DEADPOOL 2

Film Review by FIORE

DEADPOOL 2 is one of the funniest movies I’ve seen this year.  I laughed from the opening to the closing reel.  All the items that made the first film hilarious, return in the second, but are augmented to ridiculous proportions.  The movie begins with a new over the top sequence before playing into a parody of Maurice Binder’s famous James Bond openings. By this time, the movie had me hooked and I was along for the laughs.

At the risk of offending my comic book friends, let me state DEADPOOL is a lame, secondary superhero.  If the character wasn’t so ribald, no one would notice him. The fact he scoffs at the very genre he inhabits is the only thing that separate him from other b-list superheroes.  To take it even one step further, the entire concept of ‘superhero’ is ludicrous.  Most are mutants, or aliens purporting the concept that something is out there better than man.  In this sense, the only true superhero is Batman, but, I digress.  

Director David Leitch came in late to the project, after initial director Tim Miller, who directed the first episode, ran into conflicts with star Ryan Reynolds.  He claimed Reynolds just wanted a glossed-over, rubber stamp superhero film and he wanted something more edgy.  I guess he was attempting a Darren Aronofsky ploy, but even though DEADPOOL is not kid friendly, Disney did not want the character pushing the envelop more than its current status.  This all benefits Leitch, who has an unbridled hit on his hands.  Reynolds wrote the script, along with fellow scribes Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

Returning are Reynolds as Deadpool; Morena Baccarin as Vanessa; Leslie Uggams as Blind Al; and T. J. Miller as Weasel.  New to the cast are Josh Brolin as Cable; Zazie Beetz as Domino; Bill Skarsgard as Zeitgeist; Terry Crews as Bedlam; Lewis Tan, who was recently added to the cast of INTO THE BADLANDS, as Shatterstar; Eddie Marsan and Julian Dennison.  There are a plethora of cameo guest stars, and guest heroes and villains from the Marvel Universe.  This marks the second outing for Brolin in a superhero film in just one month.  Though not as intense as his portrayal as Thanos, his version of Cable is mellow enough to fit into the Disney cosmos and play foil to Deadpool.

Three editors cut DEADPOOL 2.  It shows.  The prison sequence is too long, and a bit too boring, slowing the movie.  It has a different feel than the rest of the film, making it apparent another vision was in play.  Cinematography by Jonathan Sela is yeoman, though most of the notable scenes are CGI and not camera oriented.  The soundtrack is noted for its use of older pop tunes, than Tyler Bates original score.

Deadpool should never be a superhero.  He is too much of a degenerate; but he is an awful lot of fun for those who appreciate the inanity of immortal charcoal briquettes, with ninja skills and regenerative powers The Lizard could only dream of; check out the scene with Cable and Blind Al after Deadpool’s first encounter with Juggernaut.  

Adults only!  Unless you are an incredibly poor parent.  DEADPOOL 2 will keep you laughing through most of its duration.  It’s only half way through the year, but it’s already making my list for Best Comedy.