Friday Releases: Companion & Dog Man

Companion

Directed by: Drew Hancock
Studio: Warner Bros Pictures | New Line Cinema

New Line Cinema–the studio that brought you “The Notebook”–and the unhinged creators of “Barbarian” cordially invite you to experience a new kind of love story….

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Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend
Sci-Fi | Thriller
R (for strong violence, sexual content, and language throughout)
USA (English)
97 minutes

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Dog Man

Directed by: Peter Hastings
Studio: DreamWorks Animation | Universal Pictures

When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man is sworn to protect and serve–and fetch, sit and roll over. As Dog Man embraces his new identity and strives to impress his Chief (Lil Rel Howery, Get Out, Free Guy), he must stop the pretty evil plots of feline supervillain Petey the Cat (Pete Davidson; Saturday Night Live, The King of Staten Island). Petey’s latest plan is to clone himself, creating the kitten Lil Petey, to double his ability to do crime stuff. Things get complicated, though, when Lil Petey forges an unexpected bond with Dog Man. When Lil Petey falls into the clutches of a common enemy, Dog Man and Petey reluctantly join forces in an action-packed race against time to rescue the young kitten. In the process, they discover the power of family (and kittens!) to bring even the most hostile foes together.

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Love Me

Directed by: Sam Zuchero & Andrew Zuchero
Studio: Bleecker Street

In a story that spans billions of years, a buoy and a satellite meet online long after humanity’s extinction. As they learn what life was like on Earth, they discover themselves and what it means to be alive and in love. In this groundbreaking first feature from directors Sam and Andy Zuchero, Love Me explores contemporary topics surrounding technology and identity, though at its heart is a simple, emotionally resonant tale of transformation. Thrillingly utilizing filmmaking techniques from live-action, practical animatronics, classic animation and game engines, and anchored in enthralling performances by Stewart and Yeun, Love Me culminates in the longest-spanning love story ever told.

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Kristen Stewart, Steven Yeun
Drama | Sci-Fi
R (for some sexuality/nudity)
USA (English)
91 minutes

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You’re Cordially Invited

Directed by: Nicholas Stoller
Studio: Amazon MGM Studios

When two weddings are accidentally booked on the same day at the same venue, each bridal party is challenged with preserving their family’s special moment while making the most of the unanticipated tight quarters. In a hilarious battle of determination and grit, the father of the bride (Will Ferrell) and sister of the other bride (Reese Witherspoon) chaotically go head-to-head as they stop at nothing to uphold an unforgettable celebration for their loved ones.

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Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Geraldine Viswanathan, Meredith Hagner, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Celia Weston, Bobby Moynihan, Wyatt Russell
Comedy
R (for language throughout and some sexual references)
USA (English)
109 minutes

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No Other Land

Directed by: Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, & Rachel Szor
Studio: mTuckman Media

For half a decade, Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, films his community of Masafer Yatta being destroyed by Israel’s occupation, as he builds an unlikely alliance with a journalist from the other side who joins his fight.

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Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal
Documentary | International
Not Rated
Occupied Palestinian Territory | Norway (Arabic, English, Hebrew)
92 minutes

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Valiant One

Directed by: Steve Barnett
Studio: Briarcliff Entertainment

In the heart-pounding military thriller VALIANT ONE, a routine mission goes awry when a US army helicopter crashes deep within North Korean territory. Now, a team of non-combat tech specialists, led by Captain Edward Brockman (Chase Stokes), must navigate the hostile terrain and fend off North Korean forces as they desperately race to escort a civilian tech specialist across the treacherous Demilitarized Zone.

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Chase Stokes, Lana Condor, Desmin Borges, Daniel Jun, Callan Mulvey
Thriller
R (for violence, and language throughout)
USA (English)
86 minutes

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Green and Gold

Directed by: Anders Lindwall
Studio: Fathom Events

Foreclosure looms over Wisconsin dairy farmer Buck (Craig T. Nelson). With mounting debt and the land his family has cultivated for four generations at risk, Buck refuses to give up his legacy without a fight. Buck’s granddaughter (Madison Lawlor) works alongside him but dreams of a career in music. Her aspirations are fanned by an emerging friendship with a famous musician (Brandon Sklenar), but chasing her dreams might take her far from the farm. With time running out, Buck places a daring Super Bowl bet on his beloved Green Bay Packers, risking it all to save everything he holds dear.

