Displaying items by tag: Ryan Reynolds

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

US, 2024, 128 minutes, Colour.

Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew McFadyen, Jon Favreau, Marina Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Jennifer Garner, Wesley Snipes, Channing Tatum, Chris Evans, Henry Cavill, Tyler Mane, Blake Lively, Nathan Fillion, Matthew McConnaughey.

Directed by Shawn Levy.

 Probably best to say at the outset, Deadpool & Wolverine is beyond review. Within two weeks of its opening around the world, its box office is almost $1 billion. Which means that worldwide, it has been instantly seen by millions. With much more to follow.

It does raise an interesting 2024 question concerning the two films which have been most successful, Inside Out 2 and Deadpool and Wolverine. What they have in common is the animation/cartoon style. And they appeal to a wide audience. However, Inside Out 2 is appealing to deeper human feelings, to sensitivity and empathy. Deadpool & Wolverine is appealing to an emotional bonanza, excitement extravaganza, no holds barred, limitless imagination, potential cosmic destruction, violent visual conflict between good and evil, and superheroes to the rescue. And, not exactly modestly, Deadpool considers himself as a world saviour, a ‘Marvel Jesus’, booking his place in future Christ-figure studies.

There were a lot of writers for this film, including Ryan Reynolds, and it is full of disposable, throwaway quips, some of them very funny, references to the ups and downs of the Marvel film franchise, Disney, a collapsed Fox logo, to Hugh Jackman and his divorce, but there for the attentive satirical ear.

And the film presupposes favourable response to Deadpool in the Ryan Reynolds style (and a later Reynolds variation appears, over nice with the pet dog, Dogpool). Wade Wilson with his mixed history and burnt face, is eager to be in Avengers story, but put on hold. However, as always with American films, there is a bureaucratic British villain, Matthew McFadyen (now widely-known because of his presence in Succession). There is a bureau for saving timelines, there is a threat to the universe, Deadpool is there to combat but the only person he wants to work with is Wolverine. (And a bevy of jokes about a range of alternate Wolverines, visualised comically, all Hugh Jackman-aggressive). Probably this is the moment in a review to mention what one might call hyper-frequent coarse language.

There are also constant references to the previous Deadpool films as well as to the many X-Men films which fans will enjoy (and quite some entertaining references during the final credits). A surprise for the early viewers of the film but now everybody knows, a lot of cameos from previous superheroes like Wesley Snipes as Blade, Jennifer Garner as Electra, and especially Chris Evans as Captain America and a French-accented Channing Tatum. Even Ryan Reynolds’ wife, Blake Lively, appears as Lady Deadpool!

While it is acknowledged with specific reference to Furiosa, a large part of the early film is an extravagant variation on the Mad Max movies. Then we discover a new villain, Cassandra (Emma Corrin), a bald half sister of Patrick Stewart’s Charles (though he and, up till now, we, never knew about her). And she has super destructive powers. Which leads to quite a lot of mayhem, extravagantly high body count, the confrontation with a legion of Deadpool variations and their slaughter – but the power of regeneration and the possibility of it all over again.

So, it looks as though this is the entertainment to cheer worldwide audiences in the Groupe of so many war tensions, civil wars and invasions, terrorism of 2024. As they say, the audiences have been lapping it up – but, those with more restrained sensibilities, might find it more than they can gulp or swallow.

IF

US, 2024, 104 minutes, Colour.

Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, voices of: Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr, Alan Kim, Emily Blunt, Awkwafina, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Matt Damon, Bill Hader, Richard Jenkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Blake Lively, Sebastian Maniscalco, Christopher Meloni, Matthew Rhys, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Amy Shumer, Jon Stewart, Brad Pitt.

Directed by John Krasinski.

If has been written and directed by John Krasinski, director of the app a Quiet Place films, and best known on television for The Office as well as being Jack I am. In checking on his background, we find that he has two daughters with his wife, Emily Blunt. And we get the impression that he might have created this story and this film for his daughters.

Certainly, the film has a great appeal for young girls – and their parents. It is a very pleasant film in itself, a pleasing film for its audience, an entertaining fantasy. What If…?

