It is perfectly adequate, in fact. It is just that adequate should not be good enough for Clint Eastwood.

It probably wasn't wise for the filmmakers to end Dirty Harry's reign with Eastwood uttering a post-killing line more suited for Stallone or Schwarzenegger, but from an entertainment standpoint, The Dead Pool doesn't leave one **** outta luck.

The best thing about The Dead Pool is the best thing about almost all of Clint Eastwood's movies: The film is smart, quick, and made with real wit. It's never just a crude action movie, bludgeoning us with violence.

...easily the worst film in the franchise, with a perfunctory climax and only a couple of passable lines...