steve-kettel

There's some miserable people out there who couldn't find the joy in this film. If you've ever enjoyed an over the top Cage performance, you'll find flashes of that here, but interspersed with some actual good Cage acting, which only makes you enjoy the whoops and flamboyance even more when they come.

Cage playing Cage by definition adds meaning to the performance, and draws you into the story. You can buy the initial situation, as it rings true. If you can go along with this central deceit (or not deceit?), this buys a lot of credit and is a shortcut into caring about the characters.

And the story and action is fun! The whole film is very likeable, and generates a decent number of proper laughs. Pascal is excellent, as are the rest of the cast.

Go into this without cynicism (as a lot of the ridiculous negative reviews are flooded with), and you'll find this thoroughly watchable.

I really don't understand the hate. This is totally different from other Marvel series and episodes, and it is all the better for it. The bad reviews are from people who either (generously) have no imagination, or more likely have the usual problems with a female lead. Just get over yourselves.

It's funny, clever, well shot, and has enough in there to keep all but the most toxic Marvel fans happy.

The saddest thing is that this probably won't get another season after being unjustifiably review bombed, and we'll end up with another boring season of something that is more conventional cannon, when there is and should continue to be room for variety such as this in the MCU.

A bit like House of Games, with more parlour games! Really good fun, and some great guests over the course of the series (a few dud ones along the way admittedly, but mostly very funny!). Pascoe is great and really grows into her role as host as the series progresses. Definitely worth watching.