There is a new version of VLC, 2, out. It supposedly fixed DLNA support. If you are on Ubuntu 11.10, you can add a repo and install it:

http://www.unixmen.com/vlc-2-0-twofl...and-linuxmint/

If you are on an older version of Ubuntu, VLC 2 won't install. But You can go to Synaptic package manager, get totem-extra-plugins and then enable the Coherence DLNA plugin in Totem player (the default media player). Then open the player and you will get a new option on the right-hand side of the screen, Coherence DLNA client. You can use that.

DLNA sharing is kinda fussy, make sure your router/firewall is not blocking it.

additional info: https://www.ebower.com/docs/ubuntu-dlna-player/