Friday, September 13, 2024

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

 
 
Movie Name/Year: Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Superhero, Sci-Fi
Length: 2h 8min
Rating: R
Director: Shawn Levy
Writers: Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, Shawn Levy, Rob Liefeld, Fabian Nicieza
Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Dafne Keen, Jon Favreau, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Jennifer Garner, Wesley Snipes, Channing Tatum, Chris Evans, Henry Cavill, Wunmi Mosaku, Aaron Stanford, Tyler Mane, Karan Soni, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna, Stefan Kapicic, Randal Reeder, Lewis Tan, Nicholas Pauley, Aaron W Reed, Ray Park, Blake Lively, Inez Reynolds, Nathan Fillion, Matthew McConaughey, Olin Reynolds, Paul Mullin, Peggy the Dog, Alex Kyshkovych
 
IMDb Blurb: Deadpool is offered a place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by the Time Variance Authority, but instead recruits a variant of Wolverine to save his universe from extinction.
 
 
Cat’s Point of View:
I have been craving another cinematic Deadpool fix ever since the credits rolled on Deadpool 2 (2018). The next movie just couldn't get here fast enough. Then out of the blue, Ryan Reynolds (Free Guy, Red Notice, The Adam Project) released the teaser ad where he nonchalantly asked Hugh Jackman (Real Steel, Rise of the Guardians, The Greatest Showman) if he would come back to play Wolverine one more time and I've been fairly bouncing in my seat with anticipation ever since. Marvel could churn out an endless number of Deadpool movies and I wouldn't care if they were just cash-grabs; as long as Reynolds was involved with the creative direction and continuing taking on the role of the titular snarky, quick-witted, irreverent character.
 
Then there's Wolverine. He's one of my top 3 favorite X-Men of all time. He shares the top spots for my fangirling with Rogue and Gambit. I've been a fan of Wolvie longer, though. I have core memories of getting into my dad's comic stash when I was little (we're talking 1st or 2nd grade here) and they were primarily X-Men issues. I think I actually cried when I saw an issue where Wolverine was in a hospital bed for some reason. (Don't ask me what issue or the rest of the plot as to WHY, but I think that Storm and Lady Deathstrike were also in that issue? I haven't tried to look that one up in forever and that was over 30 years ago so...) I digress.
 
 
In any case, when you get the team-up of the century, it warrants a cinematic experience. We went to the theater for Deadpool & Wolverine as a family, as part of my daughter's 21st birthday celebrations. We all loved it. Give us more. Of course, it was also mid-August at this point and I had already been spoiled on the majority of the “secret” cameos, too but I didn't care.
 
Speaking of which, we here at Trust the Dice do our best to offer you spoiler-free reviews. There are some occasions where spoilers are very hard to avoid, however. Deadpool & Wolverine hit screens on July 26th and we were in theater seats on August 14th, and I had been thoroughly spoiled on quite a bit without even trying. In fact, I had done almost my best to avoid any and all spoilers because I wanted to be surprised regarding the cameos, etc. Unfortunately, even with dodging social media posts and avoiding TikTok and the like, I still ran into them. I said “almost” because I was eagerly partaking of the media whirlwind that Jackman and Reynolds went on to promote the movie. I watched so many interviews and their promo-spots appearing on things like Hot Ones (2015-) because that duo is just heartwarmingly hilarious with their playful rivalry and friendship. At one point, the spoiling became inevitable because “it had been out [in theaters] long enough.”
 
 
That being said, I'm going to offer a summary of my experience here, spoiler free before I delve into the spoilers, so you can skip the spoily section if you have managed thus far to avoid them (and if you have, bless you, your patience, and I'm jealous of your luck).
 
The action was vicious, bloody, and glorious – as expected for this R-rated superhero mashup. The characters of Deadpool and Wolverine both are very violent and by nature pull no punches, verbally or otherwise. This was the time that everything came together to set both of them off of the leash that the earlier X-Men movies had required for rating purposes.
 
I loved the story, as well. It was fun to see this dynamic duo explore the multiverse courtesy the Time Variance Authority, or TVA. If you aren't a fan of spoilers, though, and haven't watched the Loki (2021-2023) series yet, you'll want to do that before you delve into Deadpool & Wolverine. Some of the elements of this story will definitely spoil some of that series if you haven't already watched it. Further, it's not a must to have seen it to understand Deadpool & Wolverine, but it helps explain some of the fine nuances in the film that there wasn't explanatory exposition about. It generally helps to be up-to-date with MCU stuff because they do love to weave in little nuggets that underscore how everything is connected between all the various individual superheroes and stories. It's not mandatory in order to enjoy this movie, however. Further, you'll also want to be caught up-to-date on the Deadpool movies in general, as there are events touched on in Deadpool & Wolverine that call back to events from Deadpool 2.
 
