What's new on DVD this week

'Angel & Demons'
The unsinkable Dan Brown returns with another whopper about globe-trotting symbology professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), the only man equipped to unravel a sinister conspiracy involving secret societies, religious oppression and symbols up the yin yang. Written before "The Da Vinci Code," this story is if anything even sillier - but with a vial of antimatter ready to explode beneath the Vatican, the action moves too fast for most to care. Also, there are pretty shots of Roman buildings. PG-13, 138 minutes

'Four Christmases'
Unless you find the idea of prissy little Reese Witherspoon standing next to tall, slovenly Vince Vaughn inherently funny, there isn't much to laugh at in this contrived holiday comedy. The mismatched stars play a happily unmarried couple who are forced to visit all four sets of divorced parents when their flight to Fiji is grounded by bad weather. The supporting cast is stellar (Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen and Jon Voight play the parents), but the gags are pedestrian at best. PG-13, 82 minutes

'Funny People'
Judd Apatow wrote, directed and cast his family in this serious comedy about a famous but lonely stand-up (Adam Sandler) facing his mortality. Seth Rogen is the up-and-comer hired on as a writer who becomes something like a confidante; the excellent Leslie Mann is the woman who got away, now married to an obnoxious Aussie (Eric Bana). Sandler and Rogen earned kudos for their nuanced performances. Celebrity cameos abound, with Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman showing up for longer periods as Rogen's roommates. R, 146 minutes

OTHER NEW DVD RELEASES

'Imagine That.' Eddie Murphy, PG, 107 minutes

'Santa's Buddies.' George Wendt, G, 88 minutes

'Gomorrah' (Blu-ray). Toni Servillo, Not rated (Italian), 137 minutes

'Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season 4.' Alfred Hitchcock, Not rated, 930 minutes

'Beverly Hills 90210: Season 8.' Jason Priestley, Not rated, 1195 minutes

Movie synopses by Amanda Sellet.