Deadpool 2
It's been over two years since we were treated to the exploits of Wade Wilson, that mutant tragic figure of the Marvel Comics who learned he had Stage 4 cancer, beat it, and discovered superhuman abilities. He became "Deadpool" and swore revenge (and refused requests to join the X-Men) on the baddie who left him to die. That was the original movie, a runaway success that had it both ways: an irreverent raspberry that took the piss out of the usual straight faced superhero adventure, yet played within its plot rules and contrivances. It was the first R-rated superhero movie in the Marvel canon, a risky move that paid off and inspired other more adult comic book fare, such as the Wolverine saga LOGAN.
DEADPOOL 2 opens with a Wolverine joke, several actually, as Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) says that LOGAN was riding the coattails of his movie. Yep, we're in meta land again. The smart ass antihero regularly breaks the fourth wall and offers plenty of commentary on the business of sequels and "lazy writing". Nice job there, guys. In order to cover up for the deficiencies of this script, just toss off a self-deprecation. And for the most part, as before, they get away with it.
This time, Deadpool is suicidal after failing to save the life of his girlfriend, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) who we met in the first movie and with whom he planned to have a child. But this "family movie" will follow Deadpool as he joins a different sort of familial unit, perhaps the one he rejected before. Yes, man of steel Colossus, Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), and even antagonist Cable (Josh Brolin) will form a team to attempt to stop/possibly save a young mutant called Fire Fist (Julian Dennison). Other characters will also give Wade/Deadpool a bonding experience in such efforts, and a lengthy parachuting sequence (both hilarious and hilaroiusly grisly) will let you know how that turns out.
What is surprising about DEADPOOL 2 is how serious it is at times. There is some heavy drama in the earlier moments, and you keep waiting for a wink or double entendre that may or may not come to lighten the moment. Yes, underneath the snark and dirty jokes was something resembling a heart in the earlier film, and this one reveals even more of that. Fine, and, I guess kudos to director David Leitch and the screenwriters (which includes Reynolds). But things get too maudlin too often. The sad story of young Fire Fist, aka Russell Collins and his abuse at an orphanage is pure comic book fodder, and perhaps examined a bit too closely here. The DEADPOOL films soar when skewering the mythos, but deflate a bit when trying to remain loyal to it. This is even more clear in this sequel, and it prevents it from equaling or (certainly) besting the original.
The action scenes are well mounted, and the ante has been upped (isn't it always in a sequel?). But Leitch, as in his ATOMIC BLONDE, utilizes CGI when it really isn't necessary. Jonathan's Sela's cinematography is mostly washed out, a common thing with today's blockbusters. I think it looks ugly.
Some of the jokes land with a thud, like many of the film's corpses. I saw this movie with an appreciative audience that laughed a great deal, but there were a few Deadpool cracks that didn't get a single giggle, quite deservedly. The gag hit/miss ratio was not so favorable in this sequel.
But there is some comedy gold here. The "baby legs" sequence gave me some of the biggest belly laughs I've had in a while. Reynolds again has a blast with his pop culture spouting alter ego, and despite all of DEADPOOL 2's sins this is still great fun. Just brush up on your Marvel lore and 2018 zeitgeist to yield maximum enjoyment. Oh, and '80s/'90s movies and music. And dubstep.
P.S. - There again are some extra scenes during the credits, but definitely wait until the very last titles, when we hear Juggernaut's little theme song.
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