In 2020, Rob and Ryan teamed up to purchase the 5th tier Red Dragons in the hopes of turning the Club into an underdog story the whole world could root for. The world took notice and the Club achieved back-to-back promotions to bring the Reds into the English Football League’s League One for the first time in 20 years. As they continue to rise in the pyramid, the stakes get higher with a new level of intensity, competition and costs, all while the Club continues to be plagued with injury and fans demand the signing of new talent. Dedicated staff and supporters celebrate the team’s climb toward the Premiership while bracing against the new-found challenges that come with each new tier up the EFL. Will Wrexham AFC rise to the challenge and do what no team has ever done before?

Wrexham AFC Women’s Team continues to battle amongst the top teams in the Welsh Adran Premier League and strives to stand out amidst a crowded field of talented women footballers. With new players and continued support from the Club and fans, can they make a name for themselves at the top of the League?

Meanwhile, somewhere in a galaxy far away… actually, a series of towns, cities and boroughs likely across Wales, England and California, Humphrey Ker trains for a marathon. Will Wrexham AFC’s beloved Executive Director raise funds for charity, survive humiliation at the hands of the players and staff, and complete 26.2 miles without injury or chaffing?

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are once again front and centre, doubling down on their passion project with every ounce of Hollywood hustle and hometown grit. After back-to-back promotions, Wrexham now stands tall in League One, a meteoric rise that feels almost too good to be true. But with greater glory comes greater pressure, and this season doesn’t shy away from the growing pains of trying to build a David that can stand toe-to-toe with Goliath.

Season Four is all about momentum and ambition. The chips are on the table, and Reynolds and McElhenney are pushing hard, setting their sights on the Championship League, and one day, the hallowed ground of the Premier League. But the road is steep, the competition fierce, and the margins razor-thin. The drama hits hard both on and off the field, and as the owners go all-in, the pressure builds in every frame. This is no longer just a feel-good story. It’s a full-blown campaign of passion, pride, and persistence.

What’s always made Welcome to Wrexham a standout is its emotional core, and Season Four keeps that heart beating strong. While the football action thrills, it’s the people of Wrexham who truly make the series shine. From small business owners to lifelong fans, each episode offers powerful, personal stories of community, resilience, and hope. The club’s rise has re-energised the town, and the series captures that spirit with warmth and authenticity. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll cheer: sometimes all in one episode.

Visually, the series continues to impress with slick production and a cinematic touch that elevates the drama. Reynolds and McElhenney’s on-screen chemistry delivers both levity and leadership, as they balance their roles as entertainers and owners with genuine care and commitment. And when setbacks hit, they hit hard, reminding us that this isn’t scripted. It’s real. It’s raw. And it’s beautiful.

Season Four of Welcome to Wrexham is pure fire. A story of grit, glory, and the unrelenting belief that anything is possible. Whether you’re a die-hard football fan or just love a damn good story, this season scores big. Up the town!

Welcome to Wrexham is now streaming on Disney+.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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The Time Variance Authority (TVA), a bureaucratic organization that exists outside of time and space and monitors the timeline, pulls Wade Wilson / Deadpool from his quiet life and set him on a mission that will change the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) alongside Wolverine.

Marvel Studios fans have been waiting with bated breath to see what would become of the completely outlandish and over-the-top mercenary anti-hero Deadpool and whether or not he would ever find a home in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Deadpool took pride in being a Rated-R character, and we were often left wondering if we would ever see him in the MCU. Well, after much patience and a whole lot of wish fulfilment, fans the world over now have their wish as Wade Wilson/Deadpool completely gatecrashes the MCU as only he can, and he’s bringing along the X-Men’s gruff loner Logan/Wolverine with him. And the whole experience makes Deadpool & Wolverine an utterly epic cinematic event!

Hollywood megastar Ryan Reynolds has made it his life’s mission to bring Deadpool’s story to the big screen, and so far, he’s succeeded in being a total double shot of Deadpool in 2016’s Deadpool and 2018’s Deadpool 2 to cinemas. Now he’s aiming for a triple winner with Deadpool & Wolverine, and this is the ultimate fanboy/fangirl, wish-fulfilment, comic book movie experience that we’ve been longing for. And it’s AWESOME. Helping Reynolds to shape this crazy feature together is Shawn Levy, a frequent collaborator and long-time friend of the star, and the two bring a boundless sense of energy and totally unfiltered creativity to the picture that ramps up the excitement minute-by-minute. Levy’s working relationship with both Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, two former collaborators, allows him to let each actor play to their strengths, both dramatically and comedically, and the result leads to a very special watch.

