Among the glut of ‘80s teen comedies, THE JOY OF SEX (90 mins., 1984, R; Cinematographe) was one of the few that became notoriously difficult to track down over the years. Despite being a Paramount Summer of ‘84 comedy that found director Martha Coolidge working in between her memorable hits “Valley Girl” (1983) and “Real Genius” (1985), this infamously troubled picture only wound its way onto VHS before essentially being banished into home video purgatory for decades. Now remastered in Cinematographe’s limited-edition Blu-Ray set, curious viewers can finally get an understanding of what happened with this teen comedy that was being pulled apart by the disparate intentions of its filmmakers and studio executives.

On the surface, “The Joy of Sex” – which takes its title from a ‘70s non-fiction bestseller Paramount paid a fortune for – provides its target audience with the trappings of traditional genre fare: a somewhat hapless high school girl (Michelle Meyrink) mistakenly believes she’s going to die and sets out to lose her virginity, something that’s complicated by the on-campus presence of her gym-teacher father (Christopher Lloyd). At the same time, one of her classmates (Cameron Dye), likewise on a journey to “do it,” runs into comical circumstances which preclude him from also doing so.

Like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” a number of adult roles are included to spice up the youth element, including Lloyd plus a bald Ernie Hudson as the school principal and Colleen Camp, undercover as a student. Unlike that 1982 genre classic, however, “The Joy of Sex” is a ramshackle mess of a movie – shot quickly for reasons I’ll shortly mention, and hampered by heavy studio interference, this charmless picture is all over the place in terms of its intentions. Coolidge, a last-minute fill-in on the movie, was mostly unable to exert much (if any) creative control here, with her efforts to infuse some genuine warmth into the story off-set by leering sexual/comical elements brought in by the studio. These low-brow moments weren’t in the movie’s script or part of the director’s plan; instead, execs hoping for the next “Porky’s” tossed them in, only to have some of the movie’s nudity excised in the editing room after it (ironically) tested poorly.

Speaking of that, there’s no rhythm or consistent tone present in “The Joy of Sex,” with the finished product bearing only a dash of Coolidge’s directorial sensibility. In hindsight, she may have been better off removing her name from the picture, as this doesn’t fit in with either of the pictures that bookend it. Only the movie’s ending and some sequences with Meyrink ring true – yet the picture’s sweet finish seems to come out of a different movie altogether than the one we’ve sat through.

The project’s fascinating production history was one reason for its issues. In fact, Paramount tried to get “The Joy of Sex” off the ground several times previously, first in the late ‘70s when Charles Grodin wrote a script Paramount passed on (Grodin ended up making his script, shortly after this movie’s release, as the little-seen 1985 MGM comedy “Movers and Shakers”). “Joy of Sex” was then reconfigured under the National Lampoon umbrella, with John Hughes authoring a new script comprised of self-contained vignettes intended to star John Belushi. Penny Marshall was even onboard the project, only to have that, too, go by the wayside once Belushi tragically died (National Lampoon later sued to have their name removed from the production – which says something, considering they retained it on the grossly unfunny “Movie Madness” and “Class Reunion”!).

With time running out on their option, Paramount ultimately pressed “The Joy of Sex” into production with a small budget and a new script from Kathleen Rowell (“The Outsiders”) and “J.J. Salter,” a pseudonym for Rowell’s sister Joyce (Salter) and Joyce’s husband John. With all of these elements going against it, the movie understandably bears the hallmarks of a movie with too many cooks in the kitchen, and yet it’s still lightly amusing, even while coming off best viewed with the kind of “how did this get made?” curiosity some of us movie buffs employ, especially for films of this vintage.

Cinematographe’s super Blu-Ray addresses all the production issues with fascinating new supplements. These are highlighted by an interview with Coolidge, who candidly discusses the movie’s shortcomings along with the writers, who are gracious and honest about the picture’s failings. There are also interviews with Colleen Camp and fellow co-star Lisa Langlois, a video essay on Coolidge’s work by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, plus assorted text essays which stage a stronger defense of the movie than the filmmakers themselves do. Visually the 4K-remaster (1.85) looks superb and the original mono sound is clearly rendered (the back cover indicates stereo but this does not seem to have been a film intended for Dolby Stereo).

