Deadpool 2
Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Colossus in Twentieth Century Fox’s DEADPOOL 2. Photo Credit: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox.
There’s more than a hint of insincerity in the way Deadpool 2 continues its sarcastic assault on the glut of cinematic comic-book characters and franchises.
Still, this amusing sequel generates plenty of big laughs, even if the freshness of the characters and the concept has dwindled from its predecessor. Playfully irreverent and subversive, at least it’s not saddled with the burdens of being tied into a godforsaken movie “universe.”
Things open with a personal tragedy that galvanizes Deadpool’s human alter-ego, Wade (Ryan Reynolds), from his rut of hanging out in his favorite dive bar between unfulfilling hitman jobs in which he effortlessly wipes out random bad guys.
Reuniting with X-Men trainees Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), he winds up protecting a mutant boy named Russell, a.k.a. Firefist (Julian Dennison), whose powers mask a dark secret.
Russell is being pursued by a time-traveling renegade cyborg (Josh Brolin) — cue the Thanos references — prompting Wade to assemble a ragtag collection of sidekicks to prepare for a showdown. That plan backfires hilariously except for the addition of Domino (Zazie Beets), who claims her superpower is “luck” and later backs it up.
Fans of the Deadpool and X-Men comics will be able to tie some of these strands together in more meaningful ways than newcomers, but such background knowledge isn’t essential.
The film, co-written by Reynolds and directed by David Leitch (Atomic Blonde), boosts the quotient of rapid-fire sight gags and one-liners from the first film, and hits the mark most of the time.
The plot deals with familiar themes of guilt, revenge, and redemption in pretty standard fashion. It struggles to inject much heart alongside the barrage of pop-culture barbs and cameos, particularly in a misguided attempt to turn soft for a bit.
However, while it becomes overloaded with self-referential quips, Deadpool 2 finds the right balance between its brand of self-deprecating humor and the requisite elaborate effects-driven action sequences. “Big CGI fight scene,” Wade warns us at one point. The elaborate final confrontation is moderately imaginative.
Reynolds again slides into the role with charisma and bravado, to the extent you can’t imagine anyone else playing the part. Dennison (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) proves a natural scene-stealer.
The film provides plenty of fun even if it’s essentially more of the same. Now it’s up to obligatory future installments to continue the momentum.
Rated R, 119 minutes.