The prospect of seeing Ryan Reynolds return for a third Deadpool movie is incredibly exciting, and being teamed up with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine only adds to his energetic sense of fun. Bringing Deadpool into the MCU is a big step for Reynolds, and he has a lot of fun playing around with the literal concept of Marvel as a brand, while his ad-libs will leave you in hysterics. And there are many of them. Clad in his form-fitting red costume and spinning his swords with glee, Deadpool goes for it this time. And it’s a literal universe-saving mission for this character. While he’s a completely anarchic and wild character, Deadpool & Wolverine leaves him with a ‘literal’ world-saving mission, and for the first time, we see him get serious as a character. Deadpool & Wolverine gives Reynolds a real about-face turn to play as the Merc with the Mouth, and there’s a whole heap of dramatic tension and character development movements that make his third outing as the character that much more memorable.

We never thought we’d see it, but Hugh Jackman has decided to bring out the claws for another outing as the X-Men’s resident berserker, Wolverine. And it’s a performance unlike you’ve ever seen him give before. After the heart-wrenching performance of Logan, we thought that was the final curtain call for Jackman’s Wolverine. But leave it to Deadpool to find a new way to gift us with the ultimate superhero buddy-comedy and Jackman’s back in a completely new direction with his career-defining character. This version of Logan is a washed-up, burnt-out, and totally fucked-up former X-Men, whose the world’s biggest loser and is content just to drink his immortality away. But cue an encounter with Deadpool, and the claws come out, and these two get into a hell of scrap that eventually forms a partnership that might just be able to save Wade’s world after all. Jackman gives audiences his most comic book-accurate performance of Wolverine to date, and you’ll cheer in amazement when he pulls out the quintessential 1990s yellow and blue suit and goes to town in a pure berserker rage. Jackman goes for it one last time as Wolverine (or is it?) and finds a new dimension to the character that will leave audiences whooping and hollering.

Both Deadpool and Wolverine get put through the wringer in Deadpool & Wolverine, and they face off with one of the creepiest MCU villains yet in the form of totally unhinged telepath Cassandra Nova. Bringing Cassandra, the twin sister and dark shadow to Professor Charles Xavier, is Emma Corrin, and they totally bring it as this psychotic and petulant villain. Filled with deranged narcissism and deviously manipulative, Cassandra is a villain who seers her presence into the audience’s minds, and she puts Wade and Logan through a grinder of pain. Corrin’s performance reminds us of characters similar to Hans Landa and Angelica Pickles, and this gleeful sadism that they inject into the role of Cassandra will keep audiences on edge and give Deadpool & Wolverine a different set of world-ending stakes than audiences are used to.

Deadpool & Wolverine is an MCU event unlike anything we’ve seen before, and it completely stands out as an original and highly creative piece of entertainment. From its hard R rating, sensational comedy and fourth wall breaks, and self-referential narrative musings, it’s an utterly wild ride that builds minute by minute, and this is a cinematic experience that needs to be seen on a big screen as part of the movie-going collective. Watching this with others in a cinema leaves you filled with the collective energy and excitement that only a Marvel Studios film can bring, and with all of its twists, turns and surprises, Deadpool & Wolverine is a picture of superhero action-comedy overlord.

While not wanting to fall into SPOILER territory, I will say that Deadpool & Wolverine is pure Marvel Comics fan service with everything you could want. Reynolds, Jackman, and Levy present a film that is a tribute to and a celebration of the superhero movie and the world of Marvel Comics. There are so many incredible surprises in this one that will leave you wide-eyed with amazement. While staying away from narrative-specific lot points, I will say that mutants have made their debut in the MCU, and they’re here to stay!

Deadpool & Wolverine is everything you could want and more, and thanks to its creative narrative, ultraviolent action, whimsical humour and crazy energy, it’s a cinematic experience that MCU-mutant-fan joy that only these two characters can bring.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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In the open world video game Free City, Guy (Reynolds) is a non-player character (NPC) working as a bank teller. Thanks to a program developed by programmers Millie (Comer) and Keys (Keery) inserted into Free City by the publisher Antwan (Waititi), Guy becomes self-aware of his world being a video game, and takes steps to make himself the hero, creating a race against time to save the game before the developers can shut it down.

