superhero movies

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE or Funny Saves All and I Laughed…

| Rachel's Reviews

It’s no big secret that blockbuster films have been letting me down a lot this year. I’ve hardly liked any of the large-scale releases from the studios and it can honestly be quite draining after a while. I do not seek to be a contrarian and always prefer enjoying films over critiquing them but sometimes that’s just the way the cookie crumbles. Luckily today I’m here to report on arguably the biggest release of the year that I overall enjoyed it. While it definitely has its flaws I can recommend the latest from Marvel Studios and the MCU: Deadpool & Wolverine.

The main reason this film works is the humor mostly lands. It’s not seeking to be a deep philosophical film. Its goals are simple. It’s trying to be a buddy team-up movie with a lot of jokes and they keep them fast and on point enough to leave me feeling entertained by the experience. Some people will no doubt complain about the gratuitous number of cameos, but I felt that was all part of the joke. The movie is self-aware and knows the MCU hasn’t been working. It knows these cameos are silly.  It knows the violence is over-the-top and ridiculous. With so much relying on the humor it comes down to the writing and the raunchy self-referential humor worked most of the time and I was laughing. And as I aways say- funny saves all. If I’m legit laughing I can ignore a lot of problems.

And there are problems… I really wish they had taken the example of Joker and The Batman over at DC and made this its own stand-alone film. When Deadpool & Wolverine isn’t working it’s when it is taking long stretches to explain the multiverse, the MCU and the various dimensions. This is dull and stops all the fun in its tracks. I could be wrong on this, but I don’t think anyone cares at this point. Maybe they did pre-Endgame but now we just want to see an entertaining film. Whatever malarkey they need to come up with to get Deadpool and Wolverine together who cares? Just do it and if the dialogue and characters are entertaining enough we will forgive a lot. In fact, the very X-men world this film pays tribute to was very fast and lose with their world-building and for the good movies nobody worried about that because they were being entertained by Days of Future Past or Logan.

Frankly I don’t know where the MCU goes from here. Deadpool claims he’s the Jesus of the MCU, and he did make an entertaining film but it still feels like maybe a full-on complete reboot is the way to go. What else is there to do? What stories are left to tell? I’m sure comic fans have tons but I’m just not sure.

Nevertheless, I’m a sucker for friendship stories and Jackman and Reynolds have undeniable chemistry and director Shawn Levy knows how to make an entertaining popcorn film. It definitely has its flaws but I left with a smile on my face- something that hasn’t happened much this year so I’ll take the win and move on.

Smile Worthy

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Blind Spot 102: BLADE and DEADPOOL

| Rachel's Reviews

This month proved to be a fun one for Blind Spot. I checked off 2 films that people are stunned I had not seen- Deadpool and the original Blade. Superhero movies have become so unpleasant to cover that if there’s not a pressing need to see one of them it’s easier to avoid them and all the drama that goes along with the fandoms. My podcast cohost Manda hadn’t seen Blade which is why we added it to the lineup so that she would have something fresh as well and they both are actually quite similar so it was a good combo. You can see our discussion here:

To sum up my thoughts Deadpool mostly works at what it is trying to do- be a sarcastic and violent parody of superhero movies up until that point. Ryan Reynolds has loads of charisma and at its core its a love story between Wade and Vanessa (Morena Baccarin.) It does start to ware out its welcome after a while and the whole cynical style isn’t my favorite but again it’s succeeds at doing its own thing. It’s certainly leagues better than its sequel Deadpool 2 which is a huge step down. Practically nothing in the sequel works from the repetitive and belabored jokes, to the wooden acting especially from Julian Dennison, to the underwhelming story, it’s bad. I truly hated it.

As far as Blade goes it is better than Deadpool 2 but not a very strong film. It starts out with a terrific sequence at a vampire rave but then gets lost in one exposition dump after another. Wesley Snipes is good as Blade but the script is frankly quite dull with cheesy special effects and action that is hard to get invested in. I’m told the sequel is much better so I will have to try that. It’s a shame Sanaa Lathan got roped into this as Blade’s mother. She’s one of those talented actresses that just can’t seem to get a break. But all the female characters are thinly written in this script and the villain is underwhelming. I can see why some have nostalgia for this- it’s a very 90s superhero movie- but as a newcomer it didn’t do much to interest me.

