Costa Rica & the Amazon is prime Jeff Corwin, Animal Planet's superstar critter wrangler and scientist whose international explorations, penchant for mimicry at the oddest moments, and occasional panic attacks in the presence of lethal beasties make him hugely entertaining. On this disc, Corwin goes deep into Costa Rican rainforest habitat, anxiously chasing down a lengthy but elusive Fer-de-lance Viper, explaining the evolutionary perfection of the red-eye tree frog, and getting uncomfortably close to no-nonsense, toothy Capuchin monkeys. Farther south, in Brazil, Corwin gets bashed about trying to help a biologist buddy get hold of an enormous, semi-amphibious fish, and enjoys some truly surreal adventures with a sweet little sloth and a (fortunately) lazy jaguar. Corwin's business is quite serious and it's easy to learn a lot from him, but seriousness of purpose doesn't prevent him from throwing in the occasional Marlon Brando impression. Good family viewing. --Tom Keogh