Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “No Hard Feelings”
“No Hard Feelings” isn’t quite as raunchy or explicit as some might lead you to believe — save for one particular scene in which a fully naked Jennifer Lawrence beats up a bunch of teenagers on the beach — but it is a charming, sweet and (most importantly) funny rom-com that serves as a great showcase for its leading lady. It’s hard to believe that “No Hard Feelings” is Lawrence’s first full-fledged comedy because she’s an extremely likable, high-energy performer whose comedic timing is exceptional. Co-star Andrew Barth Feldman also turns in good work as the introverted teenager who develops a crush on Lawrence’s character, while the script by Gene Stupnitsky and John Phillips contains some really funny stuff. Though “No Hard Feelings” doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, it’s an enjoyable flick that treats its characters (and audience) with the respect that they deserve.
Extras include a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes and outtakes. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“The Flash” — For a character known for his speed, the road to “The Flash” has been agonizingly slow due to numerous production troubles as well as a slew of controversies surrounding its problematic star. The movie’s eventual release comes at the worst possible time, as the DC cinematic universe that birthed Ezra Miller’s version of the character comes to an end. To be fair, it’s not like Andy Muschietti’s “The Flash” was going to move the needle much. Sure, the movie isn’t as bad as some of the dreck that’s come out of the DC machine in recent years, but it’s also not the cinematic savior that DC fans were hoping for. It’s actually a pretty hit-and-miss affair, much like the film’s ocean of visual effects. Though there are some definite highlights throughout (including Michael Keaton’s return as Batman), “The Flash” becomes so bogged down in its multiversal mumbo jumbo that it all just grows a bit tiresome. Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the film, some deleted scenes and the six-part scripted audio series “The Flash: Escape the Midnight Circus.” FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Taxi Hunter” — Hong Kong director Herman Yau has seemingly done it all over the course of his nearly 40-year career, but it’s his work on early films like “The Untold Story” and “Ebola Syndrome” that has endured. Though not as popular as the aforementioned titles, “Taxi Hunter” is an equally gritty early ‘90s crime thriller that plays like Hong Kong’s answer to “Falling Down,” even though both movies came out in the same year. The film takes a while to get going and suffers from some pretty awful comic relief in the form of Man-Tat Ng’s bumbling cop, but “Taxi Hunter” eventually finds its footing thanks to a solid performance by screen legend (and frequent Yau collaborator) Anthony Wong, who imbues his insurance salesman-turned-serial killer with a humanity and vulnerability that makes for an engaging character study. Extras include an audio commentary by film historian Frank Djeng and interviews with Wong, co-writer/producer Tony Leung Hung-Wah and action director James Ha. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