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Brandon Sklenar, Craig T. Nelson, M. Emmet Walsh, Madison Lawlor, Charlie Berens
Drama
Not Rated
USA (English)
103 minutes

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Screamboat

Directed by: Steven LaMorte
Studio: Iconic Events

A late-night boat ride in New York City becomes a struggle for survival when a seemingly harmless mouse transforms into a dangerous monster. Passengers must fight to stay alive.

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David Howard Thornton, Tyler Posey, Jared Johnston, Jesse Kove, Kailey Hyman
Comedy | Horror
Not Rated
USA (English)
90 minutes

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Dark Match

Directed by: Lowell Dean
Studio: Shudder

A small-time wrestling company accepts a well-paying gig in a backwoods town only to learn, too late, that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader with devious plans for their match.

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Ayisha Issa, Steven Ogg, Sara Canning, Chris Jericho
Action | Horror | International
Unrated
Canada (English)
94 minutes

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Like Father, Like Son

Directed by: Barry Jay
Studio: Lionsgate

Eli’s life begins to fall apart as his murderous father awaits his fate on death row. Discovering similar triggers in himself, he soon takes extreme measures to ensure that his family’s string of savagery comes to an end.

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Dylan Flashner, Dermot Mulroney, Benjamin Mackey, Prima Apollinaare
Thriller
R (for bloody violence, language throughout, drug use and some sexual content)
USA (English)
89 minutes

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Clone Cops

Directed by: Danny Dones
Studio: Freestyle Digital Media

In a future dumbed down by next-day-delivery, the conglomerate Nefaricorp dominates human existence through high tech, great deals, and free delivery. Their development of cloning technology has replaced workers around the globe with Replicants, including the police. These Clone Cops are manufactured in a lab and programmed to kill or die trying. When the leader of a gang of outlaws is shot during a struggle with a Clone Cop, the rest of the gang must decide whether to flee or to rally around their critically wounded their critically wounded boss and defend their besieged hideout using their unique skill sets.

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Ravi Patel, Quinnlan Ashe, Dean Shortland, Steve Byrne, Ted Welch
Action | Comedy | Sci-Fi
Not Rated
USA (English)
96 minutes

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Blades in the Darkness

Directed by: Alex Visani
Studio: Indican Pictures

Blades in the Darkness follows the story of four friends with diverging ambitions. Three are driven young entrepreneurs smuggling cash into Tirana, Albania, with plans to transform a forgotten war-era bunker on the outskirts of the city into a trendy new restaurant. The fourth, however, is a desperate man willing to do whatever it takes to settle a dangerous debt with a ruthless local mafia boss. As the group is hunted one by one, the sawmill’s chilling history begins to unravel, revealing a twisted tale of violence, vengeance, and madness. With no escape and nowhere to hide, the friends must confront their deepest fears and piece together the truth before they become the next victims.

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Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force

Directed by: Wuershan
Studio: Well Go USA Entertainment

Helmed by visionary director Wuershan, Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force continues the epic Fengshen Trilogy adapted from the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods. Jiang Ziya and Ji Fa, aided by the Kunlun immortals, lead Xiqi’s defense against the Shang Dynasty’s dark forces. As the battle for the Fengshen Bang intensifies, alliances shift, and secrets emerge in this stunning clash of mortals, gods, and monsters.

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Huang Bo, Yosh Yu, Nashi, Chen Muchi, Xuejian Li
Fantasy | International | War
Not Rated
China (Chinese, Mandarin)
145 minutes

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2121

Directed by: Serpil Altin
Studio: Indican Pictures

100 years from now when humans are forced underground by an ecological disaster and live in bunkers throughout the world. Newborns are prized, middle-aged people are good for labor and the elderly are harvested. When a woman has an unplanned pregnancy, her mother is now in jeopardy and she must figure out how to help her mother escape before the harvesters come to collect her organs….

