The summer movie wave of 2023, featured “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” and swept the box office. Obviously, any movies made after will be understandably somewhat of a letdown. “Deadpool and Wolverine,” however, amazed in its own beautiful way and punched its ticket as the movie of the season.
When I walked into the drafty Regal American Mall Movie Theater in Lima, my expectations for “Deadpool and Wolverine” were slim to none. While the first and second “Deadpool” got the job done, they were not the enjoyable and fun experience I looked for while reclining and watching a movie in theaters during summertime.
And of course, my brain had almost exploded when I watched “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” in theaters last summer. I told myself back then, “This is the peak of cinema,” the luxury of being able to watch an atomic bomb drop in HD and then Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling excel in their respective roles. I really didn’t think it could get any better. I was wrong. Deadpool was a killer.
It featured Ryan Reynolds (of course), Hugh Jackman, Blake Lively, Jennifer Garner and Channing Tatum, because, why not? The plot was fantastic as well, dipping into the Marvel alternate timelines, combining juicy action scenes and a hint of romance from Reynolds. Without spoiling, it was simply a masterclass of a movie, especially to watch in theaters, that was captivating for the full duration of the film.
Alas, I would not be a diligent cinephile if I did not also check out its respective competitor for the movie of the summer, “Twisters.” I was a tad biased toward the movie, which is great if you're a columnist for The Post, but not so great if you were the dunderhead who decided to remake “Twisters.”
Why is it that just because a movie was great in the ‘70s, ‘80s or ‘90s, it has to be made into a remake? (looking at you, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”) “Twisters” is no different, a remake of a stellar 1996 film that captivated audiences around the world.
I had a feeling that the remake would try to make the film scientific in some way to better explain the plot. I was sadly wrong. Locking a truck down on the ground in the middle of a tornado and the truck not being blown to smithereens is not scientifically accurate by the way. But I watched the movie the entire way through, and although it appeals to young kids who have never seen a tornado, or suckers for love, or a good southern romance story, it ultimately flopped and did not hold my attention.
“Deadpool” is more classic comedy and action with unexpected gore, you never know when somebody will fall off a cliff or be graphically killed. And in an age when holding the attention of the audience is key, “Deadpool and Wolverine” gets a solid A minus. And stamps its name on the title of “movie of the summer.”
Drew Haughn is a sophomore studying communications at Ohio University. Please note that the opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Drew about his article? Email him at dh061222@ohio.edu or find him on Instagram at haughn_drew24.