Taking audiences inside a fully-rendered video game universe come to life is comedy all-star director Shawn Levy and with Ryan Reynolds at his side, these two creative partners craft one of the most enjoyable times at the cinema you’ll have all year. In Free Guy, Levy takes audiences inside the world of Free City, an off-the-wall crazy video game metropolis come to life that is packed out with slick heroes, exploding cars, non-stop gunfire and where the rules of the real world don’t apply. Levy builds a world that is an utter spectacle to witness, and it’s in this crazy environment that he introduces us to Ryan Reynolds’ ever-loveable Guy who is about to level up in a very big way.

Mixing together different genres from action cinema to hair-raising comedy, the heartfelt love story and the blockbuster special effects rollercoaster, Levy crafts what is undoubtedly one of the most original cinematic presentations of the last decade. And it’s so much fun to watch. But what Levy really gets right is the heart and joy of this film, and Free Guy is ultimately the story of an NPC who finds a way to take control of his life and the results are very fun to watch. Mixing together the narratives of both Free City and the real world keeps the narrative of Free Guy very entertaining and Levy and his crew have a lot of fun in taking audiences for a real ride with this one.

Ryan Reynolds might be one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, but in Free Guy, he’s just Guy, an everyday, ordinary bank teller, also known as ‘blue-shirt guy’ who is a little too content with his life. That is until one shocking moment spins his world in a loop and soon Guy’s on a mission not just to be the good guy, but the great guy! Leaning into his spot on improvisation skills Reynolds keeps the energy and momentum of Free Guy fun and engaging, and with this evolving character and his knack for comedic timing you never know what he’s going to do next. There’s also a certain meta quality to Reynolds performance in Free Guy and he fully embraces the fun, zaniness and totally out there energy that exists within this narrative.

Finding herself at the centre of Guy’s world as his ultimate dreamgirl is rising star Jodie Comer as Molotov Girl/Milly and things get very complicated for Comer in this film. Existing as both a Free City avatar, alongside living her life in the real world, Milly goes on quite a journey alongside Guy, and the two of them grow and evolve together throughout the film and form a connection that will absolutely resonate with audiences. Comer is utterly impressive in her first major film appearance and completely keeps up with Reynolds, alongside giving the Canadian performer a real run for the money with her own performance in the film. Great on-screen chemistry keeps things interesting and Comer really makes the role her own.

But every story needs a villain and they don’t come more disdastardly than New Zealand’s very own Taika Waititi in the role of kooky tech publisher Antwan. And Taika’s performance is completely off the wall here! As the puppeteer of Free City, Antwan is only concerned with the profit margin and wielding absolute power has turned him into one hell of a troll and he wastes no time in letting his underlings know where they stand. Waititi makes for a hilariously funny bully as Antwan and there’s a terrific Kiwi flavour to his performance as Antwan, and audiences will be in uncontrollable fits of laughter thanks to his performance and the choices he makes in the role.

Did we mention that Free Guy is a wild ride? Yep, it totally is! The laws of physics don’t apply in the crazy landscape of Free City and it’s incredible to watch this multiplayer video game world come to life on the big screen. Director Shawn Levy and his team really crank up the volume with the action of Free Guy, and Reynolds gets to do some utterly crazy things as he sets off to be the great guy. Free Guy really does have everything you could want in an action movie and the results speak for themselves with some crazy set-pieces. And while I do want to stay away from spoilers, I will say that pop culture fanatics will be in for some thoroughly awesome treats with this movie…so keep your eyes open.

Alongside the action of Free Guy is the comedy. And it’s EPIC! Seriously this film is hilariously funny, and when Reynolds, Comer and Waititi start cracking jokes there’s no stopping them. Plus there’s the nuances and general hilarity of the video game world of Free City and the actions of its ‘community’ of Free City that only adds to the laughs. You can also expect a few hilarious surprises along the way as well, and one such surprise single-handedly had me in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. You’ll know it when you see it, and this special guest really brings out the LOLs of Free Guy. Trust me.

I also can’t forget to mention the heart of Free Guy as well, and there’s plenty to love and adore with this film because at its core Free Guy is ultimately a love story. That’s right, romance is in the air and from the moment he hears Molotov Girl humming Mariah Carey’s ‘Fantasy’ he’s completely smitten and these two go on a wondrous journey of first love as they come together to not only save Free City, but also each other. But that’s not where the love ends, and this digital love spills out into the real world and this is where it gets really interesting in Free Guy. The love that exists between Guy and Molotov Girl is sweet, nostalgic and ultimately heartfelt and audiences will be sure to have all the feels with this one.

