Review: Time changes everything in this week’s releases (Includes first-hand account)

The film chronicles the events that transformed super-fit super-cop Fallon Zhu (Donnie Yen) into a glorified records clerk with a major snack cake habit. After a desperate request from an old colleague, Zhu teams up with a wily, wok-wielding restaurateur to solve a mysterious murder — and take his one last shot at regaining both his job and his fiancée.

One doesn’t immediately think of comedy when they think of Yen, but he steps into some new territory in this picture. Not only is it funny, but he also spends the majority of the film in a fat suit. Zhu was a top-notch cop, but his arrests often got messy and caused extensive property damage so rather than a series of commendations, he was labelled a misfit while his more conservative partner moved up the ranks. His last case was the final straw and he was reassigned to the evidence room where all his prowess is wasted and his proximity to the vending machines results in steady weight gain. But when push comes to shove, Zhu proves as agile as ever, chasing down bad guys and taking on thuggish street gangs. The supporting cast provides a lot of the humour, but Yen does his part to create an entertaining action movie.

There are no special features. (Well Go USA)

Resistance (Blu-ray)

Before he was the world-famous mime Marcel Marceau, he was Marcel Mangel (Jesse Eisenberg), an aspiring Jewish actor who joined the French Resistance to save the lives of thousands of children orphaned at the hands of the Nazis.

This is a harrowing tale of which most people are likely unaware. Marceau is unquestionably the world’s most famous mime, but before that he was impersonating Charlie Chaplin in brothels and trying to convince his father he was a better performer than butcher. When the Nazis invaded France, a group of young people banded together to give refuge to Jewish orphans, transporting them to safe havens and finding them new homes. Seeing an opportunity to bring a glimmer of joy to the disheartened children, Marcel did the most natural thing to him — he made them laugh. They risk their lives and lose friends, evading the Nazis and crossing treacherous terrain, yet the film is incredibly moving and inspiring.

There are no special features. (Shout Factory)

Scoob! (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital copy)

See the never-before told story of how lifelong friends Scooby and Shaggy (Will Forte) first met and how they joined forces with aspiring young detectives Fred (Zac Efron), Velma (Gina Rodriguez) and Daphne (Amanda Seyfried) to form the famous Mystery Inc. Now, with hundreds of cases solved, Scooby and the gang face their biggest, toughest mystery ever: an evil plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this global “dogpocalypse,” the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone ever imagined.

These characters — and their voices — are so iconic, it was difficult to imagine liking a new, different version having the same appeal. Yet, from the moment the homeless puppy steals Shaggy’s heart and the two become forever bonded, fans of the original will also find themselves enamoured with this reboot. The voice actors are well-chosen and there are a lot of throwbacks to the old school cartoon, while also adding some modern touches. More surprising was the incorporation of other Saturday morning characters, namely Wacky Races villain Dick Dastardly. Even when the rest of the story is falling a bit flat, an infusion of Dastardly and his evil scheming gets everything back on track.

Special features include: deleted scenes; “How to Draw Scooby Doo”; “New Friends, Newer Villains”; “Puppies!!”; and bloopers. (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)

You Don’t Nomi (Blu-ray)

A chorus of film critics and fervent devotees explore the complicated afterlife of 1995’s biggest film flop, Paul Verhoeven‘s Showgirls, from disastrous release to cult adoration and extraordinary redemption.

Much has been said over the 25 years since the film’s release. Good, bad and everything in between, everyone seemed to have an opinion or inside scoop on the picture. Though neither Verhoeven or Elizabeth Berkley are directly interviewed for the documentary, filmmaker Jeffrey McHale still incorporates their sentiments into the picture through archival interviews. Speaking to film critics and performers who’ve reinvented the characters for the stage, the film captures both sides of the debate but discernibly leans more towards the picture being a misunderstood masterpiece. Consequently, it does its best to explain why the acting is over-the-top and how Verhoeven integrated his signature elements. Viewers may not agree with everything said in the film, but it is an informative and interesting watch.

There are no special features. (RLJE Films)