DVDs also in stores this week ...

"Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" (PG, 2009, Fox): Unless you have just now yourself awakened from the last ice age, you probably can sort of guess how this goes. And, really, there's nothing wrong with that. "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" continues the prehistoric adventures of Sid (sloth), Diego (saber-toothed tiger), Manny (woolly mammoth), Ellie (same) and Scrat (squirrel). This time, as the title implies, they have a new species with which to contend. But "Dinosaurs" also has its share of subplots: Manny and Ellie are starting a family, Diego is contemplating a return to his predatory ways, and Scrat is, as usual, trying desperately to hoard an acorn. Like the first two movies, "Dinosaurs" struggles to stretch its story lines around a feature-length run time, occasionally opting for action-scene overload and sometimes halting entirely for the sake of a gag the writers couldn't fathom leaving behind. But "Dinosaurs" is pleasant to look at no matter what's taking place.

Extras: New Scrat short, four Scrat features (including a drawing tutorial), four other behind-the-scenes features, Scrat pinball DVD game, music video (featuring, of course, an appearance from Scrat).

Medicine for Melancholy (NR, 2008, IFC/MPI): As the sun rises on "Medicine for Melancholy," we're introduced to Micah (Wyatt Cenac) and Angela (Tracey Heggins). And once they wipe the cobwebs from their eyes, get a glimpse of their surroundings and get over the initial surprise/regret/(insert gut reaction here) that greets two people facing the harsh light of day following a one-night stand, Micah and Angela have a chance to make their own introductions to each other. Or not. The next 24 hours - the key moments of which we're privy to during "Melancholy's" 88 minutes - will be crucial. The vast comic potential of the awkward morning after has been exploited many times over in film and television, but "Melancholy" opts instead for a low-key, low-concept approach that, besides striving for authenticity, presents all manner of opportunity to get to know both characters on a level few movies have time to do.

Extra: Director interview.

"Nothing Like the Holidays" (PG-13, 2008, Overture/Anchor Bay): Pick a story line, any story line: Chances are, if you've seen it in an ensemble family comedy/drama before, you'll see some variation of it in "Nothing Like the Holidays," which brings the whole Rodriguez family home to Chicago for what, intentionally or otherwise, becomes a holiday to remember. There's the struggling actress (Vanessa Ferlito). There's the homecoming soldier (Freddy Rodriguez). There are the parents (Alfred Molina and Elizabeth Pena) with separate secrets that inevitably spill out. Lost loves, home-wrecking workaholism, attempts to keep ugly pasts in the past - "Holidays" has it all. So it's to the movie's arguably amazing credit that it neither collapses under the weight of so many story lines nor lets an intrusion of heavy-handedness turn the whole thing into a humongous downer.

Extras: Director/producers commentary, cast reunion, bloopers.

- McClatchy-Tribune News Service