From beginning to end, Free Guy is a story of love, adventure and explosions, but Levy, Reynolds, Comer, Waititi and the rest of the cast and crew work to tell a very engaging story of what it means to wake up to your life and ultimately make it the best it can possibly be. This is a story of possibility, optimism and hope, and watching Free Guy you can’t help but feel the joy. Are there obstacles and difficulties to overcome? Of course there are, but this is a story that asks its audience to believe in the possible and shows how working together can ultimately lead to some very big wins. You can’t help but feel joyful and positive after watching this movie and it really is so much fun!

Free Guy is far and away one of the most original and creatively enjoyable pieces of cinema that I can remember watching in a long, long time. Every part of this movie is an utter joy to watch and its perfect combination of creative expression, topline performance, bombastic action and heartfelt romance will leave you with a very big smile on your face. It’s not simply a good movie….IT’S A GREAT MOVIE!

Image: 20th Century Studios

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Four years after the events of the original film, bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) is on a company mandated sabbatical when Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek), the wife of hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) whom Bryce shares an uneasy friendship with, rescues him from an assassination attempt to rescue Darius. Due to his sabbatical, Bryce is not allowed to use firearms or lethal weapons of any kind and must use his wits and intelligence to save Darius and save the day.

Australian director Patrick Hughes returns to helm this much watch sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard, the film that took the world by storm and rewrote the very nature of what action-comedy could be. Now with Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Hughes really cranks up the volume and this time the action is gnarlier and the comedy is totally off the chain. And trust us when we say that action-comedy doesn’t get much better than this. Right from its opening moments, Hughes cranks everything up and soon the action gets heavy for former ace security expert Michael Bryce (Reynolds) as he is pulled kicking and screaming into another outlandish mission with the foul-mouthed assassin Darius Kincaid (Jackson) and his totally unhinged wife and lover Sonia (Hayek).

Right from the start Hughes puts his foot down and moment after moment the action of this film gets utterly crazy. Whether it’s a wanton path of destruction through the streets of Capri or an explosive yacht chase in the middle of Palermo, Hughes really goes over board with his unique mix of action and comedy. And the audience will get one hell of a rush because of it. While I’m a big fan of action as narrative, here we see action as comedy coming into its own, and Hughes continually throws an array of worsening situations as Reynold’s Bryce, who has to face them on with all his issues, while having to survive the presence of the flamboyantly dangerous Kincaid’s in the process.

Ryan Reynolds is back in top form as security expert Michael Bryce, and he’s in a hell of a funk when we meet up with him again. Carrying a deep sense of anxiety, he is literally ‘forced’ back into the bodyguard profession by the foul-mouthed and totally unhinged Sonia, and then you go in and mix ultimate ‘frenemy’ hitman Darius into the picture and you have one hell of a destructive threesome! Reynolds once again nails his comedic timing, and his talent for improvisation leads to uncontrollable laugh-out-loud moments. He also has to put up with the presence of two Kincaid’s now and this leads to plenty of questionable choices on behalf of Mr Bryce. And did we mention that his newfound sabbatical mindset and unique weapon choices also add to the hilarity.

Again sparring with Reynolds’ Bryce is Samuel L. Jackson’s Darius Kincaid, the most wanted hitman on the planet and one hell of an unpleasant, yet loveable assassin, and their ‘bromance’ has lost none of its fire. Again these two go head-to-head with one another, while also having to survive a host of murderous killers who are out to get them and Jackson proves yet again why he’s one of the best in the business. But aside from sparring with Bryce, Jackson’s Darius undergoes some serious character development here, mostly due to his wife Sonia’s desperate desire to start a family and you can be sure that this adds a whole new level of funny to Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.

But stealing the entire movie is Salma Hayek as the foul-mouthed, psycho-would be baby mana Sonia Kincaid! Seriously Hayek completely owns this movie with her performance as Sonia, who we were only briefly introduced to in The Hitman’s Bodyguard, but whom now takes centre stage and who is unbelievably clucky this time around. Yes, she may be able to riddles any bad guy with bullets without a second’s hesitation, but mark my words when I say that Sonia is ‘crazy’ for a baby and this leads to so many memorable moments throughout this film. Without-a-doubt the two most hilarious moments of the film, which include the ‘Swing Scene’ and a ‘Burial At Sea’ scene come at the presence of Hayek’s Sonia and she completely makes this movie the out-of-control rollercoaster of fun that it is.