Comedy of the Neil Simon variety is included in Cinematographe’s Blu-Ray premiere of LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (98 mins., 1972, PG), one of the many adaptations of Simon’s Broadway works to reach the screen. This one – produced at Paramount where the bulk of them were concentrated during the post-”Odd Couple” period of the late ‘60s to early ‘70s – is a certainly a claustrophobic affair, in keeping with its four-character situated play.

Alan Arkin stars as a restaurant owner in a stagnant marriage who envisions himself as a middle-aged casanova, and his attempts to seduce a trio of very different women – Sally Kellerman, Paula Prentiss and Renee Taylor – prove to be hapless in one of Simon’s patented takes on modern relationships with a focus on marriage and fidelity.

Though most of Simon’s works are obviously “stagy,” this particular film comes across as more set-bound than most. Simon and director Gene Saks attempt to open up the material by adding a bit of location work and very brief peripheral characters, but they’re very limited in scope, leaving most of the movie to be anchored to the apartment of Arkin’s mother, where he hopes to stage his afternoon meet-ups (predictably, he never gets very far). The result is a stuffy piece that feels more like a filmed play than a fully realized movie, and the joke wears thin faster than usual for Simon, with the source material feeling like it must’ve been buoyed on stage by whatever cast was involved.

Here, Arkin lacks the edgy – but still likeable – comic tension of Jack Lemmon, and Prentiss and Taylor aren’t overly compelling. Only Kellerman’s performance feels on target, with her section, encompassing both comedic and dramatic components, coming off the best – alas, it also comprises only the first third of the movie, and the rest of the picture sags as a result.

With several Simon screen comedies absent from Blu-Ray, this welcome Cinematographe remaster comes recommended for fans, with the Blu-Ray offering a new 4K restoration (1.85, mono) of the original 35mm camera negative. The mono sound houses a score by “Odd Couple” composer Neal Hefti that feels Bacharach-inspired (the movie even has quotes of “Alfie” and “What the World Needs Now”) while extras include a commentary between Nathaniel Thompson and Howard S. Berger; an interview with Renee Taylor; a video essay from Matthew Zoller Seitz; and text essays in Cinematographe’s booklet from Drew McWeeny, Chris Shields and Justine Smith.

Finally, Cinematographe has also released a Special Limited Edition of Susan Streitfeld’s FEMALE PERVERSIONS (115 mins., 1996, R). This breakout American role for Tilda Swinton finds the offbeat actress playing a L.A. lawyer working relationships with both sexes (Clancy Brown, Karen Silas) as well as dealing with a troubled sister (Amy Madigan) and a career seeing her possibly being appointed as a judge. Streitfeld co-wrote, with Julie Hebert, this interesting character study, co-produced by soft-core specialist Zalman King of “Wild Orchid/9½ Weeks” fame (or is it infamy), making its format debut here on Blu-Ray. Cinematographe’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 2.0) features a 4K restoration from the 35mm OCN with extras including a commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas; new interviews with Streitfeld, Hebert, actresses Karen Silas, Frances Fisher and Dale Shuger, plus cinematographer Teresa Medina. There are also text essays by Kate Hagen, Philippa Snow and Madelyn Sutton within the label’s trademark, book-styled hardbound limited-edition case.

Debuting on 4K UHD from Canadian International Pictures, HOOKERS ON DAVIE (89 mins., 1984) made noise on the art-house circuit not just in Canada but in the U.S. as well. Janis Cole and Holly Dale’s documentary looks at sex workers in the “prostitution capital of Canada,” taking viewers behind the curtain in Vancouver’s Davie Street neighborhood – meeting not just the assorted personalities of their subjects but also utilizing hidden cameras to capture day to day life for those who work there. The result is honest and compassionate given its subject matter, and Canadian International Pictures’ 4K UHD includes a detailed HDR (1.37) presentation, straight in 4K from the original 16mm A/B negatives. We also get two commentaries, one featuring Cole and Dale, with a new intro from Cole; interviews with Cole; archival news reports and assorted media coverage of the film; new 2K scans of Cole and Dale’s earliest shorts; an archival press gallery and more.

