Deadpool 2 continues to break and mock the traditional rules of moviemaking. This is superhero meets pop culture and grotesquely lambasts them all. It comes rapid fire with references to everything from comparisons of songs from Disney’s Frozen to Barbara Streisand’s “Yentl.” You’ll hear names of celebrities, rock stars, other superheroes and even news stations. They all pop up fast when you least expect it. Wait. What?! Pay close attention. These are the jokes, folks. Some are overkill but many are really clever and funny.
This is a farce within a farce and if you get into it, it can be pretty amusing. Co-writers Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, both wrote the original, and now with Reynolds’ input, show the actor has no problem poking fun at his own career, Marvel movies and show biz in general. Ryan Reynolds makes fun of himself throughout the film. He even mocks himself at one point. Reynolds appears as his younger self, excited at getting the role of Green Lantern. That’s when Deadpool shoots him, saying tongue in cheek, “You’re welcome Canada.”
The premise? Deadpool 2 hooks up with the other hero mutants of the X-Men orbit and mines them for even more laughs. Director David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, John Wick) knows his way around action scenes and the bloody fight sequences do crackle. Working with cinematographer Jonathan Sela (Transformers: The Last Knight), the choreography of the battles have a fluidity that almost makes you forget the mayhem taking place.
Josh Brolin as Cable, (he’s Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War) is not a typical villain. He’s a time traveling enforcer who’s come to change a bit of history. By stopping a crime in the present he can save his wife and child in the future. Still, Deadpool has his own moral imperative to save Russell, a.k.a. Firefist, (played with amazing humor and depth by New Zealander Julian Dennison) from Cable’s murderous wrath. This teen doesn’t make it easy for Deadpool. Firefist is psychologically damaged himself and wants to exact revenge on those who have wronged him. It’s a surprisingly complex plot line for this mostly raunchy-fest.
Why Deadpool is so determined to save this young man’s life is tied up in his own tragic circumstances as regards to his gorgeous, forever love Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). Is Deadpool a good guy or a bad guy? The core of a Deadpool plot line is ultimate loss. At some point he must lose everything he holds dear in life. That’s what propels him to rain death down on the bad guys. This is what makes Reynolds’ character so likable. Despite the wisecracking, gore and vulgarity there are positive core values of justice and fairness. In spite of himself, Deadpool is a hero.
Besides Julian Dennison’s agile multi-layered performance, there are a bunch of other young actors stepping up here. Brianna Hildebrand plays Negasonic Teenage Warhead, who knows how to pack a punch. She also is personally fearless, along with her cute, giggly girlfriend sidekick. Actress Shioli Katsuna makes her an interesting, guile-free character and we’re looking forward to seeing how she’ll develop her own powers.
We’re also introduced to another hard hitting young mutant, Domino, (Zazie Beetz). Domino is ironic, deadpan and a solid puncher. When Domino is on camera she owns the set and becomes the center of attention.
We won’t give away some of the central gags and cameos. Just pay attention and watch for the fleeting appearances that will have fans comparing notes to see what they pick up on and if you missed any.
Deadpool 2 is pretty much a continuation of the first installment, maybe a bit more grotesque. We’ll be seeing him again when the X-Force franchise hits the big screen. Ryan Reynolds’ rapid fire delivery is both hilarious and, at times, infuriating. But this is still a laugh-out-loud comic book romp. Since the original made R-rated super hero movies profitable, why mess with the formula, right? As Deadpool might say, “Get it on!”
Twentieth Century Fox 1 hour 59 minutes R Reviewed May 17, 2018
