Gary Thompson: DVD releases this week are 'The Town,' 'Despicable Me,' 'The Other Guys,' and 'Exit Through the Gift Shop'

THIS LOOKS like Stocking Stuffer week on the DVD market, and there are gifts here you won't be embarrassed to give.

Like Ben Affleck's "The Town" an enjoyable throwback cops-and-robbers movie about a heist mastermind (Affleck) trying to transcend his crime-culture roots, and falling in love with a woman (Rebecca Hall) he once held hostage. Jeremy Renner is Golden Globe-nominated as Affleck's pal.

For kids, there's the charming animated movie "Despicable Me," about a halfhearted evil genius (Steve Carell) whose heart is melted by three orphan girls ensnared in his latest diabolical enterprise. Extras include three cartoons featuring the "minions," the mini-henchmen who are the movie's comic relief. Also for older kids, and lovers of animation: director Zach Snyder's "Legend of the Guardians: the Owls of Ga'Hoole." Dark, different, intended to be seen in 3-D.

We also get "The Other Guys," another absurdist Adam McKay/Will Ferrell collaboration, this one featuring Farrell as a desk-jockey cop paired with a gung-ho partner (Mark Wahlberg). It's another homage to '80s action (this week also features "The A-Team," unfortunately), this one with biting satire and withering reassessment of macho archetypes. McKay's movies always have funny DVD extras - this time, it's "momentary" - the audio commentary is provided by the mothers of McKay, Ferrell and writer Chris Henchy. Also an explication of the movie's end credits, a lesson in Wall Street misconduct.

And don't miss "Exit Through the Gift Shop," a brilliant documentary by street artist Banksy, who turns the tables on his purported documentarian and ends up making a profound and funny movie about the contemporary art world.