 
Deadpool & Wolverine was also very respectful to the narrative that had come before for the cinematic version of Wolverine – particularly in regards to the events in Logan (2017). Hell, this movie was just flat-out respectful to the character of Wolverine in general. Can we talk about the classic yellow & blue suit? Verbal jabs from the banter in the early X-Men movies aside, I've been hoping they would eventually bring that out of the proverbial mothballs. It was worth the wait.
 
I was also intrigued by Deadpool & Wolverine's villain, Casasndra Nova, played by Emma Corrin (The Crown, A Murder at the End of the World, Good Grief). The way she used her powers occasionally just made me want to squirm in my seat from 'the ick.' It was a powerful performance... not to pun.
 
 
Also, as usual, this latest Deadpool movie remains true to the character's prolific use of 4th-wall breaking. It wouldn't be Deadpool if it didn't happen, to be honest. Between all of the squee-inducing moments of cameo-induced bliss (and they're some heavy duty cameos, let me tell you) and the multiverse laden plot, Deadpool & Wolverine is a wild, raunchy, and action-packed ride. I'd say most audiences would agree, considering the high ratings across multiple sites that track such things and the over 1.2 billion dollar box office (as of September 1st, 2024).
 
The magical duo of Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, Free Guy, Stranger Things) and Ryan Reynolds has resulted in some of my favorite movies out of the last few years. I want...no, need more.
 
With all that out of the way – here comes the spoiler section.
 
If you don't want to see them, scroll real fast down to the bottom.
 
 
Here we go.
 
The cameos were a huge part of what made Deadpool & Wolverine amazing for me. Some of them were just fun, like seeing Ray Park (Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Accident Man) reprise his role as Toad just for a few seconds or the original Sabretooth, Tyler Mane (Halloween II, Jupiter's Legacy, Doom Patrol) – both from the OG X-Men (2000) movie.
 
Others were more integral to the story, such as B-17, the time agent from Loki played by Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country, Loki, Scavengers Reign). It was also a real treat to get to see Jennifer Garner (Peppermint, Yes Day, The Adam Project) reprise Elektra without any of the baggage from the mixed reviews from Daredevil (2003) or Elektra (2005). Here, she was just able to be a badass. I'm also a fan of the new guy that has stepped into the modern version of the character Blade, but Wesley Snipes (The Player, Dolemite Is My Name, True Story) is my Blade dating back to the Blade (1998) trilogy. His movies were what started it all for the MCU. Before that, DC had really been the one that had reigned at the box office. I was giddy – yes, giddy – I tell you when I learned he would be joining this cast to reprise his iconic role.. and I was not disappointed at all.
 
 
But the whole reason why I couldn't hold my spoilers in was Channing Tatum (The Lost City, Fly Me to the Moon, Blink Twice) as Gambit. Tatum, and really the whole world, was cheated when Fox was acquired by Disney and shelved his Gambit movie. I'd been waiting for that for years. His outstanding performance in Deadpool & Wolverine as the card-tossing and staff-wielding ragin' Cajun is proof positive that he absolutely 100% can pull off that character and make a stand-alone movie bankable. I certainly hope that the mouse house has woken up and decides to dust cobwebs off of that movie and resurrect it from production hell so we can see it in all its glory. Further, they should tap Levy to help Tatum bring it to the screen. Seriously. He even got the accent right. Yes, right. I'm from Louisiana and I've got family in the southern part of the state that talks just like Gambit does. I can spot a fake “Cajun” accent a mile away, and he nailed it.
 
 
I like Taylor Kitsch (Only the Brave, 21 Bridges, The Terminal List) as an actor just fine. They did him – and the character of Gambit – dirty in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). That was not the Gambit we needed. Channing Tatum's Gambit was. (The only other one I've seen come close was a 20 minute short called Gambit: Playing for Keeps (2020), featuring world champion martial artist Nick Bateman (Hobo With a Shotgun, The Perception, Airplane Mode) and Eric Roberts (Heroes, The Dark Knight, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). (As an aside, Bateman had also worked on a previous Gambit short of only 4 minutes in length and the 20 minute one seems to be its sequel, given the reprised roles of both Gambit and Rogue.)
 
