Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “Deadpool & Wolverine”
It’s somewhat ironic that the movie that has given Marvel Studios its first major hit in years is basically a celebration of the Fox Marvel films that helped usher in the superhero movie craze. Though fans have been wondering how Deadpool would be introduced into the MCU ever since the Disney-Fox merger, “Deadpool & Wolverine” smartly avoids the conversation by setting the story in the multiversal Void, thus allowing for maximum fan service in the form of fun cameos and what-if scenarios. For as great as that fan service is, however, “Deadpool & Wolverine” succeeds due to the chemistry between its title characters — and more specifically, stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. Though the juvenile humor gets a bit tiresome, “Deadpool & Wolverine” has enough laughs, cool set pieces and unexpected pathos to keep the franchise thriving under the Disney banner.
Extras include an audio commentary by Reynolds and director Shawn Levy, as well as a trio of behind-the-scenes featurettes, a tribute to longtime Marvel Studios collaborator Ray Chan, some deleted scenes and a gag reel. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
Also Out This Week:
“Twisters” — It’s kind of surprising that it took this long to get a sequel to 1996’s “Twister” because it was one of the biggest films of the late ‘90s, and Hollywood loves easy money. Of course, Lee Isaac Chung’s “Twisters” isn’t a sequel in the traditional sense. Though there are plenty of Easter eggs sprinkled throughout, the movie has no direct connection to the original beyond the title font. It’s hard to say whether or not that’s a good thing, but while all three leads deliver solid work — Glen Powell fares the best of the bunch as a storm-chasing social media influencer — the characters just aren’t as engaging as the original cast. The action beats are certainly bigger and more intense, and it’s technically impressive, but after sitting through decades of disaster films, it lacks the same punch as its predecessor. Extras include an audio commentary by Chung, a behind-the-scenes look at making the film, deleted scenes and a gag reel. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Cuckoo” — German-born filmmaker Tilman Singer may only have two feature films to his name, but with “Cuckoo,” he’s created a genre flick that’s substantially more fascinating than a majority of the movies out there. Though it’s a bit messy at times due to its undercooked plot, “Cuckoo” is a wholly unique horror-thriller that commits to its strangeness with such conviction that you can’t help but buy into its premise. There are some plot holes along the way, but Singer makes up for the narrative issues with an excellent (and eerie) atmosphere, great sound design and solid performances from Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens, the latter of whom is quickly becoming one of the best character actors in the business. “Cuckoo” isn’t for everyone, but for those in search of something a little different from the usual horror fare, it’s an entertaining creature feature that establishes Singer as a filmmaker to watch. Extras include a making-of featurette, cast and crew interviews, deleted scenes and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Borderlands” — Based on the hit video game series of the same name, “Borderlands” is another soulless adaptation of a beloved IP that plays like an Uwe Boll version of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The story is so generic that it feels like it was written by AI, while the cringey dialogue does none of the actors any favors. Jack Black at least doesn’t have to show his face as the voice of the smart-aleck robot Claptrap, but it’s pretty embarrassing watching Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett (who admitted to accepting the role to escape “COVID madness” during lockdown) involved in such a mess — almost as embarrassing as the idea of Kevin Hart as an action hero. Though “Borderlands” isn’t quite the dumpster fire that many have claimed, it’s still a dull and forgettable action-comedy that tries too hard to be something it’s not. Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the film. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
