Foolproof (2003)

Happy Valentine's Day, Incluvies!

Today we are showcasing our favorite love stories from all over the African Diaspora. Blackness is a rainbow, and these movies show us every beautiful color of the Black experience.

The Photograph delivers with a tender love story that unfolds between two vulnerable people who weren't even looking for love. Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield will make you believe in love again as their delicate romance weathers a cruel world hellbent on smothering their fledgling love. Those in long distance relationships will find hope here. Those wanting to see positive Black love sans economic and toxic emotional struggle will also find much to love in The Photograph.

Watch it on Prime Video.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj0wz7zu3Ms[/embed]

Red Notice follows a criminal profiler to the FBI, Special Agent Hartley, played by Dwayne Johnson, assigned to assist Interpol in investigating the potential theft of one of three bejeweled eggs gifted to Cleopatra by Marcus Antonius. International Art Thief, Nolan Booth, played by Ryan Reynolds, will steal the egg. Hartley, with the help of Interpol, goes to stop him after being tipped off by Booth's main competition, Sarah Black, also known as "The Bishop" played by Gal Gadot.

Red Notice felt like too much. It had Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson doing his thing, Ryan Reynolds doing his Ryan Reynoldsness, and Gal Gadot hanging by a thread. It led me to ponder why watching this movie was unbearable. This movie felt like a waste of time and not a fun waste of time. It felt like every film before Deadpool was practice for Deadpool, and everything after was Deadpool masquerading as Ryan Reynolds.

Think about 6 Underground, Free Guy, The Hitman's Bodyguard 1 & 2. All these films feel like Ryan Reynolds has forgotten how to act. He has flattened any kind of depth in these characters. It all sort of comes to a head in Red Notice. It felt like at every turn; he didn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. A fourth wall is broken, but this time the person is poking fun at you, the viewer, instead of making the joke with you. Dwayne Johnson isn't off the hook. However, Dwayne genuinely acted as though he'd tried to understand the motivations of his character. I just couldn't buy into Ryan's performance. Gal Gadot was having fun and chasing her bag. I find no fault with her performance.