“You’re welcome, Canada.” —Deadpool
Today’s quick review: Deadpool 2. Following a disastrous attempt to join the X-Men, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), a violent hero with regenerative powers, ends up in a mutant prison with Russell (Julian Dennison), a teenage mutant with anger issues. Their stay is interrupted by Cable (Josh Brolin), a time-traveling soldier bent on changing the future by killing Russell. To save the boy and defeat Cable, Deadpool must assemble a new team of heroes.
Deadpool 2 is a violent black comedy and superhero action movie. Deadpool 2 features the same blend of irreverent humor and gory action as the first film. Ryan Reynolds reprises his role as Wade Wilson, a talkative mercenary with the ability to survive almost any injury. The story follows Wade as he enters a new phase of his life, trying for once to be a positive role model by saving Russell from both imminent death and a dark future.
Deadpool 2 has the same distinctive sense of humor as the original. Gory slapstick, fourth wall breaking, and jabs at the superhero genre abound. Not everyone will appreciate the film’s crude and explicit style of comedy, but those who do will be treated to a non-stop parade of well-timed, hard-hitting, and highly creative gags. Deadpool 2 reprises the humor of the first film and builds on it, making it a worthy successor.
Deadpool 2 also delivers plenty of action. Deadpool leads the cast as a one-man killing machine, using katanas, guns, and a wide range of improvised weaponry to take down his enemies. Cable is his opposite number: a muscular soldier with a metal arm, a massive gun, and a bag of futuristic tricks. Domino (Zazie Beetz), the foremost of Deadpool’s new allies, rounds out the main fighters, using her highly cinematic luck powers to glide through combat.
From a story perspective, Deadpool 2 manages to weave together a number of disparate plot threads into a cohesive whole. The core story involves Cable’s attempts to kill Russell and Deadpool’s attempts to save him, but important subplots include Wade’s evolving relationship with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) and his erratic interactions with the X-Men. However, a winding trajectory and one or two plot holes keep the story from being a complete success.
Deadpool 2 does have a few drawbacks. The violence goes even farther than in the first film, although it’s usually played for comedy. The fourth wall breaking also reaches dangerous new heights. Finally, the film makes tradeoffs regarding what it adapts from its comic book source material. For most viewers, these issues won’t detract from an impressive sequel, but those who have built up particular expectations should approach with caution.
Give Deadpool 2 a shot if you got any enjoyment out of the first one. Deadpool 2 is an action comedy that delivers at all levels, and anyone who subscribes to its gory sense of humor will be richly rewarded. Skip it if you dislike violence or didn’t enjoy the first one. New viewers can probably jump in without watching the original; they won’t have the background on certain characters, but the plot is relatively self-contained.
8.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.5 to 9.0 for strong action and fantastic humor.