Coming on Blu-Ray from CIP is Ivan Reitman’s (very) early Canuxploitation favorite CANNIBAL GIRLS (83 mins., 1973). This one pairs together future SCTV stars Eugene Levy (with an afro and handlebar moustache!) and Andrea Martin as a couple who end up in a snowy, small Ontario town, hoping for a romantic getaway at a bed-and-breakfast with…cannibal girls residing nearby? Yep, believe it or not, “Cannibal Girls” is something unexpected from this director and cast, and Canadian International Pictures’ Blu-Ray (1.85, mono) offers a new 2K restoration “with a new color grade” and dirt clean-up, and new extras including a commentary by historians Paul Corupe and Jason Pichonsky, a new interview with historian Chris Alexander, French opening credits, booklet notes, trailers, and extras from Shout’s 2010 DVD. The latter included interviews with Reitman, writer Daniel Goldberg and Levy, while American-International’s “The Warning Bell” alternate soundtrack is also on-hand, which was used in theatrical screenings to give a heads-up to viewers that something gory was about to be glimpsed. Bizarre, and not that much fun, but still worth seeing for curious viewers.

Film Movement New Releases: A legendary documentary that’s virtually been unseen and stashed away for decades, TARPON (54 mins., 1973) offers a fascinating look at Florida Keys fishing circa the early ‘70s, where local guides and pop culture luminaries like Richard Brautigan, Tom McGuane and Jim Harrison intermingle. Jimmy Buffet provided the score for “Tarpon,” which was produced by French filmmaker Christian Odasso but subsequently buried for years – even an effort to screen it on PBS was squashed when the network wanted graphic footage of sharks being clubbed on a tourist boat edited out. This Film Movement 4K Blu-Ray restoration offers the complete documentary in a gorgeous transfer, preserving a fascinating time in the Keys’ history and promoting catch-and-release fishing that predated modern conservation efforts. Video intros from Diana Odasso and Ianthe Brautigan-Swensen, a video essay from Hunter Whaley, and a booklet with an essay by David N. Meyer are included in Film Movement’s Blu-Ray (1.37, 2.0).

Niclas Larsson’s MOTHER, COUCH (96 mins., 2023) offers Ellen Burstyn as a matriarch who refuses to get up from a display couch, trapping her three estranged, dysfunctional kids (Ewan McGregor, Rhys Ifans, Lara Flynn Boyle) and setting them on a reflective odyssey along with the store managers (F. Murray Abraham, Taylor Russell) of a strange antiques store. Larsson’s odd picture is new to Blu (2.40, 5.1/2.0) with extras including a commentary and featurette…Also now available on Blu-Ray, TWO FACES OF TAI KATO features the Japanese director’s debut picture, “By a Man’s Face Shall you Know Him” (1966) along with “I, The Executioner” (1968). Essays by Patrick Macias, a tribute to Sanae Nakahara from Kenta Fukasaku (who also contributes separate featurettes on both movies) and a 16-page booklet comprise Film Movement’s dazzling looking Blu-Ray with stark widescreen (2.45/2.40) transfers in Japanese with English subtitles…Noboru Tanaka’s THE OLDEST PROFESSION (83 mins., 1974) receives a 4K restoration (2.39) that comes to Blu-Ray in late April from Film Movement. In addition to an impressively detailed new remaster, the disc includes a video essay by Jasper Sharp and 16-page booklet with an essay by scholar Alexander Fee…MAPANTSULA (104 mins., 1988) provides a remastering of the late ‘80s South African import starring Thomas Mogotlane in Oliver Schmitz’s anti-Apartheid drama which was shot, and banned, in its native country. Schmitz’s commentary, archival cast/crew interviews, and a 16-page booklet are included alongside a new 4K transfer (1.85, 5.1/2.0).