While there’s comedy aplenty in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, and I mean the most out-of-control, outlandish humour you can imagine, the action of Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is also raised sky-high. Hughes and his team have a serious blast blowing Italy to hell and back. One minute you’re looking out at a beautiful vista over the Italian Riveria, the next minute Bryce, Darius and Sonia are ploughing through it in a minivan with guns blazing, helicopters whirling and rocket-propelled grenades exploding. Yep this is exactly the kind of movie you need in your life at the moment, and Hughes absolutely makes this a blockbuster spectacle in every single way possible.

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is an absolute standout blockbuster that audiences will fall in love with. With hilarious unhinged characters, insane action and some of the most inappropriately laugh-out-loud comedy you’ve ever seen, this is one film that is an absolute winner.

Image: Roadshow Films

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The Croods have survived their fair share of dangers and disasters, from fanged prehistoric beasts to watching their daughter get heart eyes over a new boyfriend. But now they face something that will shake their pack to its core and make them reconsider everything they hold true: another family. The Croods need a new place to live. So, the first prehistoric family sets off into the world in search of a safer place to call home. When they discover an idyllic walled-in paradise that meets all their needs, they think their problems are solved … except for one thing. Another family already lives there: the Bettermans. The Bettermans (emphasis on the “better”) — with their elaborate tree house, amazing inventions and irrigated acres of fresh produce — are a couple of steps above the Croods on the evolutionary ladder. When they take the Croods in as the world’s first houseguests, it isn’t long before tensions reach a breaking point. Just when all seems lost, a new threat will propel both families on an epic adventure outside the safety of the wall, one that will force them to embrace their differences, draw strength from each other and forge a future together.

Picking up after the events of the first film, everyone’s favourite stone-age family, The Croods, who include Grug (Nicolas Cage), Ugga (Catherine Keener),  Eep (Emma Stone), Guy (Ryan Reynolds) Thunk (Clark Duke), Sandy (Kailey Crawford) and Gran (Cloris Leachmen), find themselves coming face to face with an all-new modern world and it soon becomes harder and harder for the pack to stay together. Director Joel Crawford makes this a fun one for the whole family with jokes and laughs that will appeal to both little viewers, along with their parents who are also along for the ride. In addition to the humour which pokes fun at the Croods interaction with the ‘modern world’, the film’s animation is packed full of glorious sights and plenty of colour and it creates a visual spectacle that sucks you into this story of family, and why it’s essential to stick together no matter what.

Casting wise, The Croods: A New Age has a spot on cast with the likes of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener and Ryan Reynolds, and this time they come up against a brand new pre-historic family, who are a touch more modern, with The Betterman’s who consist of Phil (Peter Dinklage), Hope (Leslie Mann) and their teenage daughter Dawn (Kelly Marie Tran). And this conflict of lifestyle and outlook is where the fun begins. As a viewer, it’s great to see Cage and Keener go up against their total opposite characters in the form of Dinklage’s chillaxed Phil and Mann’s high-strung Hope, and their interactions lead to plenty of laughs. Dinklage and Mann are a real hoot to watch in The Croods: A New Age and they infuse their vocal performances with a great sense of character that pulls audiences deeper into the narrative.

Adding more conflict to the narrative is the continuing romance of the Crood’s daughter Eep (Emma Stone) who is now head over heels in love with Guy (Ryan Reynolds), and it’s in this modern setting where things get interesting for these characters. While Guy adapts ‘a little too well’ to his new environment, Eep is a wild child at heart and their romance is tested to the utmost with some hilarious results along the way. Stone once again has a blast in the role of Eep and her chemistry with Reynolds’ Guy is fun to watch. And then there’s her new BFF Dawn (Kelly Marie Tran) whom she introduces to the wild side of life and these two make the most of a pre-historic landscape just waiting to be torn up with uncontrollable adventures.

As a cinematic experience, The Croods: A New Age also mark s a great return to cinema for family-friendly animated movies, and it’s the type of film we could all use after this year. With a tightly paced narrative, great character interactions, whimsical comedy, gorgeously rendered visuals and a thumping score and soundtrack, The Croods: A New Age offers up a great time out at the movies that every member of the family will enjoy. Films that are just straight out fun like The Croods: A New Age have been few and far between this year because of the ongoing pandemic, so to have a movie that’s this fun, and enjoyable, and more so in cinemas, is a reason to celebrate.

The holiday season is fast approaching and there’s no better movie to enjoy over it than The Croods: A New Age. It’s perfect family fun out at the movies in every single way, and the whole family will be smiling with this one.