So there you have it. My quick thoughts on Blade and Deadpool. What superhero movie do you have as a blind spot?

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‘Madame Web’ Review or Did Anyone Really Try Here?

| Rachel's Reviews

I realize the title to this review is going to cause some outrage. I like to believe even on bad movies people are usually still trying their best. Therefore, I did not give such a title lightly. In fact I waited several days to write the review after the embargo and release to make sure how I felt about Madame Web and that I wasn’t just feeding on internet hate and hyperbole. It’s not that it’s just a movie I dislike. That happens all the time. It’s that it is so sloppily constructed that it’s hard to justify its existence on any level.

I usually try and start my reviews with some positives but with Madame Web I have very few. There are a few actors like Isabela Merced and Adam Scott who are trying their darndest with the material and a few moments of nice cinematography as well as some winks to 2003 where the movie is set.

That’s about it. The script is the biggest problem with dialogue that had me howling (to myself) in my seat The story also fails to develop compelling characters who’s actions feel believable. Every flash forward is so poorly edited and constructed that it feels confusing rather than enlightening and there are often big gaps in logic or story that leave you wondering ‘how did they get here?’ or ‘how did she know that?,’ ‘has she never been in water before and if not why?’ You get the idea. The actors, who have been good in other roles, can’t save this script with Dakota Johnson making her role in Fifty Shades of Grey look like an Oscar bait film and Tahar Rahim entering the history books as one of the most poorly executed villains ever.

What’s more shocking is how poorly made Madame Web is. We expect clunky dialogue these days from superhero movies but everything from the editing to the sound design to the action is sloppy! And let’s mention the product placement that had me wondering if I’d wandered into a parody film by mistake.

There’s scenes in this film where a character opens a can of Pepsi right in front of the camera acting like a Price is Right model showcasing it for all to see. Then later on the climatic fight scene is literally done beneath a giant Pepsi Cola sign. I wish I was making this up.

I’ve mentioned how I hate modern action movies where characters stand around staring at screens. Well, in Madame Web there is an entire character who seems to not leave the villains apartment but just stares at screen for her entire existence. The sad part about this henchman is she is played by Zosia Mamet who is so wonderful in the lead of Molli & Max In the Future– a far better film out in theaters now. When I think of the style and energy that film brought to the table on a nothing budget it’s infuriating to watch a big mess  like Madame Web. Did I mention how bad the editing is in this film? I mean come on!

The trailer for this film promises aspects that aren’t really delivered like instead of a team-up movie with other spider-women it’s a teens being ordered around by a bored female mentor movie (the teens are mostly standing around waiting for things to happen to them). The villain instead of being cold and calculating is in revenge-mode for crimes that haven’t happened despite himself being a cold-blooded murderer! It makes no sense. It honestly feels like they just made it up every day they went to shoot and all the winks to Spider-man only amplify that feeling.

It’s especially baffling when Sony has done such a brilliant job with their animated Spider-verse movies. They might have just as well hired Tommy Wiseau and made this one of his triumphs. At least that would have some personality. This is without a doubt the worst comic book movie since Catwoman and it may be even worse than that. As I recall that at least didn’t have ADR and visual effects problems… It’s not even fun bad. It’s just boring, lame and incompetent. Badly done Sony!! Badly done!

1 out of 10

Frown Worthy

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‘THE MARVELS’ or How Not Even a Singing Planet Can Make Me Like This Homework

| Rachel's Reviews

Over the years as a film critic my relationship with superhero movies has been an interesting one. In many ways I’m a defender of the genre and find those who dismiss them as not being cinema to be absurd. However, the fandoms surrounding the popcorn films often make them hard to stand up for or engage with and this goes for both DC and Marvel. It also doesn’t help that the films, outside of animation, have been largely weak for a while now. Sure we get an occasional Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3 but most are underwhelming at best. The latest to join this club is The Marvels from the MCU. To say this film is a disjointed, confusing mess would be an understatement. It makes mixed entries like Thor: Love and Thunder look coherent and well done. If the combination of this and the very underwhelming latest Antman movie don’t give Marvel the wakeup call they need I don’t know what will.

I know some people complained about Dr Strange 2 being too tied to Wandavision and that was a concern I had, but I gave it a bit of a pass because Wandavision was in the heart of the pandemic when theaters were closed so most people attending MOM had probably seen it. Now we have The Marvels that requires heavy knowledge of the last Captain Marvel movie, Wandavision and Ms Marvel and I’m sorry but it really felt like homework this go-around. I wish someone had told me I needed to have seen all of this before watching the film and even if I had I still think I would be confused because of the choppy editing.

