New on DVD Sept. 1: 'Irresistible' too snarky for satire
"Irresistible": After the devastating loss of the 2016 presidential election, Democratic consultant Gary Zimmer (Steve Carell) aims to bounce back by latching onto a small-town Wisconsin man, Jack Hastings (Chris Cooper). Caught on camera giving an eloquent speech about overcoming differences, Hastings goes viral, and, presuming the town to be Trump country, Zimmer thinks it's just what the party needs to recalibrate and encourages Hastings to run for mayor. As the race attracts national interest, Republican consultant Faith Brewster (Rose Byrne) rolls into town to support the incumbent (Brent Sexton).
Written and directed by Stewart, the film is far too snarky to be considered satire. While Wisconsin may be a target on late-night shows for certain Midwest stereotypes — this writer grew up near Milwaukee, and yes, the state sure does have nice folks and great beer and cheese — the premise just misses the mark. Gary constantly belittles Hastings and his campaign for assuming small-town conservatism without anyone demonstrating it; then when the town pulls one over on him, it's played as a big reveal, that we should be surprised these people had the know-how to do so.
With the film not shot in Wisconsin and not featuring one single hearty Wisconsin accent, Gary's disregard for the Midwest is a fair analogy for how the film treats the region, too. Throw in the odd coupling of Gary and Hastings' daughter, Diana (the always great Mackenzie Davis), as well as the odder relationship between Gary and Faith, and this is a tale that is absolutely resistible.
Also new on DVD Sept. 1
"Blood Quantum": A fisherman (Stonehorse Lone Goeman) and his sheriff son (Michael Greyeyes) discover that a deadly virus has inspired a zombie invasion that threatens their Canadian First Nations reserve. In English and Micmac.
"Cut Off": A woman (Jasna Fritzi Bauer) must find hidden clues in a cadaver in order to save her missing daughter. In German.
"Magnum P.I.: Season Two": The reboot of the 1980-88 series stars Jay Hernandez as the infamous ex-Navy SEAL turned sleuth.
"Rogue": A hired gun (Megan Fox) sets off with a team to Africa on a rescue mission.
"Young Sheldon: The Complete Third Season": The hit CBS series follows "The Big Bang Theory"'s Sheldon (Ian Armitage) as a child genius who struggles in social situations.
"Z": A boy's imaginary friend wreaks havoc.
On digital HD Sept. 1
"Baba Yaga: Terror of the Dark Forest": A boy (Oleg Chugunov) has suspicions about his new babysitter (Svetlana Ustinova), who disappears with his newborn sister. In Russian.
"Bill & Ted Face the Music": A sequel to 1991's "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey," the film follows the pair of friends as a time traveler reveals their music can save humanity. Stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter.
"Children of the Sea": A girl feels a supernatural connection to two boys who mysteriously arrive at the aquarium where her father works in this animated film. Stars vocal talents of Mana Ashida, Hiiro Ishibashi and Seishu Uragami. In Japanese.
"Followed": Staying at a haunted hotel, an influencer (Matthew Solomon) and his crew face an evil spirit.
"Immortal": Horror anthology film follows four stories of people narrowly avoiding death.
"A Night of Horror: Nightmare Radio": A radio host (James Wright) receives disturbing calls from a child.
"The Shadow of Violence": A man (Cosmo Jarvis) struggles with his role for a drug-dealing family while attempting to be a good role model for his autistic son.
"Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump": Documentary psychologically analyzes the president.
"The Wind Rises": Hayao Miyazaki's 2013 animated film follows the early life of Japanese aerospace engineer Jiro Horikoshi. Look for it on DVD and Blu-ray Sept. 22.
On digital HD Sept. 4
"The Andorra Hustle": Documentary follows 2015 bank robbery.
"Lost Girls & Love Hotels": An English teacher (Alexandra Daddario) falls for a Japanese mobster (Takehiro Hira). In English and Japanese.
"Mulan": A young woman (Liu Yifei) passes as a man to save her ill father from having to serve in the Imperial Army as invaders make their way to northern China.
"Still Here": A journalist (Johnny Whitworth) crosses professional boundaries as he searches for a missing girl he was assigned to write about.