Image: Universal Pictures 

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In the Pokémon universe, Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) is a failed Pokémon Trainer and the son of prominent detective Harry Goodman. When his father disappears in a car crash, Tim arrives in Ryme City and ends up meeting Detective Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) who was Harry’s former Pokémon partner. Tim is somehow able to understand the Detective and they reluctantly team up to find Harry and uncover the mystery surrounding his disappearance.

Pokémon. It’s a media landscape that has touch all of our lives and now it comes to life on screen in an amazing piece of cinema that is packed out with incredible CGI visuals and plenty of heart and it’s just AWESOME! Director Rob Letterman really gets to the heart of why we love Pokémon so much here and he brings a strong sense of detail to the film and his breadth and command of world building narrative really makes for something impressive here.

Letterman also brings a strong relationship narrative to the film between our lead character Tim Goodman and Detective Pikachu and it’s interesting to watch these two characters grow and develop throughout the film. Letterman’s success with Detective Piukachu really boils down to his understanding that this film needs to be fun, and even though there are great scenes of danger and action he really takes it back to the idea of enjoyment and love, which is why many of us first fell in love with this world and its characters to begin with.

Anytime Ryan Reynolds returns with a new project I’m well excited and his performance here as the titular Detective Pikachu is pure comedic gold. Reynolds is the type of comedian who can just freestyle the hilarity and his unique handling of words and how they play into the situational comedy that he’s handling result in terrific hilarity. But along with the comedy that Reynolds brings to the film there is also the warmth and heart as well, and he brings a reassuring sense of calm as he looks out for Tim. Reynolds has played a large variety of very unique characters throughout his career, but they don’t come more cute, cuddly or comedic than Detective Pikachu and it’s a performance that will really get you going.

Joining Reynolds are newcomers Justice Smith as Tim Goodman and Kathryn Newton as Lucy Stevens. Smith’s Tim is young man who is lost in the world and doesn’t really have any plan for how he wants his life to unfold. That is until a sparky yellow Pikachu who likes coffee a bit too much suddenly shows up on his doorstep and drafts him into this adventure. Smith plays off Reynolds really well and their shared character arc has a lot of interesting development to it. Kathryn Newton’s Lucy on the other hand is an aspiring journalist who is on the track of a large Pokémon conspiracy and soon becomes embroiled in the adventure of Pikachu and Tim and with her own Psyduck beside her, this new team get up to plenty of amazing things together.

Lending the film a great gravitas of authority is Ken Watanabe as Detective Hideo Yoshida, a veteran police officer and Tim’s father’s supervisor who offers him plenty of guidance along the way. Watanabe’s zen cool gives the film plenty of balance and he has a real presence that gives our young heroes plenty of reassurance as they march off to uncover the vast conspiracy before them.

It also must be said that the CGI and visual effects of Pokémon Detective Pikachu are absolutely phenomenal. All of this converges in Rhyme City, a Pokémon/Human oasis where both species live in harmony together and it’s easy to get swept up into the visual splendour of the images that arrive before us. Mixed into this is also the incredible action that we’ve come to expect from Pokémon and the battles do get big, especially the raging showdown between Pikachu and Charizard and this cage fight gets EPIC pretty quickly. I also loved that Letterman also brings a strong ecological theme to the surface here as he looks into the relationship between humans and the world around us and my favourite scene in the film echoes this beautiful pilgrimage through nature between Tim and Pikachu that has the overlays of traditional Japanese shinto wrapped into it.

In terms of a viewing experience it simply doesn’t get more fun than Pokémon Detective Pikachu and this is a film that will really put a smile on your face! Pika Pika.

Image: Roadshow Films

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Foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (AKA. Deadpool), brings together a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy of supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-travelling mutant, Cable.

Ever since I walked out of Deadpool in 2016 I was obsessing over a Deadpool sequel. I wanted it. Badly. And well now we’ve got it. Canada’s favourite son Ryan Reynolds has now returned to he big screen as the fast-talking merc mutie and he’s got plenty of hijinks ready this time around. Teaming up with director David Leitch (one of the guys who killed the dog in John Wick), the two really push the envelope with a film that is bigger, funnier and an all-around ballsier watch (both figuratively and literally). Reynolds and Leitch have really upped the ante this time around and have taken what works and added a whole heap more fireworks which results in an explosion of fun!

Reynolds again shines in the role of Wade Wilson/Deadpool, a former good looking anti-hero with a heart of gold, who is now a radioactive Shar Pei-looking anti-hero with a heart of gold. Continuing in his story to make some kind of normal life for himself while also “travelling the world and meeting new and interesting people….and then killing them”, Wade finds his life thrown into a crisis and begins a dramatic search for new meaning. Reynolds once again crushes it with both the action and the comedy and what results is just pure genius.