It is abundantly clear this movie was heavily influenced by reshoots. Characters are introduced and then we move away from them for a long while, plot points are scattered haphazardly without concern for flow or a coherent story. This is especially true with our villain, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), who I think we are supposed to sympathize with but the character arc is so choppy and the performance so bland that I was completely unmoved by her.


It’s a shame because the 3 leads do have a nice chemistry together and there are fun individual moments. Iman Vellani is particularly good as the Captain Marvel hype girl Ms Marvel. I don’t know why they didn’t have her team up with America Chavez from MOM. The two of them have similar energy and would be a good dynamic but she is cute.

I also died laughing at a scene involving cats and Cats if you get my drift. They even have a section where they go to a planet where everyone sings all the time. That should be right up my ally but it was so disconnected from the villain and the story it only mildly amused me. For some reason (I guess?) Captain Marvel needs to destroy the sun because of AI that she destroyed in the first movie. This caused genocide of a people and this involves Monica Rambeau for some reason. I was lost.

I am sure some will say ‘but Rachel it’s just a fun movie’ and I do have to give it credit for being short. Most comicbook movies are so bloated these days but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect some coherence in story and character arcs in my ‘fun movies’ these days. There might have been a good movie buried somewhere in The Marvels but what I saw was a big mess. My Marvel ladies deserve much better than one of the worst movies the MCU has sadly ever produced (My advice stay home and watch Across the Spiderverse and TMNT instead.)

4 out of 10

Frown Worthy

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‘TMNT: Mutant Mayhem’ or a Cowabunga of an Animated Film

| Rachel's Reviews

Hype for films these days is always a fascinating experience to observe. As a critic I try to go into any film with an open mind and as minimal of expectations as possible but sometimes it is hard to not be impacted by the buzz- both good and bad- before stepping into the theater. Initially when I heard about another TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) movie I wasn’t that interested. I’ve enjoyed the franchise over the years but is has never a favorite of mine or one I’m particularly passionate about. Then I heard the co-director of Mitchells vs the Machines (which I adored), Jeff Rowe was the director and it was receiving a new and exciting animation style I became intrigued.

Once the trailers came out and I heard about some of the creative decisions they were making like having an all-teenage vocal cast for the turtles my excitement grew. When an unfinished screening received a standing ovation at Annecy Film Festival in June TMNT: Mutant Mayhem solidified itself as my most anticipated film of the year. High expectations…


Fortunately for this film this is a case where high expectations have actually been met and then some. I loved this film! What an authentic, thrilling, innovative, exciting animated experience at the theatre. Nothing will probably topple Across the Spiderverse’s artistic achievement but I do think this TMNT: Mutant Mayhem has a tighter script with a unique and fresh art style all its own (those worried this will be Spiderverse-light can rest assured this is raw and edgy in a way Spiderverse isn’t. They both stand on their own as wonderful animated films.)

My favorite part of this film is the our 4 main turtle characters. All voiced by actual teenagers the banter is written naturally and their relationships feel authentic to the teen experience, which is something we have never gotten in this franchise. The dialogue by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Jeff Rowe is funny, charming and again authentic to the way teens today talk. It was so refreshing to teen characters that aren’t the sullen miserable specimens we so often see in film but that have highs and lows appropriate especially to these teens that are so isolated from others.

The story in this film is also solid with Ice Cube voicing a convincing villain and Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom. It’s not a new arc but it was executed well and the design of the Superfly as he morphs and changes is extremely clever and inventive. The animation in general has a roughness to it that I loved with the feel of pencil sketches mixed in with CGI 3D realism. The mixture of styles and how it ebbs and flows dazzled me!

The only miss is in the character design of April O’Neil (voiced by Ayo Edebiri.) She’s supposed to be a lonely high school student but she looks a lot older than that in my opinion. The character was fine just didn’t look like a teenager to me.

I also love the pacing of this film. How refreshing to go to a superhero movie in 2023 that isn’t bloated and over-long- 99 minutes! The design of the various mutants is a lot of fun as well even if the celebrity voice cast for those characters is unnecessary. The music by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross added just the right mixture of nostalgia and modernism to make the film work perfectly.