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Sukeyna Kiliç, Aysenil Samlioglu, Selen Öztürk, Çagdas Onur Öztürk
Drama | International | Sci-Fi
Not Rated
Turkey (Turkish)
92 minutes

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The Night Time World

Directed by: Timothy Paul Taylor
Studio: Lionsgate

The themes of life, death and atonement whisper through each story as Nada gets pulled deeper down a rabbit hole with a mysterious woman who claims to be a vampire.

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Nina Donnelly, Andrew Adams, Doug Henderson, Selina Flanscha
Drama | Fantasy | Horror
R (for bloody violence, sexual content and language)
USA (English)
85 minutes

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Freelance

Directed by: John Balazs
Studio: Gravitas Ventures

Katie, a freelance video editor in desperate need of work, receives a high-paying offer to edit a cryptic and bizarre video from an anonymous employer. Strapped for cash and facing eviction, Katie eagerly accepts the gig. The video depicts people being tortured and even killed on camera — surely just elaborately staged fiction. But when the first job leads to even more lucrative work, and more disturbingly realistic snuff films, Katie’s life begins to crumble. Strange figures in her apartment, horrific nightmares keeping her awake, and a mysterious illness plaguing her cat. It’s only when Katie decides to finally quit the job that she learns just how cruel her anonymous employer really is, and to what bloody lengths she herself will go to get out of her contract.

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Nicole Pastor, Jordan Fraser-Trumble, Stephen Degenaro, Jasper Bagg
Horror | International | Thriller
Not Rated
Australia (English)
110 minutes

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Lake George

Directed by: Hamid Antonio Castro
Studio: AMC Theatres Distribution

Four years after a heist gone wrong, a released convict and a well-to-do father-to-be must come up with $100k in one night, or else a family member will be executed in prison.

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Cindy Kimberly, Katie Konn, Randy Konsey, Mike Markoff
Thriller
Not Rated
USA (English)
87 minutes

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Drained

Directed by: Peter Stylianou & Sean Cronin
Studio: Level 33 Entertainment

In the neon-soaked streets of London, Thomas, a jobless concept artist who lives with his mother, falls in love with Rhea, a mysterious woman who turns out to be a vampire. Their intense romance spirals into codependency, exploring the intoxicating nature of love and addiction. As Thomas willingly feeds Rhea, captivated by the pleasure of being needed, he risks losing himself in the process.

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Ruaridh Aldington, Madalina Bellariu Ion, Angela Dixon, Craig Conway, Andrew-Lee Potts, Natasha Patel, Andrew Lyle-Pinnock
Horror | International
Not Rated
UK (English)
107 minutes

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Marcello Mio

Directed by: Christophe Honoré
Studio: Strand Releasing

This is the story of a woman named Chiara. She is an actress, the daughter of Marcello Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve, who one summer when her own life is in turmoil, tells herself that should would prefer to live her father’s life. She dresses like him, speaks like him, breathes like him, with such force that those around her begin to believe it and start to call her “Marcello”.

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Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Fabrice Luchini, Nicole Garcia, Benjamin Biolay
Comedy | International
Not Rated
France | Italy (French, Italian, English)
120 minutes

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The Plains

Directed by: David Easteal
Studio: OVID

Every evening a man in his late 50s commutes home at the end of the working day in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. As the seasons pass in gentle rhythm we observe dramatic events of his life as well as mundane quotidian details, and learn more about the man, his inner conflicts and the relationships in his life — with his wife, his mother, deceased sister, and a younger co-worker whom he occasionally drives home. Within the microcosm of the car the film ultimately becomes a meditation on the passage of time, memory, work, and how love and the relationships in our life sustain us.

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Andrew Rakowski, David Easteal, Cheri LeCornu, Inga Rakowski
Drama } International
Not Rated
Australia (English)
180 minutes

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Grace Point

Directed by: Rory Karpf
Studio: Entertainment Squad

A young man on his way to a remote drug rehab, finds himself in a strange town being chased by the locals, as well as his own personal demons.