His spot on comedic timing is just flat out perfect and he continually one ups himself with his joke line-up. While there are too many solid jokes to choose from I think my favourite this time around would have to be his comments made about Deadpool/Cable creator Rob Liefeld’s inability to draw feet. It was a line that had me in stitches, and I seriously haven’t laughed this hard in a long, long time.

But while Deadpool might be the lighthearted soul of the party, he gets a serious dose of a dark, metal future in the form of Josh Brolin’s time-traveling super soldier Cable! As soon as I heard Cable would be along for the sequel I was excited, and then when I heard that he’d be played by Brolin I was really excited. And yes there was a reason I was this excited and it all played up on screen. Shredded to the bone and packing some very big guns, Brolin is one badass bruiser as Cable and he doesn’t have any time for Deadpool’s comedy routine. Instead, he’s got a job to do and he tears through anyone who gets in his way. Brolin’s performance is absolutely bad to the bone and if you remember the 90s well you’ll be very impressed with this performance.

I also have to talk about the arrival of X-Force as well! Yep, that’s right, the most 90s of 1990s superhero teams make their way up onto the big screen and it will really leave you in hysterics! We’re talking about the arrival of Domino (the astounding Zazie Beetz), Bedlum (Terry Crews), Zeitgeist (Bill Skarsgard), Shatterstar (Lewis Tan) and Peter (Rob Delaney). This is an A-Team for a brand new generation, and their appearance in the film doesn’t disappoint. Beetz really holds her own up on screen and all I can say is that I want to see a lot more Domino in the future.

In talking about Deadpool 2 you also can’t overlook the huge contribution that fresh young talent Julian Dennison brings to the film. This rising Kiwi star made a big splash in Hunt for the Wilderpeople and here he makes a great addition to the film as a very angry kid called Russell. While I can’t go into who Russell is or why his appearance in this film is so significant, but what I will say is that Dennison really gives Reynolds a run for his money with his comedy. He’s just a one-liner king and with his extremely volatile superpowers and propensity to cause trouble (he’s still a very bad egg), Dennison is the cherry on the top of Deadpool 2.

Deadpool 2 has twice the action of Deadpool and this makes it a feast for your optic nerve. Big, bold and extremely explosive is how I’d describe the action here. Not only do we have Deadpool’s acrobatic swordplay, but Cable brings the firepower which is mixed alongside a highly combustible combination of unchecked superpowers which really make the big screen go BOOM! It’s a very fun rollercoaster…and you’ll want to ride it multiple times.

And while I know Marvel might own the realm of post-credit sequences, well all I’ll say is that Deadpool 2 really gives them a run for their money. Please do stick around.

So should you go and see Deadpool 2 at the movies??? UM YESSS!!! It’s an absolute riot from beginning to end, packed out with a good dose of ultra-violence, some quality raunchy comedy, plenty of over-the-top superpowers and Peter! Yep, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Image: 20th Century Fox

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Executive protection agent Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) had it all….until it was all taken away from him. Now eeking out a living as a meagre ‘bodyguard’ Bryce finds himself caught up in protecting his nefarious mortal enemy, and wise cracking hitman Darius Kincaid () for Interpol, who is on his way to testify against ruthless dictator () at The Hague. But when everything goes to hell Bryce and Kincaid are forced into a wild and unpredictable road trip that will test them to their core. They might just save the day….unless they kill each other first.

If you love in-your-face and over-the-top action then you’re in for a treat with The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Director Patrick Hughes throws audiences into a 1980s buddy-movie throwback that comes with a whole lot of crazy and a lot more swearing. While today’s audiences are used to a more streamlined comic books style of action filmmaking, Hughes throws all of that out here. His action is heavily choreographed and arrives from out of nowhere, which as an audience member completely takes you by surprise. But this is not just action for action’s sake, and every moment of the film has a bigger piece to play in the film’s overall narrative.

And then there’s the perfect duopoly of Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson as mortal enemies turned unexpected allies. But neither of these cats are heroes. Reynolds is ambitious and incredibly egotistical as Bryce, while Jackson’s Kincaid….well Kincaid is just one badass motherfucker who doesn’t give a shit. But put these two together and you have the recipe for one hell of a fun time in the cinema. The Hitman’s Bodyguard takes the structure of the traditional buddy-cop genre and throws it out the window, as these two, well, they really hate each other. And this never ending battle to not kill one another, and instead, kill the bad guys makes for a movie that is really fun to watch.