If they give it a chance families and moviegoers should love TMNT: Mutant Mayhem. It is charming, energetic and artistically exhilarating. A thrilling time at the movies! I think they’ve made something special in a very solid year for animation. Let’s make sure it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle!

9 out of 10

Smile worthy

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‘The Flash’ or Everything DC All At Once is Surprisingly Meh

| Rachel's Reviews

I know the internet doesn’t like to hear this but sometimes as critics we walk away from a film feeling a certain degree of ambivalence. We aren’t moved one way or another. These mixed reviews are honestly often the hardest to write especially in a world of rottentomatoes where we must pick a side, pro or con, fresh or rotten. This is definitely the situation I am finding myself in with DC Studios’ latest film The Flash. It’s an uneven film that I’m very torn whether to recommend or not. Even as I write this review I’m debating whether the positives outweigh the negatives.

Let’s talk about those positives. First, the biggest plus for the film is the heart that motivates all the action. Ezra Miller plays 2 versions of Barry Allen and with both, the character is motivated by love and kindness. This was much better than the bland one-note motivation in last year’s The Batman movie, which I found underwhelming. I was particularly moved by anything involving Barry’s mother, Nora Allen, played by Maribel Verdú. The final scenes with her made me genuinely tear up (who can’t relate to missing someone so profoundly and wishing you could spend just one more moment with them?)

I also found the use of Michael Keaton’s version of Batman to be well done. I am not a big fan of Batman 89 (I know shocking) but I didn’t grow up with it and watched it for the first time in 2016 before Batman v Superman. I particularly found anything with Vicki Vale to be annoying and Jack Nicholson’s Joker to be quite vanilla for a supposedly legendary villain.

All that said, Keaton is personable and charming as as eccentric, off-his-meds version of Bruce Wayne and they used him a lot more than I thought they would. This isn’t just a glorified cameo but an actual role with an arc and story to his character. His bond with both Barrys is sweet to see and feels earned.

They also do the set-up of the multiverse in a pretty convincing way. Many have compared The Flash to No Way Home, and I suppose that is natural but No Way Home had the advantage of being the 9th Spider-Man movie where The Flash is essentially his origin story (I realize he is in Justice League but only briefly). It’s easier to call back to favorite memories when there are actually movies to call back to. This pays homage to lots of DC films but it feels clunkier when they are all part of such wildly divergent franchise entries. Still, the actual plot machinations to get Barry in the multiverse was well done.

And now on to the negative. The main problem with The Flash is it took so long to be made that it feels derivative of a barrage of similar superhero movies we’ve gotten recently. I realize many of those films like No Way Home, Doctor Strange 2, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Across the Spider-Verse and others are based off the Flashpoint comics this is based off, but it doesn’t feel like this movie version is adding anything new to the conversation. It leaves the viewer with a feeling of ‘that was fine but bland…”

This is particularly true towards the end when the multi-verse world is fully embraced and we get a long video game inspired sequence of ‘remember this…’ from the past. Sure we get a lot of cameos and reminders of favorite characters but unlike Keaton nothing interesting is done with them so it’s like looking through someone else’s old yearbook rather than a compelling story. (Also I thought one of the legacy cameos was in poor taste but I won’t spoil it for readers.)

I know some people don’t want to see the film because of Ezra Miller’s criminal history over the last few years. That’s fair and we aren’t required to see any movies so make your choices but as someone who loved them in The Perks of Being a Wallflower I enjoyed both their performances here and it’s refreshing to have an awkward, physically non-perfect human as a lead in a film like this. I certainly like The Flash much better than either of the Shazam movies and they both strive for similar tones.

Without any spoilers I do find the use of General Zod to be very strangely done in this film. It’s like they want us to feel warm and cozy about the throwback to Man of Steel but also completely change the narrative of that film. I am not a fan of Man of Steel but honestly the way they handle Superman in general in The Flash is very strange and Henry Cavill being missed and Zod being defeated in a very different kind of way is a choice I’m sure Snyder fans will be upset with. It was weird.

It is a little baffling how a movie with over $200 million budget could look as cheap and underwhelming VFX-wise as The Flash. Especially with how much time they had it’s hard to believe they went with some of the fake babies and CGI blur-fests they go with. In that sense, The Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman and even the Snyder DC films look much better than this entry.

