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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All Rise! Coyote vs. Acme is Now In Hilarious Session, Kangeroos Notwithstanding

In court, just what happens is crazy, and the film, Coyote vs. Acme turns wily when endless failures turn into a comedy about persistence, corporate responsibility and why the chase with Road Runner will never end.

Coyote vs. Acme PosterKetchup Entertainment
Spoiler Alert

As any fan of Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes knows, Wile E. Coyote will never catch the Road Runner. Part of the charm of these animated shorts is the lengths this hungry individual will go to. While he handles every failure with persistence, we simply laugh. No early bird can catch the worm here. Instead, Coyote vs. Acme acknowledges why this member of the canine family is so persistent (he’s hungry) and explores what their relationship really means in the wild deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, where the merry chase often unfolds.

When the terrain is dry and empty, Canis latrans is simply trying to survive in the wild, while Geococcyx californianus runs because it’s natural for him. This bird operates on instinct and has enough street smarts to survive this long. While this odd blue-feathered creature seems naive and unaware of the danger he faces each day, the ravenous predator just wants to savour the meat and do what all wild canids do.

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Sister Sophia Kicks the Habit While Keepin’ the Faith

Even Billy Joel sang about it and although his version focuses on memories, Sister Sophia Kicks the Habit shares some similar DNA

Sister Sophia Kicks The HabitLisa Randall, Writer and Performer
Kate Johnston, Director-Dramaturg
The Universe Over 60 | Toronto, ON

Lisa Randall has enough experience with music and theatre to know when a groaner deserves its moment. When I heard, “How do you make holy water?” followed by the punchline, “You boil the hell out of it!” I laughed out loud. And once she gets into character for her one-woman act, Sister Sophia Kicks the Habit, Randall offers plenty to think about. Whether you’re there to confess your sins or simply wonder why she wants to change, the message is clear. This show packs a lot of meaning into its 55-minute runtime and also makes you wonder whether God ever listens.

Randall trained as an actor at Vancouver’s Studio 58 and has performed in children’s theatre, play-development workshops and modern dance. She was also a singer and lyricist with Against the Grain and Freedom Rains, recording two albums. That range serves her well in this one-woman production, which mixes physical comedy, audience interaction and ragtime-era music with gospel and other styles.

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Diary of a Madman Unleashes Pure Rebellion at Victoria Fringe Festival 2026!

Clayton Jevne gives a mesmerizing performance in Diary of a Madman, but this minimalist adaptation expects audiences to know Gogol’s original story.

Diary of a Madman
Playing at the Victoria Fringe Festival 2026. Buy your tickets here.

Produced by Clayton Jevne

Despite the wild grey hair and unhinged grin, the promotional posters for Diary of a Madman at the Victoria Fringe Festival aren’t about Rasputin. Had the show been about him, I’d be deeply invested since this guy was more than an occultist. He was a seer. Well, that’s just my interpretation. Clayton Jevne plays Aksenty Ivanovich Poprishchin, the low-ranking clerk who tries to win Sophie’s favour and impress others above his station. But this lengthy one-man monologue requires some knowledge of Nikolai Gogol’s short story of the same name to fully appreciate the show.

Essentially, we’re watching this man go completely and utterly “mad.” What stands out is how quickly he becomes alienated from society, while nobody believes anything he says.

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Reclaimed! The Woodsical Finds Plenty of Good in Old Wood

At @IntrepidTheatre Reclaimed! The Woodsical turns familiar rock songs into a campy #environmental #comedy about #recycling and #sustainability and waking up to smell the #wood. #fringe #yyjfringe #review

Reclaimed! The Woodsical Produced by
Peter Worden & Hailey Christie-Hoyle

I’m hardly stumped by the purpose of Reclaimed! The Woodsical. This show mixes rock parody, environmental comedy and cartoonish hijinks into a meaningful show that suggests we must do more to save our environment. It’s happening, but and what’s presented suggests we can do more than hug a tree. My big question is simple: will it remain limited to the Victoria Fringe Festival, or will they take this act on the road?

Peter Worden, the playwright and mastermind behind this work, told me everyone involved wants to take it further. Until a few more things fall into place, those plans remain uncertain. I’ll soon publish a quick interview with him that goes behind the scenes.

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It’s a Celebration! Tymisha Harris’s Cabaret of Legends Wants to Party at Victoria Fringe

Tymisha Harris brings generations of musical history to life in Cabaret of Legends, a five-star Victoria Fringe performance celebrating influential Black women, their activism and their songs.

A Cabaret of LegendsTymisha Harris and Michael Marinaccio
Dynamite Lunchbox Entertainment | Orlando, FL

Tymisha Harris should be a legend in her own right. This year, she’s pulling out all the stops with Cabaret of Legends, a celebration of the Black women who helped shape the music industry. In the past, not only has she led many award-winning performances, including her fabulous tribute to Josephine Baker, but she must also be a D&D nerd. Fringin & Flagons is a show I have to see. I may have missed hearing about it the last time she was in town, but now that I know, awareness is half the battle.

The talents Harris celebrates refused to be confined to juke joints and church choirs. They were no one-hit wonders. They were trendsetters. It must have been tough to decide which songs to sing, but Harris manages to name-drop them all. It made me glad I took a History of Blues Music class years ago. From Bessie Smith to Etta James, these pioneers paved the way, with Koko Taylor being a personal favourite of mine. Let’s not forget Aretha Franklin or Dolly Parton, either. If the show had been longer, I’m sure Harris would have loved to sing them all.

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