Feb 12 2016

Deadpool Good. Don’t Take The Kids.

You may have heard that there is a movie based on the comic book character known as Deadpool. I have seen it. It is good. It is not for children. Don’t take the kids. Leave the kids at home. Can we be more clear?

Deadpool Infographic - Douchebags and Heroes

That’s not to say the Deadpool movie isn’t childish. It’s totally childish, in the best way. (See this Nerdist review for more.) I’ve often said that video games should have an “IM” rating for “Immature” instead of “M” for “Mature”, because often “Mature” means dirty jokes and boobies. The Deadpool movie has both of those, but it also does a nice job of showing the darker side of the title character, showing that it would kind of suck to be Wade Wilson.

More importantly for ‘Pool fans (of which I am one), the movie hits a lot of things from the comic books from which DP spawned (including the whole “it would suck to be Wade Wilson” part). That’s something that a lot of the reviews I’ve been reading seem to forget, or perhaps the critics simply don’t know the source material. (“Use the Source, Luke.”) Deadpool doesn’t break the fourth wall because the filmmakers thought it would be “cute” or “subversive”, he does it because that’s how the character is written. He knows he’s in a comic book, therefore he knows he’s in a movie. It’s a fairly simple concept that has huge potential, some of which was realized in this movie.

Also worth mentioning is that the Deadpool movie is not excessively long. It’s under two hours, which these days feels like a gift. We all know I loved The Avengers movie, and that was a long flick. But there’s something to be said for leaving people wanting more instead of dragging on for too long.

Something else: can we get some love for Leslie Uggams? She makes a great Blind Al, and the filmmakers manage to work her into the movie seamlessly, which was a pleasant surprise. I’m a little annoyed that she isn’t getting more attention. Here’s a classic video of her from a long time ago when she messed up the lyrics to a song but kept going anyway. I like Leslie. Always have.

The entire cast is solid, but Ryan Reynolds and T.J. Miller are getting enough press. Let’s hear it for Leslie Uggams!

Bottom line: the Deadpool movie is fun, violent, and not for young kids. You could do worse for a Valentine’s Day date film, depending upon who your date is.

If you want to pick up a good Deadpool comic, this one, the start of a fantastic run by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn, with art by Tony Moore (at least for awhile), is a good place to start: Deadpool Vol.1: Dead Presidents, currently available for only $3.99 on Comixology/Kindle, which is a freakin’ bargain. You can read the entire run via Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, which I’ve gone on and on about and is still a great deal.

I leave you with this image. It has nothing to do with Deadpool, it is a public domain image of a comic book featuring characters that are unlikely to ever get any screen time at all. Although Magno & Davey does have a certain ring to it…

FourFavorites0801

FourFavorites0801 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


Feb 13 2015

Two Crown Royal Cocktails For Valentine’s Day

The good people at Crown Royal (more specifically, their always friendly and pleasant publicists) have two tasty suggestions for those who wish to get their drink on (responsibly) this Valentine’s Day.

What we like about these cocktails is that neither looks difficult to make. Also, thanks to the DaddyTips Road Trips we’ve taken courtesy of Crown Royal, we feel confident that these drinks will be tasty. (We haven’t tried them, but we’ve sampled enough Crown to know that we like it.) So here you go, two cocktails. Enjoy responsibly! And happy Valentine’s Day to all.

Apple of My Eye

Apple Of My Eye Crown Royal cocktail
1.5oz Crown Royal Regal Apple
4oz Cranberry Juice
Serve in a rocks glass over ice and garnish with apple wedge

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Cherry Jubilee

Cherry Jubilee Crown Royal cocktail
1.5 oz. Piehole Cherry Pie
0.25 oz. orange juice
0.25 oz. grenadine
1 splash sour mix


Feb 13 2014

50 Valentine’s Day Gifts Under $50 (Links)

Our friend Tracy at TeeWii put together a terrific list of 50 Valentine’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Although time is tight (Valentine’s Day is, well, tomorrow), if you haven’t gotten your sweetie a gift, here are a lot of excellent suggestions that won’t break the bank.

Valentines heart

Also: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day Wish List: 50 Gifts Under $50 | TeeWii.

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Feb 14 2013

Happy Valentine’s Day From The Dirty Sock Funtime Band (And A Free Song)

Here’s a video from The Dirty Sock Funtime Band wishing you a happy Valentine’s Day. Also, you can download a new free song from the band. What could be bad?

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZkldLTQkAU]

Mama’s Song (The Most) – Free Download