The second directorial outing from Tsai Ming-Liang. VIVE L’AMOUR (118 mis., 1994), receives a new 2K restoration from Film Movement this month. This slice of life picture about a trio of disparate types holing up in a Taipei apartment offers memorable performances and scenes, as well as offbeat comic observations. A featurette with the director looking at the movie is among the extras in Film Movement’s Blu-Ray (1.85, mono Mandarin with English subtitles)…Natalie Cisarovska’s HER BODY (111 mins., 2023) stars Natalia Germani as a Czech would-be Olympian high diver who, after being injured in competition, decides to get involved in nude modeling and porn instead. A strong lead performance and compelling subject matter define this well-reviewed Czech import, on Blu from Film Movement (1.85) sporting a music video (with deleted scenes), and 5.1/2.0 audio with English subtitles.

Coming later in April, Bruce LaBruce’s SAINT-NARCISSE (101 mins., 2021, Not Rated) stars Felix-Antoine Duval as a young man who uncovers long-buried secrets about his family’s sordid past in the director’s tribute to psychosexual thrillers of the ’70s. A ride recommended only for adventurous viewers with Film Movement’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1/2.0) offering LaBruce’s commentary and deleted scenes. LaBruce’s latest film, THE VISITOR (101 mins., 2024), is also coming soon from OCN, this 2024 film offering LaBruce’s own reworking of Pier Paolo Pasolini’s worldwide arthouse hit “Teorema.” The Collective’s Blu-Ray includes a featurette, video essay by Samm Deighan, an introduction from the director and more (1.78, 5.1).

IFC New Releases: Willem Dafoe and Shanyn Leigh find that the apocalypse isn’t so much fun in 4:44 LAST DAY ON EARTH (82 mins., 2011, Not Rated), the 2011 film from director Abel Ferrera that ends up doing as much (which isn’t much) for its actors as the Steve Carell misfire “Seeking a Friend For the End of the World” did around the same time. This is a Special Edition Blu-Ray reissue (1.85, 5.1) of a 2012 E One Blu-Ray, adding in a wealth of new extras including a commentary with Chris O’Neil and Bill Ackerman; a Ferrara interview; a video essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas; and a booklet with a Justin LaLiberty essay…Adam Wingard (future “Godzilla V Kong” auteur) and Joe Swanberg’s AUTOEROTIC (72 mins., 2011) is an edgy indie comedy from 2011 now receiving a Blu-Ray release. The Blu (1.78, 2.0) features a new commentary from the directorial duo; a 2008 short from Swanberg and Kent Osborne; and a booklet sporting an essay by film professor Whitney Strub.

Quick Takes: IN FLAMES (98 mins., 2023; Yellow Veil Pictures) offers Karachi horrors of both the real and supernatural variety in Zarrar Kahn’s import. Yellow Veil’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1) includes two commentaries; an interview with Kahn; a behind-the-scenes-featurette; a short; and the trailer…ETR Media’s release of HERE COMES A NEW CHALLENGER: CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION (142 mins., 2023) is a documentary on “Street Fighter II,” its origins, impact on arcades worldwide and the fighting genre, plus the people around the world who still play it. Commentaries, featurettes and deleted scenes are on-hand in a jam-packed ETR Blu-Ray (1.78)…also new from ETR is AMERICAN EXPENDABLES (61 mins., 2024), a short but sweet ride through the world of B-grade, direct-to-video action flicks starring the likes of Cynthia Rothrock and Billy Blanks that populated cable and rental shelves during the 80s and 90s. Loads of interviews, commentary from director Thomas Edward Seymour, an extra 24-minute documentary and an 80-minute 2006 action film “Fountain of Death” are all included in ETR’s upcoming Blu release.

Coming in late April from Music Box is Alison Bagnall’s THE DISH AND THE SPOON (91 mins., 2011), a quirky indie featuring Greta Gerwig as a woman who strikes up a relationship with a British teen (Olly Alexander) after she uncovers her husband’s infidelity. Music Box’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 2.0) features deleted scenes and outtakes; a location scouting featurette; Alexander’s “The Whale”; and Gerwig and Alexander talking about the picture…Cartuna’s NOVA SEED (64 mins., 2017) presents a Blu-Ray of the 2017 animated feature by director Nick Diliberto, who hand-drew all of its frames over a painstaking, multi-year process (1.78).

