With Tom Cruise & Co., it's 'Mission': Exhilarating

Topping this week's DVD picks are a first-rate action film and a top-notch cable TV comedy.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Grade A: Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) goes into action when the IMF is shut down. If the goal of the latest big-screen version of the television series is to make the most eye-popping, bone-shaking, heart-pounding installment yet, then there's only one thing to say: Mission accomplished. Cruise brings a confidence, charm, and energy to the role. He's the fuse that lights every explosive moment.

The supporting actors are just as impressive. Jeremy Renner brings a cold and professional caution to the spy team, and Paula Patton proves that a spy can be beautiful and dangerous.

My Boys: The Complete Fourth Season, Grade B-plus: This is the kind of series that benefits greatly from release on DVD. The cable series, starring the very talented Jordana Spiro, who plays PJ Franklin, didn't have a big following in its original run.

What makes the show so good is that PJ and her "boys" (Michael Bunin, Jim Gaffigan, Reid Scott, and Kyle Howard) are the best group of friends on TV since Friends. The characters are original, not just pale copies of the Friends crew.

Also new on DVD this week:

All The Years Combine: The DVD Collection: The Grateful Dead is featured in the 14-DVD boxed set.

The Divide: Nine strangers come together after a nuclear bomb attack.

Robotropolis: The human race struggles to escape extinction.

Frozen Planet: The series is narrated by David Attenborough.

Bill Moyers: Capitol Crimes: The documentary looks at politics, greed, and the buying and selling of influence at the highest levels of power.

The Super Hero Squad Show: The Infinity Gauntlet Vol. 3: Animated series in which the fate of the universe rests in the hands of whoever wears the Infinity Gauntlet.

Roger Corman's The Nurses Collection: Includes Candy Stripe Nurses, Night Call Nurses, Private Duty Nurses, and The Young Nurses.

Meet The Browns: Season 5: David Mann stars in the cable comedy.

America Revealed: A look at how America works.

Crew 2 Crew: One person's love of hip-hop dance.

Secret War: The 13-part series about covert warriors who went behind enemy lines during World War II.