Without going too far down that rabbit hole, my point is that I love that character. I want to see justice done for that character, and Channing Tatum's version of that character was the closest I've seen outside of the original animated X-Men (1992-1997) voiced by Chris Potter (Kung-Fu: The Legend Continues, The Pacifier, Heartland) and the admirable job in X-Men '97 (2024-) by A.J. LoCascio (The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, Gremlins: Secrets oft he Mogwai, The Croods: Family Tree). Channing Tatum is the live-action Gambit we need. Period. Let's make it happen already. With the set-up already in place with the mutliverse, there's zero reason why it shouldn't.
 
 
So there we have it.
 
Spoilers are over as of here. Don't read above this line if you want to keep yourself in the dark on all the glorious cameos I mentioned. (I also left out some big ones, but I don't want to touch them because they are more glorious in the moment and you're just going to have to see them for yourself!)
 
I would watch Deadpool & Wolverine again in a heartbeat, and am somewhat impatiently biding my time for it to reach streaming platforms so I can do that very thing.. a few times... at least. If you're even slightly a fan of the MCU or these characters, Deadpool & Wolverine is a must-see.
 
 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 79%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score –95%
Metascore – 56%
Metacritic User Score – 7.7/10
IMDB Score – 8.0/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5
 
P.S. - There is a post-credits scene, as well as a closing montage.
 
Movie Trailer:

Monday, September 9, 2024

Fitting In (2023)



Movie Name/Year: Fitting In (2023)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Length: 1h 45min
Rating: R
Director: Molly McGlynn
Writers: Molly McGlynn
Actors: Maddie Ziegler, Emily Hampshire, Djouliet Amara, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Ki Griffin

Blurb: In this coming-of-age drama, 16 year-old Lindy's life plans are thrown off course when she is diagnosed with a life changing reproductive condition.

D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (ADAM) and Maddie Ziegler (LINDY)

Cat’s Point of View:
I was not prepared for Fitting In.

There were more tears from connecting to this movie on such an uncomfortable level than the last film that we watched that was also raw with emotion and a narrative full of relatable personal trauma.

Writer and director Molly McGlynn (Mary Goes Round, Bless This Mess, Grown-ish) really hit the nail on the head when she dubbed the genre of her film as a 'traumedy' during an interview. The combination of trauma and comedy does help the dramatic narrative with all of its bleak emotional damage go over a little smoother. In spite of the laughs I did have, it still felt heavy. Though, I attribute that to how I related to this story.

Emily Hampshire as RITA

I don't know exactly what it feels like to get the MRKH diagnosis, of course – but I do know how it feels to get heavy medical news where it feels like the world shifts under your feet without warning. My multiple sclerosis diagnosis felt like that. It felt like someone had just tried that 'magic trick' where someone rips a table cloth off of a table but leaves all the dishes and whatnot still on top... but in my case, all the dishes came off with the fabric – like if I tried to attempt that trick untrained. My world rocked and future plans just seemed out of reach with question marks everywhere.

It's heartening, though, that this particular condition (MRKH) has such a wonderful advocate as McGlynn. Fitting In was as educational as it was entertaining. That was a fine line that I think was handled deftly.

Molly McGlynn

Of course McGlynn had a phenomenal cast to help deliver this heart-wrenching and heart-warming story. Maddie Ziegler (Spirit Riding Free, The Fallout, West Side Story) has really shown here that she is so much more than dance, which was her initial vehicle into the public eye. I also loved Djouliet Amara (Seance, Honey Girls, The Big Door Prize) as Viv the best friend. Emily Hampshire (The Rig, Self Reliance, Humane) also did a remarkable job playing the mom. There were so many great performances here.

I can tell you that Fitting In will be sticking with me, and was so much more than a teen drama. It's absolutely worth checking out if dramatic comedies are even slightly in your cinematic wheelhouse.

Fitting In released on digital platforms today, September 9th, 2024. To find an up-to-date list of where you can watch, you can click here.

Maddie Ziegler (LINDY) and Ki Griffin (JAX)

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 96%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 65%
Metascore – 68%
Metacritic User Score – 7.3/10
IMDB Score – 6.2/10

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4.5/5

P.S. - This film was intended to raise awareness for reproductive conditions such as MRKH in addition to its entertainment value. The production team for Fitting In supports the MRKH Connect foundation and provided us the following information with the opportunity to review this movie for you:

MRKH Connect is the UK registered charity for MRKH Syndrome founded in 2014. Our mission is to connect those with MRKH together so that no one feels alone, wherever they are in the world, whilst also providing a safe space to share experiences through peer led events, collaborative community initiatives as well as research and resources to improve the services available to MRKHers and their family and friends. Find out more about MRKH Connect - www.mrkhconnect.org

Movie Trailer: