Written by: Kevin Berge
Really, just Deadpool 2? That's the title they came up with? I would think Deadpool would have least wanted: Deadpool Presents the Greatest Sequel Ever. (Image Courtesy of: theplaylist.net)
Quick Take: Deadpool 2 may trump the original in both action and comedy, but it struggles particularly in its first act to build dramatic stakes. Once it gets rolling, the sequel is a thrill ride that keeps this series pushing forward in the best way possible.
Deadpool Review
***This review will not contain spoilers for the movie, primarily focusing on the structure and style of Deadpool 2 in comparison to the first. Those who have not seen the film may read up to the grade without worry. However, there will be a spoiler section after the review following the grade.***
2016 was an important year in cinema history as it was the moment that Hollywood proved they had gotten far too comfortable with the superhero genre. No one in their right minds should have agreed to a Deadpool movie. It was an impossibility, an idea that just couldn't resonate.
Somehow it worked, creating the high grossing R-rated movie of all time. Two years later, the cinema industry dipped their toe in that dangerous pool once again. Ryan Reynolds was back as Deadpool with the same writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Zombieland), but director Tim Miller left the project and was replaced by David Leitch.
Somehow, someone thought it was a good idea to replace the guy whose credits amount to creative director on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and co-story writer on Gopher Broke with the guy who helped make John Wick. Truly it was a risky decision that no one could be completely certain on.
Miraculously, this sequel manages to capture the same magic that made the original work. It's still brash, violent, crassly sexual, and wildly meta. It is rare you find a film that is so completely aware of how in-your-face it truly is, and it is especially rare to make that work.
I joke about Miller's credits, but the truth is that his success with Deadpool was a complete left-field homer. The original is an engaging if simplistic origin story that is always consistently hilarious, and some serious credit has to go to the writers who captured quickly what makes Deadpool Deadpool.
It was disconcerting to hear he was leaving the project, replaced by another director with almost no directing credits to his name beyond 2017's Atomic Blonde (he could not be credited for his work on John Wick). What is most impressive about this film is that it feels a lot like the first.
Leitch adds a more intense action focus to this sequel that makes it more intense and engaging in motion than its predecessor, and he worked well with the writing staff to make this film even funnier and more self-aware than before. There are some jokes in this movie that are densely packed in for future viewings to uncover.
***This review will not contain spoilers for the movie, primarily focusing on the structure and style of Deadpool 2 in comparison to the first. Those who have not seen the film may read up to the grade without worry. However, there will be a spoiler section after the review following the grade.***
2016 was an important year in cinema history as it was the moment that Hollywood proved they had gotten far too comfortable with the superhero genre. No one in their right minds should have agreed to a Deadpool movie. It was an impossibility, an idea that just couldn't resonate.
Somehow it worked, creating the high grossing R-rated movie of all time. Two years later, the cinema industry dipped their toe in that dangerous pool once again. Ryan Reynolds was back as Deadpool with the same writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Zombieland), but director Tim Miller left the project and was replaced by David Leitch.
Somehow, someone thought it was a good idea to replace the guy whose credits amount to creative director on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and co-story writer on Gopher Broke with the guy who helped make John Wick. Truly it was a risky decision that no one could be completely certain on.
Miraculously, this sequel manages to capture the same magic that made the original work. It's still brash, violent, crassly sexual, and wildly meta. It is rare you find a film that is so completely aware of how in-your-face it truly is, and it is especially rare to make that work.
I joke about Miller's credits, but the truth is that his success with Deadpool was a complete left-field homer. The original is an engaging if simplistic origin story that is always consistently hilarious, and some serious credit has to go to the writers who captured quickly what makes Deadpool Deadpool.
It was disconcerting to hear he was leaving the project, replaced by another director with almost no directing credits to his name beyond 2017's Atomic Blonde (he could not be credited for his work on John Wick). What is most impressive about this film is that it feels a lot like the first.
Leitch adds a more intense action focus to this sequel that makes it more intense and engaging in motion than its predecessor, and he worked well with the writing staff to make this film even funnier and more self-aware than before. There are some jokes in this movie that are densely packed in for future viewings to uncover.
Somehow, in this franchise-driven cinema landscape, we're not going to get a solo Domino movie until 2025, and that's because the world hates us all. (Image Courtesy of: collider.com)
Just saying this movie works is praise enough. It proves that Deadpool as a franchise is a concept that can last. However, this sequel is far from perfect. In particular, the second time feels like a fairly notable dramatic failure especially in the opening act.
This movie has almost off-putting pacing in its first thirty minutes as the film struggles mightily to find its footing. The story takes some awkward and cliche turns to push the tale forward with the comedy struggling to layer in with the harsh attempts to dramatize the plot.
Luckily, when this movie picks up, it absolutely does not slow down. The introductions of Cable (Josh Brolin), Domino (Zazie Beetz), and others really add some great foundation for what this film is truly about. The action is all out. The comedy is off the walls. The drama mostly lands the rest of the way.
Ryan Reynolds is absolutely perfect throughout, proving this will remain his defining role. Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men) brings the most grounded performance to the film which works perfectly for the grounded Cable. Zazie Beetz (Atlanta) often steals scenes with the quiet calm that comes with playing the coolest character in the film.
Everyone is having fun here, but they're not just trying to play for laughs. Reynolds has some serious emotional baggage to sell which he does even when the writing is not up to snuff. Brolin has to subtly show Cable's growths through experience with barely a word. Beetz weaves Domino's aloofness into surprisingly welcome moments.
This film works because, despite its struggles, there's a real sense that everyone involved wants it to work. This is an underdog film disguised as "just another superhero story". While I would have loved to see the movie start strong, I cannot easily criticize the overall ride.
It is exciting, hilarious, shocking, even contemplative. It even does a great job of hiding its heavy attempts to build up future franchises/movies. While I am still waiting for Deadpool to fully embrace its place in the madness, I'm glad we can get films like Deadpool 2 that dare to laugh at the formula while also reshaping it.
This movie has almost off-putting pacing in its first thirty minutes as the film struggles mightily to find its footing. The story takes some awkward and cliche turns to push the tale forward with the comedy struggling to layer in with the harsh attempts to dramatize the plot.
Luckily, when this movie picks up, it absolutely does not slow down. The introductions of Cable (Josh Brolin), Domino (Zazie Beetz), and others really add some great foundation for what this film is truly about. The action is all out. The comedy is off the walls. The drama mostly lands the rest of the way.
Ryan Reynolds is absolutely perfect throughout, proving this will remain his defining role. Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men) brings the most grounded performance to the film which works perfectly for the grounded Cable. Zazie Beetz (Atlanta) often steals scenes with the quiet calm that comes with playing the coolest character in the film.
Everyone is having fun here, but they're not just trying to play for laughs. Reynolds has some serious emotional baggage to sell which he does even when the writing is not up to snuff. Brolin has to subtly show Cable's growths through experience with barely a word. Beetz weaves Domino's aloofness into surprisingly welcome moments.
This film works because, despite its struggles, there's a real sense that everyone involved wants it to work. This is an underdog film disguised as "just another superhero story". While I would have loved to see the movie start strong, I cannot easily criticize the overall ride.
It is exciting, hilarious, shocking, even contemplative. It even does a great job of hiding its heavy attempts to build up future franchises/movies. While I am still waiting for Deadpool to fully embrace its place in the madness, I'm glad we can get films like Deadpool 2 that dare to laugh at the formula while also reshaping it.
Grade: B-
***This final section WILL contain spoilers. Do not read ahead if you have not seen the movie and plan to do so. Going in fresh to this film is necessary.***
The Deadpool/Blind Al ship is real. (Image Courtesy of: cnet.com)
The fundamental mistake in this film is its decision to kill off Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) early on. It is a classic sequel attempt to raise the stakes that feels too generic especially taken so serious by the sequel. In both films, she has been the victim, used to spur on the story.
