Movie Review: Deadpool (2016)

So, Deadpool came, saw, and conquered the box office. Seriously, who thought it would open as big as it did? If you say you knew, I bet you are lying. No one could have seen this coming. A cultish comic book character with mature leanings in a hard R-rated movie in the middle of February, there is no way it is going to connect with a widespread audience. Now, I am not trying to talk down about the movie or its audience, it is just an unlikely choice for a huge opening. Perhaps as unlikely as a NWA biopic. Oh, wait. That turned out pretty well, perhaps movies like this are a sign of an impending shift. I would not be against this.

Movie Review: Self/Less

Here is a movie that does not appear to be going anywhere at the box office. Despite having a decent hook and cast, the advertising has been non-existent, and despite a top ten opening weekend, it seems likely that it will fade into obscurity with relative ease and quickness. Now, is Self/Less deserving of that fate? Not really, at least not that quickly. The movie is moderately entertaining, moves at a good pace and is just a decent time at the theater. It does not really have legs for any long term success, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining.

Casting News: Ryan Reynolds returns to Deadpool

So, that Deadpool movie is going to star Ryan Reynolds after all. I cannot say I am disappointed by this. In fact, I like the casting. I just hope they ditch the history made with the character's appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. That was just a travesty. I mean, for a character know for a very distinctive costume and his chattiness, they cast the right guy, but then they sew his mouth shut and never use that great costume. I can only hope they learned from that debacle.

Critical Capsule Two-fer: RED 2 meets R.I.P.D.

A few years ago an adaptation of the DC Comics title RED (standing for Retired Extremely Dangerous) arrived in theaters. It boasted a strong cast that included Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Mary Louise-Parker, as Karl Urban (as well as a cameo by the late Ernest Borgnine). It was well received and proved to be really entertaining, much more so than I was expecting it to be, anyway. Now, we are faced with a pair of films that feel somewhat connected, fighting each other with the same opening weekend.