***** outta *****

5 outta 5

Deadpool 2 is a fantastic sequel that basically goes for the “More is better” approach.  Happily, going bigger befits Deadpool’s big crazy vibe.  Although the sequel doesn’t have the bracing shock of something new and subversive that propelled the original, this is still a totally unique way to make a superhero movie that also completely subverts the genre’s tropes.  It is swinging for the fences which makes it very entertaining, very messy, very crass and, surprisingly, has moments of sincere emotion. 

Wade Wilson aka Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds, who also produced and shares a writing credit on the script) is a super-powered mutant assassin of evildoers with the love of his life, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin).  Unfortunately, when things go wrong Wade needs help from X-Men members Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand).  They want him to join the X-Men, (even though Wade keeps complaining he never gets to meet the cool ones) and on his first mission he finds a mutant kid, Russell (Julian Dennison) trying to blow up a boarding school.  Thing go even more wrong as Wade ends up in prison and is attacked by a time travelling mutant named Cable (Josh Brolin).  To combat this, Wade and his buddy Weasel (T.J. Miller) start new team called X-Force, including the luck powered mutant Domino (Zazie Beetz), but Cable may be unstoppable and saving Russell may be too late. 

Deadpool is still at the front of this film, although sometimes the multiple amount of new characters and returning characters threatens to overwhelm him but Deadpool is such a fun character that it’s kind of impossible to steal his spotlight.  The film does seem to be rather shamelessly setting up an X-Force spin off with a very funny scene where they recruit new members and the end result of X-Force’s first mission is unexpectedly hilarious.  It’s not all constant quips as Wade is going through some emotional issues as well.  There are more than a few moments where Wade’s turmoil shows through, especially in the finale which balances pathos and yuks excellently.   This is a fantastic performance by Reynolds because he’s either emoting through a mask using body language and heightened line deliveries or he’s acting behind scarred makeup.  There is one moment in the film were he returns to his normal face and it’s enormously affecting. 

The biggest new addition is Cable and he basically has a great look and an interesting reason for his crusade but it’s mostly about Brolin snarling, being irritated and seemingly unstoppable.  He does a few things in the finale which are a bit weird from a character perspective but are decent plot twists. Dennison as Russell actually manages to be funny, tragic and kind of scary.  He’s focusing his rage on the headmaster of his school played be Eddie Marsan and Marsan gets to slowly show his character’s slimy side.  Zazie Beetz as Domino breezes her way through the flick because Domino has good luck powers so she easily breezes her way through anything.  This gives her a sense of wry aloofness because she knows she’s going to be fine in the chaos. 

Aside from Deadpool, returning characters from the first movie are relatively brief.  Hildebrand and Kapicic have such great, frustrated chemistry with Deadpool it would have been nice if they had a longer stint with him but even just their one public outing with Deadpool as an X-Men trainee is awesome.  The sequence of Wade puttering about the X-Mansion has some fantastic in-jokes for fans and one of the movie’s best gags is here and it is literally seconds long.  Miller and Leslie Uggams as Deadpool’s old roommate Blind Al have some funny reactions to Deadpool’s weirdness.  As Deadpool’s love, Baccarin is effective in her bits and her final few scenes are amazing. 

Directed by David Leitch, the movie looks great with propulsive, messy and kinetic action.  Leitch knows how to make violence impactful and dramatic, or darkly comedic, or provide some epic smashing.  There are a lot of nifty touches like the credits intro which is basically a Deadpool-tinged Bond opening credit scene.  Multiple big action scenes are here like an assault on a moving prison transport in a busy city street that is totally crazy and there’s a surprise character that specializes in smashing things which amps up the destruction.  Quips are flying like bullets and gags go by so fast it almost demands a repeat viewing.  There are a few mid-credits stinger and each one is absolutely genius. The soundtrack has a lot of sweet moments with really funny off-kilter musical choices that contrast with the messy violence.  Also the inclusion of an acoustic version of Ah-Ha’s “Take On Me” in one scene is brilliantly emotionally resonant. Tyler Bates provides the non-pop song musical score which has some funny bits like an opera choir singing “Holy %$#^balls!” during a climatic action scene. 

Deadpool 2 continues this unique, darkly comedic and darkly crazy side franchise in the big X-Men superhero universe.  It may sort of fall into the sequel trap of simply going louder but it is so entertaining that isn’t a problem.  Happily, Deadpool is nonsense, violence and jokes.  And once in a while it has heart.  Which it then splatters all over the place.