"Deadpool 2" Absolutely Delivers! Also this Week: "Life of the Party" and "Tully"

     

The highly anticipated follow up to the immensely popular Deadpool has arrived, and does so with all the pizazz you would expect. Deadpool changed the movie-making game in a lot of ways. As a character, he’s a bit unconventional with his fourth-wall breaking and acute awareness of his reality as a comic book character. However, with the ingenious pairing of Ryan Reynolds and the audacity of Marvel, Deadpool has become more than what he’s previously been. Instantly an icon, Deadpool has found his niche as the self-righteous barometer that pokes fun at the seriousness we give every other comic book movie. From the films to the marketing, this has become a franchise worth the price of admission. Those who have followed the marketing campaign for this film, in particular, have seen what a tremendous job they’ve done at amping things up to eleven this go-around. In the case of Deadpool 2, the film doubles down on everything: the jokes, the fourth-wall breaking, the action, the blood and violence, and surprisingly enough, the heart. Deadpool 2 has a heart to its carnal center, and it seems to find its way through all of the chaos and into the forefront of the story. Insane, but it’s true.

     Story wise, we meet up with Deadpool/Wade Wilson who has been working the circuit as a hitman for hire. Cable (Josh Brolin), a time-traveling warrior from the future, makes his way onto the scene as he tries to hunt down a young mutant for reasons I’ll leave for you to experience. In his attempts to turn a new-ish leaf, Deadpool tries on his hero pants and spends the movie striving to save this young mutant from a perilous end, battling his own moral demons along the way. There are a host of pop culture references and more call-outs to other films, franchises, and characters that you can shake a katana at, and not to mention some of the coolest action we’ve seen in a comic book movie. Your favorite X-Men from the first movie are back, as well as Deadpool’s trusty taxi driver Dopinder (Karan Soni), as well as a host of new characters (Deadpool's X-Force team, a group of hired mutants, steal the movie).  All of these parts serve a giant whole that is just as funny and engaging as the first film.

     The true magic behind this movie is Ryan Reynolds. Talk about perfect casting, the guy was born to play this role. Not only does he play the Merc with the Mouth, but he also co-wrote and co-produced the film. He also played a huge part in the marketing campaign. As a fan of film as an art form, it’s so refreshing to see an artist so ingrained into his work. Deadpool 2 is no Picasso of film, that’s for sure, but it’s a true labor of love that oozes from frame to frame. After the intensity of Avengers: Infinity War, Deadpool 2 felt like a comic book pallet cleanser. It’s violent, gratuitous, shocking at times, and hilarious to boot. At the center is this twisted relationship between Wade and a kid that explores what it means to be family. I loved this movie. It was everything I expected it to be and more. If you enjoyed the first film, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t love the sequel.

     

    Amidst my many viewings of Avengers: Infinity War over the last few weeks, I was able to squeeze in a couple of films that were not at all comic book movies. Melissa McCarthy stars in the lovable comedy Life of the Party. She plays Deanna, a middle-aged mom who decides to go back to college and finish her degree after her lousy husband files for divorce, moments after dropping their daughter off at college for her senior year. As the school year plays out, Deanna embraces the college life, getting into all kinds of shenanigans with her daughter, who seems to really enjoy the fact that her mom is at school with her. It’s a straight-forward comedy that has a really nice message about being true to who you are and facing adversity with courage and determination. At the end of the day, it’s McCarthy that makes this movie great. She’s easily one of the best working comedians today, with her finger on the pulse of what physical comedy should be. She’s like the female version of Kevin James, only better, and I love Kevin James. This was her movie from start to finish and there’s never a moment where you feel bored with what she’s throwing at you. If you’re looking for a comedy that’s not so comic booky and is a bit tamer than our red-suited friend with the swords, then this movie is the way to go.

     

     On the flip side, if you’re looking for something more dramatic and grounded, Tully would be my choice for you. Tully tells the story of Marlo (Charlize Theron), a mother of three who hires a night nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis) to help with her newborn. It’s a realistic look at motherhood that doesn’t paint inside the lines. Charlize Theron delivers a really fantastic performance that truly captures realistic struggles of being a mother and a wife. The character of Tully is almost a complete opposite of Marlo, and their interactions play up the reality that the story is striving to portray. At times it felt almost too real, and that’s where the film is able to slip its magic into the narrative. There’s a unique aspect to the storytelling that is both clever and surprising, and as the story eventually blossoms into the message it intended, you’re almost whisked away in its clever telling. All production aspects of this film are really well-executed, and for a true slice-of-life, you get your money’s worth. If you’re looking for something that isn’t so flashy but can still deliver the feels, I highly recommend checking this film out.