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Edward Barbanell, Sean Carrigan, Harlan Drum, John Owen Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, James Storm
Drama | Thriller
Not Rated
USA (English)
84 minutes

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Swept Away… By An Unusual Destiny in the Blue Sea of August
(1975 Re-Release)

Directed by: Lina Wertmüller
Studio: Cinema 5 Distributing

Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Mediterranean, Swept Away is Lina Wertmuller’s most famous and controversial film about sex, love and politics. On an elegant yacht cruising off the coast of Sardinia, Raffaella (Mariangela Melato), a rich and stunning capitalist, enjoys tormenting Gennarino (Giancarlo Giannini), a Communist sailor. Fate weaves a different scenario and roles become reversed when the two find themselves stranded together on a deserted island. Raffaella must submit to Gennarino in order to survive, which culminates in a dramatic climax when they are rescued. They must determine if their love can survive the harsh realities of civilization.

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Giancarlo Giannini, Mariangela Melato, Riccardo Salvino, Isa Danieli
Adventure | Comedy | Drama | International
R
Italy (Italian, French)
114 minutes

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Round the Decay

Directed by: Adam Newman
Studio: Dreamscape Productions

In the 17th century, Whelan Newport made the ultimate sacrifice as a pact with a tortured, ravenous spirit to rid the land of the last of its indigenous people and secure his family’s future in colonial New Hampshire. Newport’s Valley was settled on a cursed foundation. In present day, Kenzie Rhodes heads to Newport’s Valley two years after tragically losing her fiancé. Bart Blakewell is trying to settle in as a new business owner in The Valley but is having a hard time fitting in, even with support from the town’s polite leader, Gregory Newport. Roz Jackson is struggling to make ends meet and matters are made worse when Bart has to cut her hours at the Barn Owl Inn. A group of hikers ascends the town’s mountain, chancing upon an uncharted cave housing the ancient evil…. As a creature of nightmare wreaks havoc on Newport’s Valley, the group of lonely outcasts are forced to work together, their pasts colliding with their present. All is made stranger when the mysterious Munroe appears, summoned by a family that seeks to end the monster’s reign, and revealing there is more than one monster in The Valley.

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Victoria Mirrer, Damian Maffei, Sienna Hubert-Ross, Cary Hite, Alexis Safoyan
Horror
R (for bloody violent content and gore, language and some sexual content/nudity)
USA (English)
105 minutes

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Art and Life: The Story fo Jim Phillips

Directed by: John Makens
Studio: Monkey Wrench Films

A pioneer of graphic art, Jim Phillips, known for his bold and eye popping imagery, has left an unforgettable mark on the world of rock posters, surf, and skateboard art. Drawing inspiration from his life in Santa Cruz, California, Jim’s journey from publishing his first artwork in 1962 to becoming the art director for Santa Cruz Skateboards, shaped the golden era of skateboarding. Beneath the thriving success, however, lay the weight of high demands and built up tensions, leading to the closure of Phillips Studios. A resilient spirit, Jim bounces back by freelancing and reviving his rock poster art career, crafting cherished collectible posters for renowned musicians. This documentary explores Jim’s dynamic life and career, showcasing his iconic work that has not only defined an era but has also secured his place in modern art history. Reflecting on a life lived with dedication and joy, Jim’s story is a profound narrative of resilience, passion, and enduring artistic vision.

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Steve Alba, Jim Byberg, Bob Denike, Eric Dressen
Documentary
Not Rated
USA (English)
90 minutes

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Time Passages

Directed by: Kyle Henry
Studio: New Day Films

In the final months of his mother Elaine’s late-stage dementia, as a pandemic rages across the globe, filmmaker Kyle Henry time travels via his family archive and his own memories to heal past wounds. Theirs is a large Texan family, but as one of Elaine’s primary caregivers, the gay son shares a unique and complicated bond with his mother. Charting his mother’s early life and dashed desires through to years of motherhood and self-sacrifice, and tracing their relationship to its inevitable end, Time Passages playfully reckons with feelings of grief, conflict and loss of control. Beneath the Kodachrome smiles and grainy Super-8 home movies, Henry unearths difficult truths as an act of intergenerational healing that becomes a testament to love, legacy and those things that carry us through life’s most challenging times.

