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Posted May 16, 2018 by Scott Davis in Features
 
 

The Preview Reel: Deadpool 2, Book Club, and Show Dogs

Welcome to this week’s “Preview Reel” column, where we look at the week’s upcoming wide-release movies. Avengers: Infinity War was number one at the box office for the third weekend in a row this past week, but that streak is likely to end this weekend with another superhero strolling into cineplexes. Deadpool 2 looks to build off the incredible success of the first installment from two years ago, while Book Club aims for the older crowd and Show Dogs goes for the young ones. There’s something for everyone this week, let’s see what you can expect from these films.

 

Deadpool 2 (2018)

Deadpool 2 posterWhat we are excited about: Deadpool was an unexpected juggernaut in early 2016 as it could do things other comic book movies had never attempted, or aimed to do. The irreverent humor, harsh language, intense violence, and overall juvenileness of it all made it stand out from other comic book movie offerings. Ryan Reynolds portrayal fit the character perfectly, and there is no reason to doubt that they can continue the same success with the sequel. The trailers are packed with meta-jokes, tons of action, and that same energy that made the first movie such a hit. We’re excited to see if they take on comic-book movie sequels the same way they handled the origin story in the first movie, and, if it’s just as entertaining as the first film, this could be a massive hit.

What we are worried about: Deadpool seemed like it was a labor of love and took quite a while to work out all its kinks. The story and tone were worked on for years and that showed in the final product. We’re wondering if the same attention to detail was paid to the sequel or if it was rushed out to capitalize on the first film’s momentum. The second installment has a new director, David Leitch (who did last year’s Atomic Blonde), which we’re hoping results in even better action, but we are wondering if the same humor is going to be as effective. With Reynolds still involved, we imagine that will be the case, but it is something to be aware of.

The Buzz: The buzz around Avengers: Infinity War is starting to slow slightly, which is good news for both Deadpool 2 and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Deadpool 2 will have one weekend essentially to itself before Solo storms in, and we think it will be an even bigger opening than the first film enjoyed. With positive social media reactions (no published reviews as of this writing) and a good marketing effort, we think Deadpool 2 will open to the tune of $150 million.

Final Thoughts: If you loved the humor and the action of the first Deadpool, we’re fairly confident that Deadpool 2 will deliver those same goods.

 

Book Club (2018)

Book Club posterWhat we are excited about: While we are not necessarily the target demographic for this movie, we must admit that Book Club does feature a stellar cast. Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen are four talented, funny actresses that can elevate sub-par source material, which we unfortunately think this is.

What we are worried about: Again, not the target demographic, but this movie just doesn’t look very funny or entertaining. A movie about a book club made up of older women just doesn’t seem to have enough narrative juice to keep us interested.

The Buzz: A lot of attention has been served to the younger crowd over the past month or so, and that could make Book Club a bit of a surprise hit. It won’t compete with any of the blockbusters, but an opening around $10 million would be a win for Paramount.

Final Thoughts: So, if you don’t have any interest in the blockbusters, this could be a nice change of pace from the typical summer fare.

 

Show Dogs (2018)

Show Dogs posterWhat we are excited about: Much like Book Club, we are not the target demographic, but the cast is noteworthy. Will Arnett leads an ensemble that includes Ludacris, Gabriel Iglesias, Shaquille O’Neal, Stanley Tucci, and Alan Cumming. We would much rather see this cast with better source material, which is why we are not terribly excited about this movie.

What we are worried about: All they had to say was, “From the director of Beverly Hills Chihuahua and the Smurf movies” for us to lose all interest. There is an art to making fun family entertainment, but director Raja Gosnell does not seem to possess that knack.

The Buzz: Garnering even less buzz than Book Club, Show Dogs will likely come and go with no fanfare. There are no published reviews as of this writing, but those will likely not affect what will probably be a disappointing outcome. A debut around $7 million is very likely.

Final Thoughts: Skip this and wait for better family-friendly options like The Incredibles 2 in a couple weeks.

Scott Davis

Scott Davis

Scott Davis is a recent graduate of Oakland University where he earned a degree in journalism. He worked for the student newspaper on campus, The Oakland Post, where he became the paper's managing editor. He also earned a minor in Cinema Studies at OU. Scott enjoys all things film and TV related, especially the blockbuster kind. He might be the biggest Christopher Nolan fan you know.