Eddie Murphy catches the holiday spirit in “Candy Cane Lane,” a PG-rated production that reunites the actor with his “Boomerang” director, Reginald Hudlin. Scripted by Kelly Younger (“Muppets Haunted Mansion”), the picture tries to make sense of a somewhat convoluted plot that deals with magical mayhem involving a villainous elf, community antagonisms concerning a holiday decoration competition, and family issues where each character is assigned their own little life hurdle to manage. There’s a lot to “Candy Cane Lane,” and the feature feels heavy because of it, ignoring the possibilities of a straightforward comedy about the strange ways of pride to delve into visual effects and screenwriting formula, with Hudlin showing little tenacity when it comes to delivering a tighter, funnier film. It’s not a lump of coal, but there’s certainly a better movie to be made with these working parts. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

For his 70th birthday, Godzilla receives a new cinematic experience with “Godzilla Minus One,” with studio Toho looking to return the giant monster to the basics of postwar Japan fears and anguished characters dealing with a mighty problem. There’s never been a shortage of Godzilla in media, with Legendary Pictures currently working on their own franchise featuring the behemoth (a new film is set for release next year), but “Godzilla Minus One” is a different viewing event. There’s little slickness and fantasy action, with writer/director Takashi Yamazaki aiming to keep things serious with the feature, which focuses on the horror of violence and the agony of dishonor. It’s a strong endeavor with a genuine feel for Godzilla-based horrors, and the effort connects on a dramatic level, getting into the minds of rattled characters tasked with dealing with a most unusual threat to an already decimated Japan. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

In 2016, director William Oldroyd made a strong impression with “Lady Macbeth,” transforming a Russian novella into a riveting sit, and one that offered an amazing lead turn from Florence Pugh, helping to launch her visibility. After a seven-year break, Oldroyd is back with “Eileen,” which presents another adaptation challenge, bringing Ottessa Moshfegh’s 2015 book to the screen, with the author co-scripting with Luke Goebel. The filmmakers have quite a story to share with viewers, cutting into the fantasies and brutal realities of the eponymous character – a young woman facing a stagnant life of casual abuse, with her essence enlivened by the arrival of a psychologist looking for friendship, or maybe something more. “Eileen” takes its time to set mood and deal with the ways of the complex characters, and Oldroyd delivers compelling atmosphere to support the journey, also handling potent performances from stars Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“Family Switch” claims it’s an adaptation of “Bedtime for Mommy,” a 2010 children's book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. In this story, a little girl playfully swaps roles with her mother for their bedtime ritual, putting the kid in charge of bath and book reading before moving on to her father. It’s a cute tale, but it isn’t the story used for “Family Switch,” which pulls inspiration from Mary Rodgers’s 1972 book, “Freaky Friday,” which has been adapted for screens big and small multiple times, and ripped off even more. Perhaps there’s a legal issue standing in the way of true credit, but role-swapping turns into body-switching in the new film, with director McG offering a hyperactive understanding of comedic possibilities involving parents and kids in awkward situations, creating an unexpectedly aggressive viewing experience that immediately suffocates all emotion it offers, while its overall sense of humor is dispiriting. The production would’ve been better off actually turning “Bedtime for Mommy” into a movie. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“The Shift” is a feature-length version of a 2017 short film by writer/director Brock Heasley, and he returns to make sense of material that initially ran 20 minutes, and now runs just under two hours. It’s an adaptation that initially seems ambitious, bringing viewers into a fantasy world where multiple realities are controlled through technology, and faith is the power that drives away evil. It’s not an unappealing premise, especially for an episode of television, but Heasley is determined to make a movie out of “The Shift,” and it never comes together. It’s Christian entertainment with a defined message of hope, but the rest of the writing is a little murkier, going into the multiverse while attempting to examine a relatively simple study of grief. “The Shift” isn’t compelling, with Heasley struggling to find some sort of pace to the endeavor, which largely remains in conversation mode, diluting any potential for suspense. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Acclaimed Hong Kong director John Woo made the leap to Hollywood in 1993, commencing a decade-long run of actioners that brought his signature style to America, creating a few genre highlights in the process (including 1997’s “Face/Off”). Woo returned to his homeland to continue his artistic explorations, and now, 20 years later, he’s back in the U.S.A. with “Silent Night,” which doesn’t provide an extreme tonal challenge, retaining all the hardcore violence the helmer is known for. Instead of losing his identity, Woo tries to maintain some solemnity with “Silent Night,” laboring to preserve elements of catastrophe while still maintaining rough stunt work and chaotic gun fights. The screenplay by Robert Archer Lynn has sorrow to share involving one man’s fight for revenge against those who’ve killed his son, and Woo gets to most points of pain in the endeavor, which is an interesting return to the ways of expressionistic filmmaking. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“Under the Boardwalk” is a 2023 animated film that parodies the world of “Jersey Shore,” an MTV show that originally aired 14 years ago. In terms of timing, the feature has a strange sense of pop culture ribbing, trying to work with the basics of the reality program, transferring imagery and attitude to a world of crabs and their quest to find themselves in the big sweep of oceanic life. The target is stale and at least one hire in the voice cast is sure to make viewers cringe, but “Under the Boardwalk” isn’t a sloppy effort. It’s nicely animated work with a colorful sense of character design and locations, offering a pleasant New Jersey journey with the smallest of creatures, with director David Soren (“Turbo,” “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie”) doing well with some comedic activity and exploration. It’s not an especially strong picture, but as this type of entertainment goes, it has polish and some decent ideas to share with little ones concerning kindness and acceptance. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