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Kyle Henry, Elaine Henry, Richard Henry, Lauren Salzman
Documentary
Not Rated
USA (English)
86 minutes

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Picnic At Hanging Rock
(1975 Re-Release)

Directed by: Peter Weir
Studio: Janus Films

In the early 1900s, Miranda (Anne Lambert) attends a girls boarding school in Australia. One Valentine’s Day, the school’s typically strict headmistress (Rachel Roberts) treats the girls to a picnic field trip to an unusual but scenic volcanic formation called Hanging Rock. Despite rules against it, Miranda and several other girls venture off. It’s not until the end of the day that the faculty realizes the girls and one of the teachers (Vivean Gray) have disappeared mysteriously.

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Rachel Roberts, Dominic Guard, Helen Morse, Vivean Gray, Jacki Weaver
Drama | International | Mystery
PG
Australia (English, French)
115 minutes

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The Martial Artist

Directed by: Shaz Khan
Studio: Odysseus Entertainment

When MMA rising star Ibby “The Prince” Bakran shines in a local fight, the world’s largest promotion company offers him a deal he can’t refuse. Now aligned with the sport’s top developing athletes, Ibby has a clear path to becoming great. Consumed with the limelight and all it has to offer, Ibby burns the candle at both ends and soon his fighting takes its own hit. As his star begins to fade, he points the finger at everyone but himself, becoming withdrawn and pulling away from his family who never wanted him to fight. Desperate to reconnect, his mother reveals the reason for her fear and the long-held truth about his father’s death. With nowhere else to turn, he travels to his homeland to find answers from his estranged grandfather. In the majestic mountains of Pakistan, Ibby works to find his what he’s lost; but first he must face his biggest opponent yet: himself.

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Faran Tahir, Gregory Sporleder, Liz Fenning, Don Scribner, Ashton Solecki
Drama
PG-13 (for violence, bloody images and strong language)
USA (English)
117 minutes

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Detective Chinatown 1900

Directed by: Sicheng Chen & Mo Dai
Studio: CMC Pictures

In 1900’s San Francisco, a white woman is murdered in Chinatown and the suspect is a Chinese man. The murder causes a social shock and the public calls for Chinatown to be outlawed. Chinese medicine practitioner QIN FU (LIU Haoran) and Chinese man Ah Gui (WANG Baoqiang) are involved in the case, and they race against time to find the murderer amidst a battle of wits and courage.

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Baoqiang Wang, Haoran Liu, Chow Yun-Fat, Steven Zhang, Anastasia Shestakova
Comedy | Drama | International | Mystery | Western
Not Rated
China (Mandarin, English, Navajo)
138 minutes

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Hit N Fun

Directed by: Albert Mak
Studio: Illume Films

Macau’s former Muay Thai champion Bruce Chung (Louis KOO) runs a boxing gym “Chung Lui Society” and is committed to his philosophy of never backing down from a challenge. After businesswoman Elsa Lam (Louise WONG) clashes with retired actress Carrie MOK (Gigi LEUNG) at a shoot, she discovers that her boyfriend Daniel Wu (CHAN Charm Man Peter) is cheating on her with Macau’s Muay Thai female champion Surewin (Chrissie CHAU). The ladies get dragged into a brawl that goes viral online and competitive Elsa challenges Surewin to a real fight, in the ring. Under the rigorous training of Bruce and devoted student Stallone (Tony WU Tsz Tung), Elsa realizes her motivation actually lies in her own personal growth. Inspired by Elsa, Bruce finally agrees to compete with his former protégé, Arnold CHAN (German CHEUNG), after their earlier falling out. Carrie’s newfound fame gives her an opportunity to make a comeback as an action-film star, forcing her to join in on the hellish training led by her husband Bruce. On the day of the match, everyone steps into the ring for an ultimate showdown….

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Charm Man Peter Chan, Henry Chan, Vivian Chan, Chrissie Chau, German Cheung
Comedy | International
Not Rated
Hong Kong (Cantonese)
108 minutes

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