Although it never quite figures out exactly what audiences it’s trying to cater towards, Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a reasonably entertaining bit of fun for fans of the beloved Nintendo property, both young and old.
Ryan Reynolds
No, the world doesn’t need a PG-13 version of Deadpool.
Boasting a duller, nastier wit than its predecessor and a newfound brush with sincerity, the adult oriented super-anti-hero sequel Deadpool 2 lacks the anarchic glee and spontaneity of its blockbuster predecessor, but it still has a lot to enjoy.
Australian filmmaker Patrick Hughes knows how to film a large scale action sequence, but he also loves to have a good laugh while doing it. The director of the underrated suspense thriller Red Hill and the most recent entry into The Expendables franchise finds himself once again tackling chaotic shootouts and multi-vehicle chases with his latest effort The Hitman’s Bodyguard (in cinemas everywhere this weekend), a mismatched buddy flick starring two of the biggest names in comedy and action: Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson.
A passably entertaining bit of late summer fluff, the action comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard is exactly what you probably think it’s going to be going in: two charismatic actors riffing on each other while dodging bullets, fists, and bombs. A comedy firmly steeped in the traditions set forth by Midnight Run and Lethal Weapon, The Hitman’s Bodyguard doesn’t earn too many points for originality or style, but it achieves every modest goal it sets out to make. If you’re in the mood for an action comedy, this is an action comedy that won’t wow you, but it won’t let you down, either.
Ryan Reynolds gave fans a very appropriate sneak peek at Deadpool last week, thanks to a tweet featuring everyone’s favorite anti-hero lounging “seductively” by a fireplace.
Peter M. Lenkov’s Rest In Peace Department oozes with really fantastic ideas, and that’s probably why Universal Pictures wanted to make it into a blockbuster franchise. The problem with the adaptation is that is misfires at almost every plot turn, and never seems to decide if it’s going to be dark, funny, or just plain weird. That’s also why it’s very unlikely we’ll see a sequel to R.I.P.D.
R.I.P.D. exists at the point where Men in Black meets The Frighteners, but leaning heavily towards the MIB side of things. Somewhere in that mix, there is probably a winning combination, but R.I.P.D. only gets it about half right, with a storyline that is more than likely to bomb until it rises again in a few months on Blu-ray.
New this week on DVD and Blu-ray: Ryan Reynolds suits up for a comic book adventure in Green Lantern; Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day take on the people who make their lives hellish in Horrible Bosses; plus a look at Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil – Season 1 on DVD.
Opening at a theatre near you this weekend: humanity has a new threat to fear in the prequel to the famous franchise, Rise of the Planet of the Apes; and Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman star in the unfortunate comedy, The Change-Up.