by Charles Kirkland Jr.
The “Merc with a mouth” returns as Ryan Reynolds and company does it again in the sequel to the smash hit, Deadpool 2.
When we last saw Deadpool, he was kicking butt, cracking jokes and saving his girl Vanessa. Some things never change. While Pool and Nessa are discussing baby names, a crew breaks into their apartment and attacks. He takes out the attackers but the ordeal sets him on a journey where he becomes an X-Man (in training), goes to jail and forms his own team (X-Force).
David Leitch (Atomic Blonde) takes over for Tim Miller in directing duties for the film and Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick return as the writers of the script. Because the writers stayed, the movie misses absolutely nothing in tone from the first movie. Deadpool still kicks butt, still cracks jokes and still breaks the fourth wall. What sets this movie apart from the last one are the cameos. There are a good number of surprise cameos in the film some of them join Deadpool’s X-Force but an incredibly hilarious cameo scene happens before the formation of the team (no spoilers here).
Everyone knows about Cable being in the movie because it was leaked at the last film but the stoic and serious Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men, Sicario, Avengers: Infinity War) joins the movie as a straight man to Deadpool’s humor as a Cable that looks nearly the same as the comics but is just a little different. Zazie Beets (TV’s Atlanta) also joins the movie and breathtakingly delightful as the lucky superhero Domino. Domino, like Vanessa in the last movie, stands toe to toe to Deadpool’s wisecracks and even upstages him at one point.
Not everything is rosy about the blood red hero’s movie though. There are a few problems with story continuity between the comic book and the movie. For instance, 1) Cable’s reason for coming back in time is different and 2) everyone knows that Cable started X-Force, not Deadpool (sarcasm alert). But even if you did not know these comic details (which many don’t) you will have no problem with enjoying this movie.
The original Deadpool comfortably sits as the second highest grossing R-rated movie behind The Passion of the Christ. In fact, it finished just under $8 million shy of being the highest grossing R-rated movie ever. Deadpool 2 is better than the original. It’s funnier. It’s crazier. It is a rollicking, laugh out loud, joyous good time. It’s one of those rare times when the sequel is better than the original and the original was great.
Rated R for (get ready) sex and nudity, violence and gore, profanity, alcohol drugs and smoking, and frightening and intense scenes (whew), Deadpool 2 is a foul-mouthed, frenetic, fun fest, full of adult humor and violent action. (Do I have to say that it’s not for young children?) With the third installment of the series green-lighted and an X-Force movie as well, Ryan Reynolds may have found a character he could potentially play longer than Jackman played Wolverine.
Grade B+