Review: Deadpool 2 (2018)
Unlike the original, this story doesn't feel as cut and dry, and instead shifts focus towards newer characters; sometimes Deadpool takes the backseat. This newfound focus pinpoints a possible flaw some might find within the movie, certainly I did.
+ Recommended - R, Comedy, Action
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The day has arrived! We have seen Deadpool 2 and while some reservations were made, rest assured that the film has proven to be a worthy successor to the original. If the first Deadpool was truly fresh, the sequel establishes that the franchise has a lengthy expiration date; undoubtedly, more to come.
Deadpool, aka Wade Wilson (aka Ryan Reynolds) must protect a young mutant boy from the time-traveling assassin, Cable (Josh Brolin). He recruits a team of other mutant superheroes, called the X-Force, to defeat Thanos... oops, I meant Cable. But there remains just one question: will it be enough to take down the big baddie?There's fun to be had with the Deadpool property. On one hand, the meta jokes and pop-culture references make for an entertaining experience alone. However, what makes these films special is the way different genres are intertwined; comedy, action, and even romance are all at play. The original provided an example of how to create a superhero movie and fuse it with different themes in a way that hadn't been done before. Deadpool 2, I would argue, took it one step further.
The original cast, including T.J. Miller (Weasel), Morena Baccarin (Vanessa), Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic) and Karan Soni (Dopinder), returned and managed to retain the chemistry built in the previous entry. In addition, some cast members were added to the family, including: Josh Brolin (Cable), Zazie Beetz (Domino), and Rob Delaney (Peter). A surprising amount of screen time is given to the new characters, however, the movie still balances the old and new flawlessly. That same chemistry between the characters from the first film transfer directly to these newcomers; the biggest standout being the relationship formed between Deadpool and Domino.
Unlike the original, this story doesn't feel as cut and dry, and instead shifts focus towards newer characters; sometimes Deadpool takes the backseat. This newfound focus pinpoints a possible flaw some might find within the movie, certainly I did. Transitions between stories or different characters feel jagged. Any immersion I felt during an action scene was completely broken when the movie shifts to, what feels like, a completely unrelated scene. Now don't get me wrong, the culmination of every previous scene serves the greater story arc better in the end; it just feels...well, a little messy.
On the bright side, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Ryan Reynolds were able to successfully hash-out each character's motivation and purpose for the overall story, which was refreshing. Any fan of comic book movies or superheroes in general will appreciate the Easter eggs hidden within the two-hour run time; and there is more than enough exposed to consider repeat viewings. Deadpool 2 might just get the crown for the greatest post-credit scene of all time.
So the final verdict? See this at some point over your weekend. I would even argue that someone could walk into this movie knowing nothing of the original and still have a great time watching it. Let us know what you think down in the comments below!