Utopia’s release of NOT AN ARTIST (97 mins., 2021) features an eclectic cast (Haley Joel Osment, Alexi Pappas, Rosalind Chao, Matt Walsh and Bobby “The RZA” Diggs) in Pappas and Jeremy Teicher’s 2021 film festival fave. Cast interviews, a still gallery and the trailer are included in the now-available Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1/2.0)…Big World Pictures brings viewers a double-feature Blu-Ray pairing of films by Romanian director Radu June: SCARRED HEARTS (141 mins., 2016), a period piece set in 1937, and UPPERCASE PRINT (128 mins., 2020), a film set in the early ‘80s, both of which comment on Romanian socio-political issues of their respective eras. Bonus short films are included in Big World’s release (Romanian with English subs, 5.1, 1.85/1.33).

Brainstorm Media’s release of Hannah Pearl Utt’s CORA BORA (92 mins., 2023) stars Meg Stalter as a young woman who tries to win back her girlfriend, but finds herself in need of general saving, in an offbeat character study. Brainstorm’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1) contains a filmmaker commentary and booklet with an essay from critic Sara Clements…Coming in late April from Kani Releasing is a Blu-Ray of Mike de Leon’s Filipino psychological thriller KISAPMATA (99 mins., 1981). In addition to a 4K restoration of the picture (1.85, mono), the disc includes interviews with actor Charo Santos, screenwriters Raquel Villavicencio and Clodualdo “Doy” Del Mundo Jr., an intro and commentary by director Isabel Sandoval, another intro from Raymond Red, a 1985 look at actor Vic Silaayan, behind-the-scenes material and more.

Shudder brings viewers a Blu-Ray of THE STRINGS (94 mins., 2020), Ryan Glover’s offbeat film about a musician who ends up in an abandoned farmhouse where some strange goings-on affect her creative process. Teagan Johnston and Jenna Schaefer star with Shudder’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1) including a commentary with Glover and Johnston; an interview featurette with the duo; deleted/alternate scenes; behind the scenes content; and a booklet with writing by critic Mary Beth McAndrews…Coming late April from Shudder, BIRTH/REBIRTH (101 mins., 2023) is Laura Moss’ thriller about a single mother and morgue tech who help reanimate a girl from the dead. Shudder’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1) includes commentary with Moss and cast/crew; a 40-minute documentary; the trailer; and an essay from critic Katie Walsh…Also in late April, Shudder’s original SPOONFUL OF SUGAR (94 mins., 2002) finds a disturbed babysitter providing LSD to an apparently “sick” kid while experiencing a sexual awakening in Mercedes Bruce Morgan’s film starring Morgan Saylor. Commentary, two featurettes, the trailer, and a BJ Colangelo essay are included in Shudder’s Blu-Ray (1.66, 5.1).

Dekanalog’s Blu-Ray release of Carmen Jaquier’s THUNDER (92 mins., 2022) follows a 17-year-old girl, living in a Swiss valley circa the turn of the 20^th century, when her sister mysteriously perishes. The young woman puts her vows on hold to probe what happened in a beautifully shot picture presented on Blu with a 1080p (1.85) transfer, 5.1 DTS MA French audio with English subs, an interview with Jaquier and a trio of her previous shorts, and a booklet featuring conversations with Jaquier, cinematographer Marine Atlan, and composer Nicolas Rabaeus…Coming in a few weeks from Dekanalog is the 2024 Netherlands submission for the Oscars, SWEET DREAMS (102 mins., 2023), a well-reviewed portrait of fading Dutch colonialism from director Ena Sendijarevic. Dekanalog’s Blu-Ray (1.33, 5.1) features an interview with Senijarevic, the trailer, and a booklet essay.

