SOLO EFFORT MORE OF THE SAME

MOVIE 
Solo
Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson
REVIEW RAY CHAN

There’s only so much a good director can do with a mediocre script, even if it's written by Star Wars veteran Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jon.
    Perhaps the subject matter was too difficult. It seems like we already knew too much about Han Solo - played in the first instance, of course, by Harrison Ford – so his origin story would indeed truly have had to be original to make an impact.
    Ron Howard, brought in to replace original directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord at the last minute, does his best to infuse some vitality to the screen, but the final product, while competent enough, is far from perfect.
    Many scenes, involving various heists as the young Han (Alden Ehrenreich) teams up with a colourful band of thieves led by Woody Harrelson’s Tobias Beckett and his wife Val, are obviously intended to bedazzle, but somehow fall flat and really can’t compare to the wonderful opening sequences of say, Ford’s Indiana Jones movies, ironically enough.
    Ehrenreich does make a solid fist of it all, without ever quite matching Ford’s nonchalance and blaseness. There’s very little personality showing, except for a crush on Emilia Clarke’s mysterious Qi’ra, which, as Star Wars fans full know, would ultimately amount to nothing.
    On the other hand, Donald Glover’s charismatic Lando is a delight, as is Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the wisecracking droid, L3-37.
    The part Lando plays in helping Han secure the Millennium Falcon is revealed, while of course we are filled in on Chewbacca's backstory and how the gentle giant becomes Han's loyal ally.
    Overall, Solo is not quite a disaster and is enjoyable on certain levels. But the plot lacks a punchline to carry it, and the impotent climax doesn't help.
    In the end though, it’s more of the same, when it comes to Star Wars movies: barren landscapes, cantina scenes, various alien life forms, varied droids, battles in space.
    The film is more suited to the small screen than the silver. Let’s hope the next movie in the franchise breaks out of the carbonite that Solo appears to be trapped in.

#hansolomovie

NOT DEAD IN THE WATER ... YET

MOVIE 

Deadpool 2
Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Julian Dennison
REVIEW RAY CHAN

The first Deadpool movie poked fun at superhero films two years ago with an impertinent, profane and mirthful send-up of the genre.
    And if you liked that, chances are you'll enjoy the sequel, which continues down the same formulaic track, right from the unconventional opening sequences through to the post-movie scenes (there are two in mid-credits), with Ryan Reynolds – who co-wrote the story – breaking down the fourth wall every chance he gets.
    Deadpool 2 takes place after our hero – or even anti-hero - Wade Wilson, tragically loses his wife Vanessa just as the couple were contemplating starting a family, cueing up the odd Celine Dion interlude which had social media channels in a tizz.
    Wade finds himself protecting a mutant named Firefist (NZ's Julian Dennison, who seems to be stuck in the form of a pre-pubescent teen) from the time-travelling super-soldier Cable (Josh Brolin), who's ripped, humourless and a perfect foil for the effervescent protagonist.
    The most hilarious segments of the movie occur when Wade builds his own army to defeat Cable. Called the X-Force, the team had an illustrious career in the comics, but here comprises bargain-basement mutants such as Shatterstar, Zeitgeist, Bedlam and a chap called Peter, who's completely powerless but responded to the advertisement anyway. Another member is Vanisher, who in the funny books was a villain with ability to teleport; but in the movie, he's merely an invisible man. The character is played by a Hollywood mega-star, whose face can be seen for a few seconds if you watch closely enough.
    The only member of X-Force to show any mettle is Domino (Zazie Beetz), whose power is good luck, and who, armpit hair and all, eventually proves to be a useful ally to Wade, as do the returning duo of Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead, along with her fellow X-Man and Japanese girlfriend Yukio.
    Reynolds uses every opportunity to plug his homeland Canada, and once again apologises for his role in the unfortunate 2011 Green Lantern adaptation; he did the same in the first movie. At one point Wade tells Cable to “Zip it, Thanos”, referencing Brolin’s role in Avengers: Infinity War. Brolin is surely the first actor to play two different characters in consequent Marvel Universe movies.
    There's no doubt that the unpredictable, helter-skelter origin story was deservingly lauded for its bold and creative approach. Ultimately though, one also needs to question whether the novelty will wear off.
    Deadpool 2 hasn't entirely lost the sense of freshness: while all the devices that elevated the original movie are here - the rapid-fire sarcasm; the over-the-top action; the ironic use of pop music  (two songs are by Australian bands) - there are still enough in-jokes and spectacularly choreographed battle scenes to keep the viewer entertained. 
    But the studio must realise that the brand runs the risk of turning stale by sticking to the same mix of violence, crass jokes and vulgar putdowns.
    Moviegoers know what to expect now from the Merc with the Mouth, and as much as they may enjoy this sequel and loved the the first movie, the shock value has lessened, and so may the enjoyment factor of future instalments in the franchise.

#deadpool2