In the end, the emotion of The Flash wins the day and certainly people who have more nostalgia for the Keaton Batman films will probably enjoy it more than I did. It’s no comic book masterpiece like we recently got with Spider-verse but if you’ve seen that a couple times it’s fine. Barry and his Mom gave me enough emotion to say I’m glad I saw this (maybe final or is Aquaman 2 the last?) entry in the DCEU.

6 out of 10

Smile Worthy

Also can someone make a superhero movie that’s not 30 minutes longer than it needs to be? They are ALL bloated and are testing my patience!

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‘Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3’ or I Wish I Could Give Rocket a Hug

| Rachel's Reviews

One of my hottest takes as a critic is my disappointment in Guardians of the Galaxy vol 2. Unlike most people I didn’t care for the story, character choices or most of the other creative decisions. This still makes people angry for some reason and it was the beginning of my somewhat antagonistic relationship with superhero movies. They are without a doubt my least favorite genre to cover and if I could avoid them entirely I would. All that said, they are some of the biggest releasees of the year and this week we have our latest entry Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3. Would I leave underwhelmed like the 2nd or thoroughly enjoy it like the 1st? Well, Marvel fans can relax because I enjoyed this latest entry and consider it a big step up from vol 2. Let’s talk about it!


One of my favorite parts of vol 1 is the coming together of this rag-tag band of mischiefs to make a family unit. This is something lost in vol 2 with the team being divided and more concerned with individual stories than the group as a whole. This is not the case with vol 3. While they do become separated at times the focus  is on helping one of their own, Rocket, and caring for each other as a family.

I also appreciate the comedy a lot more in vol 3 than vol 2. Most of the jokes in vol 2 revolved around Drax making fun of Mantis, which got old quick. Vol 3 has more variety in the topics of the jokes and gets everyone a chance to be light hearted and funny. It was also moving to see how Rocket came to be the smart aleck he is and how he became a part of the Guardians.

The production design is excellent and the action done well. We have some new characters like Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) and Cosmo the Spacedog (Maria Bakalova, who was in the Guardians Christmas Special but this is his first time in a feature film.)

Some people have said the plot is too messy in vol 3 but I didn’t feel that too much. If anything it was nice to see a movie in the MCU that sticks to its own timeline and doesn’t worry about building up other movies or characters. This is strictly about our core Guardians so I didn’t find it hard to follow personally.

Parents may want to use caution when taking their kids to vol 3. This is a strong PG13 with graphic depictions of animal cruelty, torture and some profanity. I also found the villain, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) to be a bit shrieky for my tastes. You might say a little of that character goes a long way…

Those flaws aside Guardians of the Galaxy vol 3 is a moving story of the family you choose and how the trauma we experience doesn’t have to define us, but it is a part of who we are. The music is probably the weakest of the trilogy but it’s still fun and overall an entertaining return to form for James Gunn and his Guardians.

7.5 out of 10

Smile Worthy

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[REVIEW] ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ or Where’s the Ant-Man Movie in the Star Wars Knock Off?

| Rachel's Reviews

This may be an unpopular opinion amongst the Marvel hive but I actually like both Ant-Man 1 and Ant-Man and the Wasp. I understand their weaknesses but they were both welcome diversions from the big epic Avengers films that proceeded them with likable casts led by the always engaging Paul Rudd.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Trailer: Kang the Conqueror Is Here - Variety

I know a lot of people disagree with me about these films (especially the 2nd one which I admit has 2 weak villains but I think Ghost has compelling motivations for her actions) but it is at least reasonable to expect the 3rd entry in a trilogy to follow the basic pattern and tone of the two previous entries. So when I sat down for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania imagine my surprise to get a film completely different. Some may call that a good thing but I was underwhelmed.

In this film we get Scott Lang (aka Ant-Man) trying to teach his rebellious daughter Cassie respect for the rules but her trouble-making spirit lands them both (along with all 3 of the Pyms) back in the Quantum Realm. What then proceeds is 2 hours of Star Wars-like fighting all leading to a fight with the Exiled Kang the Conqueror played by Jonathan Majors. All of this action fit much better in the Loki show, and I don’t think we learned anything new about Kang in the film that we didn’t get in Loki, so what was the point of it all?

