*“Deadpool 2” (DP2) is dead-on and puts to rest any notion that a sequel can’t live up to its predecessor. In fact, “DP2” is more hilarious than “Deadpool.”
The follow-up film does not rely on the increased violence and vulgarity to rev up its engine. Pop culture references, irreverence, cynicism, metaphors, and sharp writing fuel this bombastic blast of fun.
Poised to knock “Avengers: Infinity War” off its #1 box office perch, “DP2” has Deadpool aka Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) putting together his X-Force of motley crew Meta humans to go up against Cable (Josh Broslin), a time traveler. Cable is dead set on putting out Russell’s (Julian Dennison) fires for good. But Deadpool is determined to protect the fire-starter mutant kid. With all that being said, I know Reynold’s heart is in the right place, but that ending commentary about “a little bit of racism” is not acceptable–and take it from any black person with the foot those racists on our necks for over 400 years is not joke!
Directed by David Leitch, Morena Baccarin, Zazie Beetz, T.J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, Terry Crews, Karan Soni, Leslie Uggams, Eddie Marsan, Jack Kesy, Bill Skarsgård, Lewis Tan, and Rob Delaney also star.
‘Book Club’
The “Book Club” is a complete bore. For starters, it’s completely absurd to make a film based on a ridiculous, mindless movie with two characters lacking in charisma. It’s surprising that film, “Fifty Shades of Grey,” had women in a tizzy although S&M is as old as the pyramids. The four women in this book club that have been meeting once a month for years to talk about books and drink wine start reading “Fifty Shade of Grey.” The book whets their appetites for getting back into the game and their lives change with predicted results.
Diane (Diane Keaton) is the recently widowed after 40 years of marriage. Vivian (Jane Fonda) doesn’t like attachments. Sharon (Candice Bergen) is still working through a decades-old divorce, and Carol’s (Mary Steenburgen) marriage is in a slump after 35 years. With all due respect to the “Book Club” cast and fine performances, the lackluster writing does not reflect the gamut of successful, mainstream women.
The subject matter has great potential. It is so sad that this comedy about seniors doesn’t explore the spectrum of vibrant, exciting septuagenarians. The film would have been much more engaging if the filmmakers took a leap of faith with a Morgan Freeman, or a real life book club member prototype such as Oprah Winfrey. Or maybe a Dorian Harewood, Debbie Allen, Danny Glover, Lynne Whitfield, Delroy Lindo—the possibilities are endless.
Directed by Bill Holderman, Craig T. Nelson, Alicia Silverstone, Andy Garcia, Don Johnson, Ed Begley Jr., and Richard Dreyfuss also star.
Facebook.com/TheFilmStripTM Twitter: @thefilmstrip Instagram.com/thefilmstriptm
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