1997’s “Good Burger” wasn’t a hit movie, but it managed to make a little money during its brief theatrical run, eventually developing a loyal fan base and cult appreciation. A feature-length version of a Nickelodeon “All That” sketch, the picture wasn’t a towering achievement in the art of filmmaking, but it was goofy and mostly fun, with the screenplay managing to expand on the world of television, also serving as a vehicle for stars Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, with the latter showing great comedic chops as a lovable half-wit. 26 years later, there’s “Good Burger 2,” which reunites Thompson and Mitchell for a new adventure in fast food mischief, and the atmosphere of absurdity is mostly retained in the sequel. The endeavor doesn’t stray far from the highlights of the previous effort, presenting likeable dumb guy entertainment with minimal stakes, and Mitchell once again becomes a good reason to sit through the occasional dud bits the writing creates. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“Family Matters” was a popular ABC show during the 1990s, part of the “TGIF” movement to bring family programming to prime time. However, the show itself, which began as a study of household dynamics, soon became the Steve Urkel show, giving the spotlight to a nerdy character with an extraordinarily broad screen presence. Urkel claimed a spot in pop culture, spawning all kinds of merchandise (even a breakfast cereal) while gradually handed major screen time, helping to expand the mainstream appeal of “Family Matters” while undoubtedly irritating a few of his castmates. The show ended in 1998, but the icon is back, in animated form, with “Urkel Saves Santa,” which returns star Jaleel White to the role that made him famous, contributing voicework that’s digitally altered, but still Urkel-y with lowered expectations, sending the geek into help mode as holiday cheer is threatened, requiring his special inventing skills to save the day. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Five years ago, Bradley Cooper made his directorial debut with “A Star Is Born.” He poured a lot of soul into the endeavor, emerging with not only a hit movie, but a feature that carried pop culture for a few moments, and dominated the music scene. It was a film with many flaws, but Cooper had passion for the project, and its cinematic potential was something to see. He returns with an even fiercer understanding of creative and romantic life with “Maestro,” which isn’t a bio-pic of composer Leonard Bernstein, but a portrait of behavior and musical mastery, also delivering an inspection of marital challenges and sexual needs. It’s all over the place, but that’s what Cooper wants from the effort, which follows the patterns of Bernstein’s volatile orchestral achievements, exploring sudden surges of emotion and inspiration as the conductor tried and often failed to exert control over his own domestic life. “Maestro” is gorgeously made, but much like “A Star Is Born,” the dramatic value of the picture often trails its incredible craftsmanship. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

“Genie” is a remake of a 1991 BBC special, “Bernard and the Genie,” which took a slightly darker look at the relationship between a sad man and the magical, wish-granting prisoner he releases. The show was written by Richard Curtis (“Love Actually, “Four Weddings and a Funeral”), and he returns to duty with an Americanized update, trading a slightly somber study of the dangers of wish-fulfillment for the brightness of comedy that typically emits from Melissa McCarthy. The actress doesn’t push too hard with her usual slapstick ways here, but she’s in charge of bringing positive energy to the endeavor, with director Sam Boyd looking to generate a cozy holiday mood for the offering. “Genie” is not a powerful viewing experience, and comedic value is tested at times, but it’s gentle work with a pleasing Christmas atmosphere. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the Cabbage Patch Kids phenomenon. The dolls have been around longer than that, but in 1983, sales of the brand went through the roof, creating scarcity in stores, which soon led to hysteria. Some recall the violence that broke out as parents madly dashed to claim a prized box for their children (or even themselves), with the media devoted to capturing such insanity, adding fuel to the fire of Cabbage Patch Kids frenzy. There have been a few television specials tracking the history of the brand name this year, while “Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids” offers a feature-length overview of ownership and marketing, with director Andrew Jenks finding some fresh ways to detail a known story, gaining access to a few people who’ve gone on record about the brand’s development and its legal woes. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com