When they first arrive in the Quantum Realm there is some fun world building and creature designs, but it quickly becomes giant CG city-scapes and it all feels like we are stuck in a video game from 2002. They try to liven things up with a few cameos and a bizarre appearance from MODOK that I won’t go into more but after a while it felt like a slog more than the upbeat Ant-man movies I enjoy.

Maybe kids who haven’t seen a million scifi movies will like this more than I did but isn’t it interesting that the simple heist story of the first film was much more engaging than this big supposedly epic movie? Honestly to keep myself from getting bored I started imagining the food and beverage tie-ins they could do at Disneyland’s Avengers Campus (they have ‘Pym’s Test Kitchen’ there.) It’s probably not a good sign if your mind goes to Disneyland food during the latest epic Marvel movie…

It will be interesting to see what audiences think of this one. Oddly it reminded me of something DC particularly from the Zack Snyder era would have made. It has all the polish of an epic without any of the spark or engagement to keep me invested. I guess we will see but as for this critic I prefer my Ant-Man movies smaller than whatever this was…

5 out of 10

Frown Worthy

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[REVIEW] ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ or How to Say Goodbye to a King

| Rachel's Reviews

There are so many factors going against the latest installment in the MCU, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that it’s remarkable it works as well as it does. Even without star Chadwick Boseman’s tragic passing in 2020, following up the beloved original which received a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars would have been no small feet. Rewriting the script to appropriately acknowledge the tragedy naturally made it even more difficult. Fortunately, while not perfect, the folks at Marvel have presented us with a beautiful story about how we overcome the grief life provides and accept the mantle of leadership when it is asked of us. Black Panther 2 release date & trailer - Geeky Gadgets

One of the best things about the original Black Panther is the clear motivations for the characters. We understand why Kilmonger wants Wakanda to be more brazen and bold in eliminating hatful governments from the world, but we also understand why T’Challa and his Father want to remain neutral to evil and protect the vibranium and other resources in their land.

Now with T’Challa’s passing the nation is reeling with grief while at the same time trying to figure out what is the best step forward. I’ve heard some call this “woke” or “political”, which I find confusing. Of course it’s political. It’s about the leader of a nation- a political role. At the beginning of the film T’Challa’s Mother and successor Queen Ramonda speaks at the UN to try and point out the hypocrisy of the many nation-states who demand action from Wakanda while stealing the resources and people of poorer nations.

One such example is a nation of merpeople led by a classic Marvel villain Namor (Tenoch Huerta, who is great in the role) who is trying to defend his nation, Talokan, from these marauders and thieves. Like Kilmonger he sees Wakanda as an enemy of change- an isolationist country that refuses to stand up to these powerful forces trying to take away his land. They clash and it forces young Shuri (T’Challa’s sister) to decide what kind of leader she wants to be.

All of this works and is a compelling story with good acting. I particularly enjoyed the first and third act of the film and the emotional gravitas director Ryan Coogler and the actors bring to the screen. The music is also very moving and well done by Ludwig Göransson, returning from his Oscar winning score from the first film.

That said, there are some issues with the film. I did feel like some of the cinematography was dark and difficult to make out what was being seen. I actually don’t love our local IMAX and so I figured it had to do with my particular screen but I’m hearing that others experienced this too so it seems like a problem.

Also there are times the screenplay gets a bit muddled particularly in the 2nd act. There are a lot of plotlines going on and some are hard to follow especially anything with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Martin Freeman. Lupita Nyong’o is absolutely gorgeous in her scenes but they felt like more a part of the wider MCU building than for the story of Wakanda Forever. Dominque Thorne is introduced as Riri Williams/Ironheart and while I enjoyed her performance it also felt wedged in to serve the overall MCU and not this particular movie itself.

I loved any scene with Danai Gurira as Okoye. She’s rapidly turning into one of my favorite characters in the MCU and I get excited whenever she turns up whether it be in anything from  Avengers: Endgame to the What If series. Angela Bassett is excellent and Letitia Wright is outstanding as Shuri who has to grieve and make important decisions in the movie and I completely bought her character transformation by the end- literal and figurative.

It is these character transformations which will determine what you get out of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. If you need it to be a perfect movie than you’ll be disappointed. However, if you want an emotional journey for characters a lot of us have grown to care about than it more than suffices. It’s strengths certainly make up for its flaws.

There is a mid-credits scene but no post-credits, and there is also a surprise cameo I really loved but won’t spoil for you. Enjoy!

7 out of 10

Smile Worthy

 

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