Factory 25’s latest releases include AMATEUR ON PLASTIC (73 mins., 2020), Mark Robinson’s documentary about Butch Willis, a Maryland-raised rock and roller whose band, Butch Willis & The Rocks, became big on the local scene circa the 1980s. Robinson’s portrait of Willis’ life and times includes interview outtakes, a series of live performances culled from 1985-2005, along with a 32-page booklet and 1985 concert performance, “Live at the 9:30 Club”…Coming from Darkstar are a pair of erotic dramas from writer-director Deborah Twiss in a double-feature Blu-Ray: SAPIOSEXUAL and TABOO: FAMILY SECRETS (195 mins., 2024), with extras including a podcast interview with Twiss, trailers, and interviews with stars Nick Hardin and David Williams.

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Also New & Noteworthy

COMPANION 4K UHD (97 mins., 2025, R; Warner): Sharply written concoction of sci-fi thriller, character drama, and crime thriller serves up a convincing near future where young couple Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid hit the woods for a weekend with friends. Alas, it turns out Thatcher’s really a robot with an implanted affection for “love-bot” owner Quaid, and once the party host (Rupert Friend) ends up dead at Thatcher’s hands in an act of self-defense, things get spicy – just as they do for the other reason they’re gathered there.

Drew Hancock wrote and directed “Companion,” which has obvious thematic similarities to other, recent entries in the “crazed-female-automaton” genre, notably “M3gan” and “Ex Machina.” However, “Companion” proves to be a lot smarter than the former and much less depressing than the latter, serving up dry humor and an engaging tone with just enough fresh plot elements for the picture to work. Thatcher, a standout on the Showtime series “Yellowjackets,” proves appealing here while Quaid manages to be enough of a sufficiently likeable jerk for the material to effectively straddle the line between black comedy and thriller. It’s not a classic but “Companion” satisfyingly stays within its lane from start to end, working especially well if you haven’t bothered to watch any of its trailers.

Warner’s good-looking UHD (2.39) includes just a few short featurettes, a Digital HD code, HDR10 and Dolby Atmos sound – I admit also I was a sucker for the movie’s soundtrack, as any film that finishes with the great Samantha Sang/Barry Gibb hit “Emotion” can’t be all bad.

LOVE HURTS 4K UHD/Blu-Ray (83 mins., 2025, R; Universal): Low-rent effort attempts to put Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan into the “unlikely action hero” biz, playing a suburban real estate agent in Milwaukee whose former partner (Ariana DeBose) comes back into his life, hoping he can join her in taking revenge against his crime lord brother (Daniel Wu). Quan’s Oscar win on “Everything Everywhere All at Once” made for a great story but his acting skills are, honestly, fairly limited in range, with this Universal box-office dud trying to mix his persona with sub-Wickian action scenes, raunchy humor and violence like other recent, low-grossing affairs they’ve churned out lately (“Violent Night,” “Renfield,” etc.). With an 83-minute running time (that includes credits!), that should tell you how successful “Love Hurts” is in achieving its decidedly limited ambitions. Universal’s 4K UHD (2:1) does include Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos sound, an alternate ending, deleted scenes, featurettes, the Blu-Ray and a Digital HD copy.

FLIGHT RISK 4K UHD/Blu-Ray (91 mins., 2025, R; Lionsgate): Mel Gibson returned to the director’s chair for the first time since “Hacksaw Ridge” nearly a decade ago, and the rust is evident by this cheapjack – if watchably goofy – thriller involving an air marshal (a miscast Michelle Dockery from “Downton Abbey”) transporting a fugitive (Topher Grace) to trial in a small plane whose pilot (Mark Wahlberg) who clearly knows more than he’s letting on. Barely 90 minutes and obviously made on the thrifty side as it’s loaded with mediocre green-screen work and animation, “Flight Risk” likely would’ve fared better as a passable direct-to-demand programmer instead of a theatrical release, where it struggled to find an audience earlier this winter. The picture’s suspense is marginal at best and the claustrophobic setting is more tedious than thrilling, though Grace and Wahlberg do become more unhinged, and entertaining, in their bombastic performances as the picture progresses. A single featurette is included in Lionsgate’s 4K UHD (2.39) with Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos audio, the Blu-Ray and a Digital HD copy also on-hand.