It would have been easy enough to sell the entire tale without Vanessa's death. In fact, it often feels like the story would have worked better avoiding the awkward near-death scenes where she works as his cryptic moral center. It's lazy writing that Deadpool never makes fun of. He treats these moments as if they should work.
The better emotion of the tale is Deadpool's connection with Russell (Julian Dennison). While Russell's character is a bit hit and miss, Wade Wilson's need to protect this abused child and help him find the right path is the most interesting emotional pull. Coupled with Cable's slow development in finding a reason to care, and there's some heart here.
That said, the real reason this film shines is because of its comedy/satire. I have never seen a movie that was more referential and cameo-heavy. The entire X-Force sans Domino is a cameo because they all died, horribly and painfully in distinctly different ways.
This film brought in Terry Crews (Idiocracy), Bill Skarsgård (It), Rob Delaney (Catastrophe), Lewis Tan (Into The Badlands), and BRAD PITT (in perhaps the best second of the film) all just to die in quick succession. That's not even mentioning the blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos from a disguised Matt Damon and Alan Tudick (Firefly) as well as the entire X-Men cast.
As much as I have my issues with the actual dramatic story of this film, the plot is impressive because it takes so many wild turns. It's utterly absurd, and I still felt like it could have gone further. If it had not tried as hard to cling to a few conventions, this movie might have been the Deadpool film no one forgets.
That was proven in the ridiculous end credits scenes which is honestly the best part of the film. Time travel is one added aspect of the Deadpool canon that just works too well, and it began to be shown by the character going back in time to save Vanessa then right the wrongs of Ryan Reynolds' past by destroying Origins Deadpool and Green Lantern.
This is the type of wild absurdity I would like to see the Deadpool franchise more readily embracing. Juggernaut's (also played by Ryan Reynolds) third act arrival as the unstoppable destructive force that even rips Deadpool in half was the final proof that that insanity is exactly where this franchise can thrive.
It would have been easy enough to sell the entire tale without Vanessa's death. In fact, it often feels like the story would have worked better avoiding the awkward near-death scenes where she works as his cryptic moral center. It's lazy writing that Deadpool never makes fun of. He treats these moments as if they should work.
The better emotion of the tale is Deadpool's connection with Russell (Julian Dennison). While Russell's character is a bit hit and miss, Wade Wilson's need to protect this abused child and help him find the right path is the most interesting emotional pull. Coupled with Cable's slow development in finding a reason to care, and there's some heart here.
That said, the real reason this film shines is because of its comedy/satire. I have never seen a movie that was more referential and cameo-heavy. The entire X-Force sans Domino is a cameo because they all died, horribly and painfully in distinctly different ways.
This film brought in Terry Crews (Idiocracy), Bill Skarsgård (It), Rob Delaney (Catastrophe), Lewis Tan (Into The Badlands), and BRAD PITT (in perhaps the best second of the film) all just to die in quick succession. That's not even mentioning the blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos from a disguised Matt Damon and Alan Tudick (Firefly) as well as the entire X-Men cast.
As much as I have my issues with the actual dramatic story of this film, the plot is impressive because it takes so many wild turns. It's utterly absurd, and I still felt like it could have gone further. If it had not tried as hard to cling to a few conventions, this movie might have been the Deadpool film no one forgets.
That was proven in the ridiculous end credits scenes which is honestly the best part of the film. Time travel is one added aspect of the Deadpool canon that just works too well, and it began to be shown by the character going back in time to save Vanessa then right the wrongs of Ryan Reynolds' past by destroying Origins Deadpool and Green Lantern.
This is the type of wild absurdity I would like to see the Deadpool franchise more readily embracing. Juggernaut's (also played by Ryan Reynolds) third act arrival as the unstoppable destructive force that even rips Deadpool in half was the final proof that that insanity is exactly where this franchise can thrive.
