Franchise fatigue is by no means a new ailment – in fact it’s become so commonly diagnosed that many of us have fatigue of the phrase “franchise fatigue” itself. But with all of last year’s 10 biggest films at the US box office being part of a series – and with most of them not being very good – it’s never not something to sigh over. It’s led to a sort of glum acceptance, the type that gets just that bit glummer around the release of yet another thoroughly underwhelming and remarkably pointless Marvel movie.
While shrugs are still being felt across the globe after last week’s lacklustre Ant-Man threequel, next week offers up a much-needed balm, a rare sequel that comes close to restoring one’s faith in the worth and legitimacy of the franchise as a concept, the latest chapter in what might well be the best we have right now.