But while there’s all kinds of crazy going on, Hughes also uses his characters for a unique analysis of the themes of hero and villain. While Reynold’s Bryce would normally be treated as the typical hero, except his job is to protect an unholy host of scumbags and criminals. Kincaid, on the other hand, is the all around bad guy, except he makes his living killing even worse guys for a living. Hughes ability to play with the morality of his characters and make his audiences question the nature of hero and villain is something incredibly different in an action film of this size….and with this many explosions.

Then there’s Selma. Oh yes, Selma Hayek makes an appearance in this film, and this lady is so grand. Oh so perfectly cast as Kincaid’s wife Sonia, Selma is Jackson’s perfect counterpart in every way. Their romantic introduction together takes the best moment of any 80s romance film, and then add’s a good helping of gore to it. Then there’s their back and forth of love, hate and more love which is so damn cute to watch. It’s fun to see romance this honest up on screen, and their chemistry is so-good together that I’m calling for a Darius/Sonia sequel right now. This romance is real and is a testament that some characters are truly meant to be together.

Finally, I have to mention the film’s epic motorcycle chase scene through the streets of Amsterdam. BECAUSE. IT. IS. EPIC. I haven’t seen anything this inventive up on a movie screen in a long time, and Hughes and his stunt team go to work in the third act with this uncontrollable piece of motorized choreography. Trust me when I say this scene is worth the cost of admission alone.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard is one all around crazy film, and that’s a really good thing. Sometimes you just need a good dose of crazy to lose yourself in at the cinema and The Hitman’s Bodyguard is certainly perfect movie to do that in. So buy that ticket and take that ride to peak Reynolds/Jackson….you won’t regret it.

Image: Roadshow Films

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Set in the not so distant future, Life follows the activities of a group of astronauts and scientists on the International Space Station, as they discover a brand new alien discovery from the planet Mars. But their initial celebration soon turns into a mission of critical containment, as their discovery turns against them, threatening the very existence of the Earth itself.

If you’re looking for a sci-fi thriller horror ride then Life is worth your money. Throughout its engaging 103 minutes, Espinosa takes audience expectations and throws it back in their faces with some intriguing twists and breathtaking scares.

Espinosa and noted screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick have crafted a well-thought haunted house of a movie that focuses on a core group of astronauts that include Jake Gyllenhaal as Dr. David Jordan, an American medical officer; Rebecca Ferguson as Dr. Miranda North, a British quarantine officer; Ariyon Bakare as Hugh Derry, a British biologist, and Ryan Reynolds as Rory Adams, an American engineer and pilot officer of the ISS.

But Life is not a character study, and the action ramps up quickly with the discovery of a single cell alien organism of nerve and muscle tissue that is christened Calvin. It’s here that the trouble begins, and Espinosa unleashes one of his most potent themes: humanity’s god complex.

Excited by his discovery, Bakare’s Derry is soon obsessed by the growing organism, and sees it as a possibility to potentially cure the deadly paralysis that has crippled him on earth. Constantly poking and prodding the new specimen, he soon incites its anger. It is Derry’s belief in his own superiority and intelligence that puts Earth in danger, and is a chilling reminder that no man can ever be as clever as the universe.

Espinosa raises the stakes again and again with a series of thrills as Gyllenhaal, Ferguson and Reynolds desperately try to contain Calvin within the ISS. Every tragic misstep by the crew is well thought out, with Espinosa presenting his characters with tough decisions and multiple-choice pathways. Turn to the left and escape, or turn to the right and face death. The choices are far from simple, and as an audience member you’re caught off guard just as much as the astronauts are.

Life also makes special use of its unique setting: outer space. Ninety-five percent of the action is set in zero-gravity, and it’s thrilling to watch the long steadicam passes as our heroes glide through the silent corridors of the ISS doing their best to outsmart Calvin. Espinosa also uses the space of the ISS in an interesting way, at first presenting it as this stunning piece of human ingenuity before turning it into a twisting and jagged maze of dangerous turns.

Extensive CGI is used to make the most of the film’s space setting, and to realise the ever-evolving creepiness of Calvin. At first appearing as nothing more than a piece of muscle tissue, this alien life form grows into a terrifying mess of a creature.

Bold and original, this film contained one of the most shocking and memorable endings that I can remember seeing in a long time. Life means to scare and shock…and it certainly accomplished both.

Image: Sony Pictures

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