The weekend’s here. You’ve just been paid, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket. What’s a pop culture geek to do? In hopes of steering you in the right direction to blow some of that hard-earned cash, it’s time for the Quick Stop Weekend Shopping Guide – your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…

I’m usually quite wary of largely improvised comedies that “find their way” during the shooting process – I was disappointed in the meandering Anchorman, but enjoyed the vibrant 40-Year-Old Virgin – so it was with some apprehension that I watched Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$28.96 SRP), starring Will Ferrell as the titular star of the NASCAR circuit. Thankfully, the skewering of the professional racer cliché – the omnipresent product placement, the southern fried mentality, the trophy wives, the equally dim teammate (John C. Reilly), etc. – is spot-on, and the story of Ricky Bobby’s fall from grace after a Frenchman invades and dominates both Bobby and the traditionally American motorsport (played by Borat and Ali G himself, Sacha Baron Cohen) is hilarious. The unrated version features a small amount of footage added back to the main film, with bonus features including an audio commentary, deleted/alternate scenes, character interviews, outtakes, Ricky & Cal’s PSAs and commercials, and more.

When I first saw the big screen Strangers With Candy (ThinkFilm, Rated R, DVD-$27.98 SRP), I found the experience a bit off-putting, as it didn’t seem to quite capture the vibe that had made the television series such a funny slice of surreality. Upon a second viewing on DVD, I found much of that initial format shock had alleviated and I was able to view the flick on its own merits, and I found that I wound up enjoying it almost as much as the source material. It’s essentially a bit of a prequel/re-telling of Jeri Blank’s arrival at Flatpoint High, and from that point on… well, just pick it up and see for yourself. Bonus materials include an audio commentary (with Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, and Paul Dinello), deleted scenes, and a music video.

Against all odds – and my own doubts – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (Walt Disney, Rated PG-13, DVD-$34.99 SRP) works as a great popcorn flick that propels itself along at a healthy clip, populated by engaging characters and enough plot to keep my attention. Granted, like its predecessor, it can feel a bit long in parts, but overall it’s a fun ride, and a sorely needed “night at the movies” to help pass the time. The 2-disc special edition features audio commentary, bloopers, an extensive series of behind-the-scenes production documentaries (detailing the movie’s battle against the fierce hurricane season and a script still in progress as the cameras rolled), a spotlight on the revised Pirates ride at Disneyland, and more.

Viewers going in to Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center (Paramount, Rated PG-13, DVD-$34.99 SRP) expecting a polemic will undoubtedly be surprised by just how straightforward a human story about the tragedy the film really is, focusing on the real-life story of a pair of firemen trapped in the wreckage after the Towers come down, leaving their wives worrying over their survival as they fight for their lives beneath tons of rubble. As always, the way to go is with the 2-disc special edition, featuring an audio commentary and Q&A with Stone, a second audio commentary with survivor Will Jimeno and rescuers, deleted/extended scenes with optional commentary, a behind-the-scenes documentary, a documentary on survivors Jimeno and John McLoughlin, a featurette on the set design, and a conversation with Stone about his ties to New York.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – for the finest publications on comics history and appreciation, look no further than, really, the entire line-up from Twomorrows publishing. These include the latest volume of their artist-specific Modern Masters series, on Mike Wieringo (Twomorrows, $14.95 SRP), and the second volume of Roy Thomas’s in-depth All-Star Companion (Twomorrows, $24.95 SRP). Hell, there’s also the Jack Kirby Collector, Back Issue, Alter Ego – the list goes on and on. Go check out their website, now!

As much as people tout Shrek as the high water mark for CG comedies, I think that, in many ways, the crown belongs to the Ice Age films, in particular the sequel, Ice Age: The Meltdown (Fox, Rated PG, DVD-$29.98 SRP). The humor is not a scattershot riff on pop culture, but is instead character and situation-based – in years to come, as the Shrek flicks age poorly, Ice Age will still be funny. And who doesn’t love Scrat? Bonus features include audio commentaries, a brand-new animated short (No Time For Nuts), behind-the-scenes featurettes, student films, and more.

Every once in awhile, as more and more bands attempt to cover Queen tunes, it’s nice to go listen to Freddie Mercury’s voice and remember that no one has yet been able to approach his incredible voice. Even if you have all of the Queen albums, make sure you pick up his solo work via the 2-disc Lover of Life – Singer of Songs (Hollywood Records, $18.98 SRP). His cover of “The Great Pretender” is incredible, and the operatic “Barcelona” will blow you away.

Try as they might, the seemingly dormant Chronicles of Narnia franchise is not The Lord of the Rings. The first outing, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe simply didn’t excite audiences like Peter Jackson’s Tolkien adaptations, so it’s a little off-putting that we’ve now got a 4-disc extended edition of Wardrobe (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$42.99 SRP), clearly aping Jackson’s extended cuts. While the expanded film is merely bunches and bunches of padding added into an already overlong flick, the only feature worth checking out are the additional behind-the-scenes documentaries and featurettes included in the set, particularly a feature-length documentary on author C.S. Lewis.

While sadly lacking in any bonus material whatsoever, having the first season of Mission: Impossible (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP) on DVD means we can all collectively tick off another entry on our “when will this be on DVD?” list, which leaves very few iconic TV series still untouched by the digital age. This 7-disc set features all 28 first season episodes, completely uncut and remastered, full of all the disguises, action, and fun that make the Cruise films look like overblown, pretentious exercises in ego.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. dips into the rich history of stock car racing with his series Back in the Day (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP), a reverent trip blazing down memory lane via interviews and archival footage spotlighting names like Petty, Allison, Yarborough, and Pearson. From moonshine to the Winston Cup, you’ll see how a motorsport developed, and the personalities that drive it. The complete first season set features an interview with Earnhardt, Jr. and a music video.

After seven seasons, the adventures of the Duke boys came to a close in The Dukes of Hazzard (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), with some truly bizarre adventures… Would you believe a Rosco robot? Or time travel? Or the absurdity of Enos and Daisy getting hitched? You’ll get all that, plus a tribute to Waylon Jennings, a new music video (featuring Tom Wopat, John Schneider, and Catherine Bach),and a behind-the-scenes featurette on the video.

It’s almost reassuring to know that, even after 5 seasons, the comedy of Full House (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) had not changed one iota. Danny was still flustered, Michelle was still cute, Joey would still do a Popeye voice at the drop of a hat, and Uncle Jessie’s hair was still big. Calm, glacial comedy.

And in soundtrack news, there’s Danny Elfman’s score for Charlotte’s Web (Sony Classical, $18.98 SRP), and James Horner’s powerful score for Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto (Hollywood Records, $18.98 SRP).

You know, there are bad ideas, and there are really, really bad ideas – the live action Year Without A Santa Claus (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) is one of those. Awkward and lacking in any of the charm in the Rankin-Bass classic, it’s just an embarrassment best forgotten.

So there you have it… my humble suggestions for what to watch, listen to, play with, or waste money on this coming weekend. See ya next week…

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