Your time is valuable and at the end of a long week the discretionary time must be spent to maximum value. In order to help narrow choices down on the film and television front, every Friday we’ll give you the rundown of your options and an educated guess as to which ones make the most sense. There is a very complex formula involved. Usually that formula includes us watching the things and then telling you if they’re good. OK, we admit it’s not exactly the recipe for Coke, but we’re trying to help.
I predicted the box office returns for these films last Sunday, but I must admit that my track record hasn’t been too accurate thus far.
On the Screen
Deadpool
Director: Tim Miller
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Ed Skrein, Morena Baccarin, TJ Miller, Gina Carano
Finally a film that’s worth the hype. Deadpool is a violent and vulgar jolt of fun into a genre that has gotten a little too comfortable. It’s certainly not a movie for kids but for most everyone else it’s a great way to spend a Friday night. Especially in February, usually the time where entertainment goes to die. Ryan Reynolds finally has his superhero movie. It’s going to destroy.
The Verdict: It’s a ball of laughs and a stick in the eye to generic superhero movies.
Zoolander No. 2
Director: Ben Stiller
Stars: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Justin Theroux
It’s a shame that the word of mouth on this sequel is so bad, because the trailers and marketing for Zoolander No.2 painted it as a fun and unpretentious romp. It’s sort of a sequel no one really seemed to want or need, and on that criteria it seemed that they had something really special that they had to share. With talent like Wiig and Ferrell on board there’s sure to be some merit to the movie but the critics have truly shredded it.
The Verdict: Might be one for couch viewing when there’s nothing else on. By the way, there’s never nothing else on.
How to be Single
Director: Christian Ditter
Stars: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, Leslie Mann
As counterprogramming goes, this one is right down the middle of the plate. Especially on Valentine’s Day weekend. How to be Single tells the story of a young lady who takes a break from a relationship to play the field and experience Hangover-lite experiences at the urging of her reckless pal. The reviews have been decent and the cast is likable. It’s produced by one of the four romantic comedy Mount Rushmore heads, Drew Barrymore, so it’s probably a safe bet.
The Verdict: They’ve got an uphill battle.
On the Tube
Vinyl
Stars: Bobby Cannavale, Olivia Wilde, Ray Romano, Juno Temple
We couldn’t be more excited about this Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger, and Terence Winter joint about the sex-crazed music scene of yesteryear. It has all the elements that make for a cultural phenomenon and it appears HBO is fronting this as their “Next Big Thing”.
The Verdict: Some of the early reviews have painted it as a bit of a letdown but Pilot episodes are often an unfair barometer for shows.
The Walking Dead
Stars: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Lauren Cohan, Steven Yeun
The horror juggernaut returns on Sunday and with it comes the long-awaited arrival of the latest “Big Bad” Negan, who people are excited to see wreak havoc. The makers of the show are promising big things afoot and as is always the case with the show chances are good someone major will see a messy end.
The Verdict: If there was ever such a thing as a known commodity for viewers, this is it.
Happy hunting! We’ll catch up with you on the other side and see how it went.
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