DOG MAN Blu-Ray (89 mins., 2025, PG; Dreamworks/Universal): Dav Pilkey’s hugely popular books becomes a decent, if overly “active,” animated feature that recounts the origin of its title hero: a human police officer who’s fused, after an accident, with his canine counterpart, becoming a super-hero of sorts in order to combat the villainy of Petey the Cat (voiced by Pete Davidson). Peter Hastings wrote and directed this nicely animated Dreamworks release which faithfully captures the designs of Pilkey’s source material – it’s just a little much over the course of its near 90 minute running time, pausing only here and there for sufficient “feels” or moments that aren’t overly manic. Universal’s attractive 1080p (1.85, 7.1 TrueHD) Blu-Ray offers deleted/extended scenes, a featurette, “Howl to Draw” segment, and a Digital HD code.

GOOD BAD THINGS Blu-Ray (96 mins., 2024; Music Box): Highly appealing, unpretentious indie stars Danny Kurtzman as a man with muscular dystrophy who’s drawn into a new relationship after signing up for a dating app. His new relationship with an understanding photographer (Jessica Parker Kennedy) makes for a unique love story and realistic portrait of living with a disability captured by Kurtzman, who also scripted alongside director Shane D. Stanger. Music Box’s Blu-Ray (1.85, 5.1 DTS MA) is now available featuring interviews with Kurtzman and Steve Way; filmmaker panels with Ramy Youssef and Sian Heder; and an interview with Stanger and cinematographer Nathan Haugaard.

ONE OF THEM DAYS Blu-Ray (97 mins., 2025, R; Sony): Comedy pairs Keke Palmer and SZA as roommates who team up to avoid being evicted after SZA’s boyfriend motors through their rent money. Lawrence Lamont’s fast-paced film is up and down in terms of laughs but at least Syreeta Singleton’s script and Lamont’s direction are attempting a straight comedy and there’s no pretension here but to serve up a good time for the movie’s target audience. A gag reel, featurettes, and a Digital HD copy are included in Sony’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 5.1 DTS MA).

Cohen New Releases: Two films from director Ismail Merchant comprise a new Double Feature Blu-Ray from Cohen. Om Puri stars as a university scholar asked to interview an aging poet (Shashi Kapoor), only to find him to be a combative subject, in Merchant’s 1994 drama IN CUSTODY (126 mins., PG). Merchant followed that film with THE PROPRIETOR (113 mins., 1996, R), the study of a French writer, living in NYC, who has to come to terms with her childhood, growing up during WWII, after her family home goes up for sale. Sean Young and Sam Waterston co-star in this little-seen 1996 release. Both movies include 1080p (1.85) transfers with extras including a “Proprietor” commentary by Wade Major; archival interviews from “In Custody”‘s EPK; a featurette with James Ivory and Nasheed Qamar Faruqi discussing the latter film; and Merchant’s 1974 short “Mahatma and the Mad Boy”…also new from Cohen is Aurelie Saada’s ROSE (103 mins., 2021), starring Francoise Fabian as an elderly woman who, after losing her loving husband, finds a new verve for living. A Q&A with Saada is included plus the trailer and a 2.37 transfer (5.1/2.0, French with English subtitles) in Cohen’s now-available Blu-Ray.

SUMMER WARS Blu-Ray (114 mins., 2009, PG; Shout/Gkids): Mamoru Hosoda’s 2009 anime hit has been remastered for Blu-Ray by Shout. This fanciful modern fantasy incorporates virtual reality as well as offbeat characters and a dash of romance, and became a big fan favorite amongst genre buffs upon its original release. Out this week, Shout’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1 Japanese/English) offers a new transfer with interviews featuring the original cast; a talk with Hosoda; and teasers/trailers.

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY: Complete Third Season DVD (302 mins., 2024-25; Warner): Janine takes charge by implementing growth initiatives for Abbott Elemenatry while Gregory decides to embrace being the beloved “cool” teacher in this third season of the popular ABC comedy. The writing is stronger and more consistent in Season 3 as well, with Warner’s DVD (1.85, 5.1) available this week.

NEXT TIME: Warner Archive’s latest, including EARTH II and more! Until then, don’t forget to drop in on the official Aisle Seat Message Boards and direct any emails to our email address. Cheers everyone!