With The End of Oak Street, Can New Beginnings Take Place?

For this movie that’s more about family drama, the only thing one can find at The End of Oak Street is how a random event can change things for the better for an aspiring author, who is the heroine of this tale.

The End of Oak Street Movie PosterI have to ask: do audiences really want to watch another dinosaur movie? Most likely, yes, as long as the plot brings something new to the concept. That’s where The End of Oak Street teeters on failure. This is one of those movies that needs a back-end explanation instead of playing out as another too-predictable tale. The trailers give too much away: a stretch of neighbourhood has been teleported away, and the folks caught in the zone have to either become the next Stone Age family or find a way back.

As for how much of Flowervale was sent back, all we know is that a significant chunk is probably Disneyland-sized. The wide shot says it all, and instead of a tight-knit group, we have pockets of confused humans wondering why dinosaurs are lurking in their backyards! As for a plot, all we know is that the Platt family is in dire straits, and they are kind to some neighbours but not others. Denise (Anne Hathaway) and Greg’s (Ewan McGregor) marriage is falling apart, and the kids, after overhearing the problem, are desperate to see their parents work things out.

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Top 10 Nerdy Picks of Vancouver Fringe Festival 2026

From an improvised musical inspired by local headlines to supernatural grief stories, smart-home thrillers and a black cat’s final CAT Talk, these are 10 Vancouver Fringe Festival shows worth finding between September 10 and 20, 2026.

Vancouver Fringe Festival Generic
Runs Sept 10 to 20, 2026 at various venues around Granville Island and beyond.

After the Victoria Fringe Festival, I’m debating if I want more compact shows to see. As for my favourite performers, usually there is a lot of overlap. With only Solovela: An Improvised Solo Telenovela being the only overlap between events, I can either stay home or do a day trip over for a show or two before heading home. But with Fringe, that is never a good idea. Vancouver Fringe Festival has a lot to offer

And as I build my list for this year’s neard’s gjuide, here are my top picks for locals and tourists who happen to be in Terminal City from September 10 to 20, 2026.

Canon Fire:
The Improvised Musical
Arts Umbrella (Theatre)

Why travel abroad when Vancouver already has a Broadway AND a West End? Watch six improvisors and two musicians create a brand-new musical right before your eyes with no script, no pre-written music, and no safety net, solely inspired by audience suggestions and the stories you may have missed from your very own hometown newspaper. From local jaywalking scandals to bizarre community board disputes, no local story is too small to be given the grand, show-stopping musical treatment.

Canon Fire

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Expectations. Believe it or Not. Superhero Percussion: All the Hits! at Victoria Fringe Festival 2026

Sticks and Stone turn rock favourites into lively marimba arrangements in a warm, playful Fringe set, though its superhero percussion concept could use a few more familiar themes.

Superhero Percussion: All the Hits!Some acts need to be seen live, and when Sticks and Stone is billed as talented percussionists with a purpose, I had to check them out. They have been performing since 2017, and I had certain expectations when I saw Superhero Percussion: All the Hits! was coming to the Victoria Fringe Festival and they are playing at the CCPA Performance Hall. This group has a solid reputation for drawing crowds, but showrunner Stephen Stone was hoping some children would attend the 8 p.m. show. Unless you are a parent, there is a reason no one under eight was there.

The long weekend also offered plenty of reasons for people to be outdoors. Turning a busking spirit into a seated Fringe experience takes an ability to read the room and adapt on the spot, and the trio did a great job at adjusting. Had it been dialed up another notch, I’d say we would’ve been treated to a true tribute.

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Always A Tender Moment: Genki Bear, Baachan and the Matriachs Who Shape Us

Kizuna Theatre’s Genki Bear: Memoirs of a Granddaughter uses puppetry, Japanese Canadian memories and Studio Ghibli nods to honour the grandmothers who help shape us.

Genki Bear- Memoirs of a GranddaughterIf I had to describe Kizuna Theatre’s production of Genki Bear: Memoirs of a Granddaughter with one song, I’d choose Queen’s “These Are the Days of Our Lives.” It captures the show perfectly. This is a tender production about nostalgia, ageing and cherishing what has been, rather than crying into a tissue over the loss of someone who watched their granddaughter grow up.

For Misty Cozac, the material feels autobiographical. Yet, through videos of other Japanese Canadians explaining why they loved their baachan, or grandmother, the production becomes a broader reflection on the matriarchs who help shape every individual’s wellbeing. I have fond memories of my own po-po and ma-ma, and the show brought them back without forcing me to hide my tears.

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To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before: The Ice Keeps… But How Well?

The Ice Keeps reframes Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition with an all-female cast and a stronger focus on empathy and community. Its performances hold firm, but the survival drama still needs fuller scenic design to make the frozen environment come alive.

The Ice KeepsAlthough Josh Gates told the story better on Tales from the Explorers Club, the sheer melodrama and hell the crew of the Endurance faced while attempting the first land crossing of Antarctica are something to behold when retold on stage. Melissa Taylor’s adaptation, The Ice Keeps, offers a different take that generally works.

What’s presented during the Victoria Fringe Festival is clearly more of a work in progress than a finished show. Another producer and more funding could elevate the visual elements and make this interim version feel fuller. Taylor mentioned future plans, so her take may yet be explored further. I’ll gladly return to see the updated version, should it set sail, because I want to experience a full-on recreation of the environment rather than the drama alone.

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With The 8 Immortals Present, All Wishes Come True, Whether They’re Ready or Not for the Punchline

Although the tales of the 8 Immortals are part of the narrative in works like “The Journey to the East” and “Yellow-Millet Dream,” to give them their own animated special in All Wishes Come True gives newcomers a glimpse at what they’re capable of, and it’s a great adventure to boot too!

All Wishes Come True Movie PosterSpoiler Alert

I find Cineplex Movies‘ lack of faith disturbing. When All Wishes Come True! (八仙; lit. translation: The 8 Immortals) isn’t getting an even distribution across North America, and the chain may not be confident it can draw regular crowds in Canada. I can’t say I blame them. Nor can I speak to how the film is performing in other parts of the world. Usually, unless a Chinese production has a big name like Jackie Chan that audiences recognize, crowds aren’t guaranteed to flock to it. For writer/director Zhengyang Mu, a relative unknown, perhaps the film needs new posters that read, “From the studio that brought you Kung Fu Panda 3 and Abominable…”

That might help folks who are unsure about the film decide to see it. A few moments echo Pearl Studio‘s previous work and DreamWorks‘ design philosophy, making this movie an easier sell. The humour is evident, and everyone understands the Ocean’s Eleven reference. Who doesn’t want to see that? There’s also the promise of an animated action-adventure about the Eight Immortals, technically soon-to-be immortals, who must prove their worth as new heroes while the current ruling dynasty sorts itself out. This introduction establishes how they rose through the ranks and challenged the norm.

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