There is happiness and sadness as the film begins, the little Elizabeth, always called Bea, has a loving mother and father. But, we see her mother is ill and sadness in store for Bea.

Some years pass quickly. Bea (an impressively convincing performance from young Cailey Fleming) is now 12, rather sombre, asserting that she is an adult not a child. Her father, always a cheerful and jokey character (John Krasinski) is sick in hospital and Bea is staying with her grandmother (an enthusiastic Fiona Shaw).

But, there is something strange going on in the attic. And, here the fantasy begins. And a reminder that IF is short for Imaginary Friends. And the important question, where do Imaginary Friends go after we have forgotten them. So, we begin to find out, Bea mellowing a little, especially in the company of the rather quizzical Cal (Ryan Reynolds). And, to our delight, there is quite a range of fantasy characters, each very idiosyncratic. And it is very hard to go past delight in the giant roly-poly Blue, getting into all kinds of scrapes, eager, funny comments – and all with a welcome voice of Steve Carell. There is also a kind of pixie-insect, and dancer, Blossom (an enjoyably Phoebe Waller-Bridge).

Krasinski must have a lot of friends in the industry when we look at the huge list of voices of the various IFs – not that we recognise most of them while we are enjoying the film but a heavy satisfaction of having so many talented voices in the list (and the enjoyable credit which those charging out of the cinema as soon as credits appear will miss, the introducing of Brad Pitt as Keith the IF who did not speak – Keith is actually invisible provides a happy pratfall joke right at the end.)

And everyone joins together in a kind of mission, seeking out the adults who have forgotten their IF and all kinds of funny and serious attempts to rekindle their party childhood feelings.

Lots of sentiment, lots of fun, enjoyable for children, and even the possibility for melting the hearts of any sceptics – or critics!

1. The What if…? Of the title? The IFs, imaginary friends?
2. The target audience, younger audience, girls in the audience, families, parents and the older generation? Something for everyone?
3. The plot and its fantasy, audiences surrendering to the fantasy world, the fantasy world interacting with the real world?
4. John Krasinski as writer and director, sensitivity towards children?
5. The star cast, the voice cast and the celebrities, the joke about Brad Pitt?
6. The setting, Elizabeth, her age, called Bea, the relationship with her mother, with her choking father, the sadness, her mother’s death, the impact?
7. The years later, her father in hospital, staying with her grandmother, not wanting to be considered as a child, rather severe in her manner? Her visits to her father, his continually joking, her stern reactions, a relationship with her grandmother, in the house, the meals?
8. The noise in the Attic, her going up, the discoveries? Are gradually seeing the Ifs? Her initial reactions, interactions with them, softening her attitudes, joining with them in their mission, to reconnect older people who have forgotten their imaginary friends?
9. The range of the Ifs? Ryan Reynolds as Cal, his management role, interactions with the others, supervision, corrections? His own personality, sometimes stern, sometimes humorous? A guide for Bea? Steve Carell as Blue, an attractive character, his comments, his behaviour, getting into strife? The contrast with Blossom, appearance, voice, businesslike, background as a dancer, Phoebe Waller-Bridge? The range of the other characters, visually, the voice cast, their activities?
10. Cal taking Bea to Coney Island, the headquarters, meeting Lewis, Louis Gossett Jr, benign, advice, walking with Bea, his wistfulness, about the adults losing memories of their imaginary friends?
11. Episodes with the little boy in the hospital, his injuries, shrewd, talking with Bea, friendship, trying to get him an imaginary friend, the initial failure – and success at the end?
12. Her father, the flowers, the jokes, his concern and love, the operation, the aftermath, the friendly staff and nurse? Recovery?
13. Her grandmother, the photos, memories of the past, her grandmother thinking to be a dancer when she was young, the musical themes from Spartacus, her dancing, in touch with her past?
14. Blue, tracking down the awkward businessman, seeing his awkwardness, making the contact, disturbing him, the connection and the glow, going confidently into his work?
15. The characters and their discovery of their memories?
16. The effect on Bea, and his concern, the connection, and the discovery that he was her imaginary friend?
17. Memories of childhood, sadness of forgetfulness, joy of remembering?