will be jumping on sofas and prancing along carpets across the nation during this competition. (NBC, Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m.)
DVD
One of the best films of 2007 was “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days,” which won the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival that year. Set in Communist Romania in the 1980s, it tells the story of a college student who gets pregnant and then turns to her roommate for help. Because abortion is outlawed, the pair turns to the black market and endures a gripping and harrowing journey. Roughly four months, three weeks and two days after it debuted in U.S. art houses, it’s out now on DVD with extras that include commentaries by director Cristian Mungiu and cinematographer Oleg Mutu as well as a behind-the-scenes documentary about the film. Don’t wait four months, three weeks and two days to catch it. (Genius Products)
Books
I’ve often dreamed of competing in the Olympics. But I have one minor problem: I’m not great at any sport. Unfortunately, the Olympic Committee is biased against people like me, but that’s the way it is. But W. Hodding Carter took a different approach: He persevered. In his new memoir, “Off The Deep End,” Carter — who just missed qualifying at the Olympic swimming trials while a college senior — didn’t let the fact that he was 42 and had failed to qualify for several previous Olympic Games deter him. Instead, he went full-out, threw himself into training, consulted with the best minds out there and went for it. We’re all racing against the clock. Carter’s race is just more entertaining. (Algonquin Books)