Ryan Reynolds – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

MAYDAY – Review by Susan Granger

September 18, 2026September 20, 2026 Susan Granger Apple TV+, John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, kenneth Branagh, Marien Dorocinski, Mayday, Ryan Reynolds

Mayday premiered on Apple TV earlier this month and has already become one of the ‘most watched’ action/buddy comedies of the season. Set in 1987, Ryan Reynolds stars as cocky U.S. Navy pilot Troy ‘Assassin’ Kelly who is forced to eject from his top-secret Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spy plane to avoid a deadly collision over the Siberian forest during the last days of the Cold War. Wounded and stranded behind the Iron Curtain, he’s befriended by Kenneth Branagh, playing Nikolai ‘Nik’ Ustinov, an eccentric ex-KGB officer who is obsessed with American pop culture and dreams of defecting with his estranged daughter Anna (Maria Bakalova).

Reviews

IT ENDS WITH US – Review by Susan Granger

December 29, 2024December 29, 2024 Susan Granger blake lively, Brandon Sklenar, Christy Hall, Colleen Hoover, It Ends With Us, Justin Baldoni, netflix, Ryan Reynolds

The romantic drama It Ends With Us has become far better known for its behind-the-scenes controversy than its impact at the box-office. When actor/producer/director Justin Baldoni optioned Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel about a toxic, abusive relationship and cast Blake Lively as its star, he obviously had no inkling about the on-set tension that would erupt. But after filming was completed, Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds deliberately avoided Baldoni and his wife Emily at the premieres. Apparently, Lively, having just given birth to her fourth child, felt Baldoni had “fat-shamed” her about her body and allegedly lingered too long in a kissing scene. So what about the picture itself?

Reviews

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE – Review by Susan Granger

August 5, 2024September 21, 2024 Susan Granger Deadpool & Wolverine, disney, Hugh Jackman, marvel studios, mcu, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy

The cinematic summer of 2024 was saved by two cartoons (Inside Out 2 & Despicable Me 4) and the irreverent live-action comic book adventure Deadpool & Wolverine, marking the return of wisecracking Ryan Reynolds’ fun-loving, red spandex-clad pansexual antihero.

Reviews

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE – Review by Susan Kamyab

July 23, 2024July 26, 2024 Susan Kamyab Deadpool & Wolverine, disney, Hugh Jackman, marvel studios, mcu, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy

The idea of Deadpool and Wolverine starring in a film together has been teased for years, and now that dream is coming to fruition with the action-packed and hilarious new Marvel movie. While the plot won’t really stick with you, the fight sequences paired with one of the best soundtracks will, proving Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” has powerful effect when it is played in any circumstance. Deadpool & Wolverine is non-stop laughs, surprises, and fun. The dynamic duo we have been waiting for delivers with energetic, witty, and unforgettable performances that leave you wanting more.

Reviews

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE – Review by T. J. Callahan

July 23, 2024July 23, 2024 T. J. Callahan Deadpool & Wolverine, disney, Hugh Jackman, marvel studios, mcu, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy

Make way for the Marvel Messiah and his saber-clawed sidekick as they lead us through the summer blockbuster season. Don’t let the Disney/Marvel Studios logo fool you, Deadpool & Wolverine is the raunchiest superhero tandem that ever jumped from the comic book pages to the big screen. You’re going to need a scorecard to keep up with all the character cameos, former film references and sight gags.

Reviews

IF – Review by T.J. Callahan

May 16, 2024May 16, 2024 T. J. Callahan Bradley Cooper, Cailey Fleming, emily blunt, IF, invisible friends, john krasinski, matt damon, paramount pictures, Ryan Reynolds, sam rockwell, vince vaughn

IF was conceived by John Krasinski (of The Office fame) as a lasting reminder to his daughters that life doesn’t always have to be fun, but it shouldn’t stop us from trying. He also took on the roles of director and co-star as well as the task of amassing a who’s who of live and voiceover cast and crew including fellow Office mate Steve Carell as Blue, the big purple IF.

Reviews

SPIRITED – Review by Martha K Baker

November 17, 2022November 18, 2022 Martha K. Baker (Archived Contributor) Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Ryan Reynolds, Spirited, Sunita Mani, will farrell

Turns out the Afterlife is a musical. Who knew? Unfortunately, if Spirited is a model, the Afterlife is tuneless with lyrics as forgettable as a hymn’s 6th verse. We can blame Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for that (some of us are still blaming them for La La Land). We can also blame casting non-singers as leads in a musical.

Reviews

THE ADAM PROJECT – Review by Susan Granger

March 14, 2022March 15, 2022 Susan Granger jennifer garner, Mark Ruffalo, netflix, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, The Adam Project, Walker Scobell, zoe saldana

Still grieving over the death of his father, nerdy, asthmatic 12-year-old Adam finds it difficult to cope with school bullies. Then, one night, he discovers a wounded fighter pilot hiding in his garage.
To Adam’s astonishment, the pilot turns out to be a buff, older version of himself from 2050, when time-travel is trendy. He needs incredulous young Adam to help him on a secret mission which involves going back to 2018 to find their workaholic physicist father, who can save future mankind from total chaos by changing the past.

Reviews

FREE GUY – Review by Susan Granger

February 21, 2022February 26, 2022 Susan Granger Free Guy, Lil Rel Howery, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, Taika Waititi

If you missed Ryan Reynolds’ adventure/comedy Free Guy at theaters, it’s streaming on Disney+. Reynolds plays Guy, a mild-mannered bank teller who discovers he’s actually a background player in a popular, mayhem-filled video game called ‘Free City.’ When he falls in love with Molotov Girl, a spunky, sunglass-wearing, leather-clad biker-chick, he faces an existential crisis and decides to reinvent himself as a hero.

Reviews

RED NOTICE – Review by Susan Granger

November 10, 2021November 13, 2021 Susan Granger Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, netflix, Rawson Marshall Thurber, Red Notice, Ryan Reynolds

Billed as a globe-trotting, comedic action/adventure, Red Notice is a total waste of time and talent. There’s a mystery surrounding three exquisite bejeweled eggs given to Cleopatra by Mark Antony on their wedding day. Problem is: clumsy screenwriter/director Rawson Marshall Thurber hasn’t a clue how to delineate characters, write dialogue, and propel the incoherent mystery/action plot in order to set up this future franchise.

← Previous