MOVIE REVIEW: DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth, Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy.

Director: Shawn Levy

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Stefan Kapicic, Brianna Hildebrand, Leslie Uggams, Rob Delaney

Release Date: July 26, 2024

Genre: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi

Rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references.

Runtime: 2h 7m

Review:

Deadpool & Wolverine releases the floodgates on fan service, taking the meta approach to storytelling used in the previous entries to a nuclear extreme here.  It’s not shy about acknowledging the fact that the story is little more than an excuse to open up the sand box to let Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman run amok in the most gorily funny way possible.  The script is funny throughout with Reynolds doing his thing while Jackman is more than capable as the gruff straight guy.  By this point in time, Ryan Reynolds wears this character like a second skin, so his comedic energy is expected but Hugh Jackman manages to bring a tortured depth to this version of Wolverine.  Their onscreen energy carries the film even as the cameos, winks and nods start coming at a regular rate.  There are plenty of genuine surprises scattered throughout the film which serves a love letter/send off for the Fox era Marvel movies which Reynolds clearly has an affection for.  On the supporting end, Matthew Macfadyen and Emma Corrin get the largest amount of screen time with each leaving enough of impression that makes you wish the film had used them a bit more.  Macfadyen brings an outsized, manic energy to his character while Corrin is clearly having a ball playing the more calculating villainess who likes to get up close and personal.  The action sequences are over the top and gleefully bloody even though the Deadpool Wolverine fight lose some of their punch by the second or third time they roll around since neither can actually die.  It’s a strange balance for the film as it veers into full blown parody of the genre on multiple occasions but that doesn't keep Deadpool & Wolverine from being an entertaining jaunt even for the uninitiated. 

B

MOVIE REVIEW: AMERICAN FICTION

 

Monk is a frustrated novelist who's fed up with the establishment that profits from Black entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, he uses a pen name to write an outlandish Black book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.

Director: Cord Jefferson

Cast:  Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Adam Brody, Keith David

Release Date: September 8, 2023

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Rated R for language throughout, some drug use, sexual references and brief violence.

Runtime: 1h 57m

Cord Jefferson's big screen debut, American Fiction, is a wonderfully nuanced satire led by a multifaceted performance from Jeffrey Wright.  Jefferson, who also wrote the script, shows a steady, confident hand behind the camera as he delivers a film that's easy to enjoy even as it covers some expansive racial issues and themes.  He allows his actors to shine by giving them plenty of quieter character moments that gives the film and story an impressive level of depth.  His cast is more than up for the task led by Jeffrey Wright who's never been better.  Wright is the kind of actor that's always brings a certain kind of authentic intelligence and pathos to his roles which is tailor made for playing this role.  Wright adds so much nuance and layers playing an incredibly intelligent man who's seething with resentment over his talents being overlooked.  In the hands of a lesser performer, the character could have come off more one dimensional and one note, but Wright is able to make him a complicated, living breathing human being while still deftly handling the more comedic moments.  The supporting cast is no less impressive with each leaving a noticeable impression on the film with stand out performances from Erika Alexander with an endearing turn as the love interest and Sterling K. Brown playing against type as Monk's chaotic and equally complicated brother.  There is a natural chemistry together from the cast as a whole which makes the story and film as a whole connect on another level.  The pacing that hit a slight hiccup in its final act which is I suspect is intentional in order to reflect the complexity of the racial discussions at play which has no easy or straight forward answers much like the film's conclusion.  American Fiction proves to be the kind of film that works on multiple levels either as comedy, drama or dissection of social issues thanks to the collective talent assembled.

A-