Deadpool the First was a gleefully meta, fourth-wall-breaking super-satirical CGI romp that ran rich right from the opening titles. And while Deadpool 2 suffers just a smidgeypoo of sequel-itis, it’s still a hilarious and supremely entertaining movie, and easily the freshest property spun out of the Marvel money engine this year. See it, love it, see it again.
The central premise carries over: Ryan Reynolds plays Wade Wilson, a quippy burn victim and cancer sufferer blessed (in the first film) with infinite healing and super-strength. As Deadpool, his powers are cool but not dispositive -– Wolverine has a similar endowment, plus claws — but they permit some great consequence-play. Much like do-over films (think Edge of Tomorrow), Deadpool shows us what would actually happen — heroes getting shot and cut up on the regular — before using those same healing-reboots as comic fodder.
But none of those superpowers really matter without the character’s throbbing core. I wager Iron Man was a smash hit not because of the suit or the thrusters, but in chief because of Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark’s lovable cocksure swagger. Same here: Ryan Reynolds brings everything to Deadpool. His zany, Canadian-improv-fueled, Van Wilder-pedigreed wit is a perfect fit for the character. Reynolds stormed the hill in the first film, claiming an outpost in the crowded bustle of dime-a-dozen, tough-guy-with-a-couple-jokes superheroes; and this time, he sandbags it and shores it up. Deadpool is sui generis: no other character, Marvel or DC, can touch him.
The story arc is a shade more important here than in the original, but not too much — in the end the plot is still just a conveyor-belt delivery device for surprisingly bloody swordfights (rated R for realz), surprisingly touching moments (rated R for feelz), and straight-for-the-neck, bare-knuckles wisecracks (rated R for squealz).
Reynolds breaks character on occasion, dispensing meta-complaints (“we could’ve used THAT in act one!”) and admonishing supporting characters (“Jesus! No more speaking parts for you”). In this way, the movie is self-referential enough to be consistently funny, even if you don’t catch the steady pew-pew of intra- and extra-Marvel jabs. (But for those of us who love movies — well, sometimes we deserve to have our faith rewarded.)
Much like this film itself, I keep getting sidetracked from explaining what actually happens. So here is the (actual, real) synopsis that Marvel provided for this film:
After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Miami’s hottest bartender, while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor – finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World’s Best Lover.
I do not kid.
That, of course, is not what Deadpool 2 is about. This is: In brief, Deadpool suffers that surprisingly touching loss, meets an angry young mutant on a bad path (Julian Dennison, Hunt for the Wilderpeople), and faces off with Cable (Josh Brolin), a hard-boiled one-eyed soldier from the future. Deadpool assembles a team, including the terrific Zazie Beetz, Bill Skarsgard, and Terry Crews; T.J. Miller is back, deadpanning some of the wildest lines to excellent effect. The same second-string X-Men appear again (Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Stefan Kapicic voicing Colossus), as do Dopinder (Karan Soni) and Blind Al (Leslie Uggams). Fights happen. Music plays. Jokes are made. Fun is had.
It’s a testament to the sheer enormity of the Marvel tableau — “cinematic universe,” indeed — that it can now support its own resident meta-watchdog. And it’s a testament to director David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, and yes, some scenes in John Wick) and Ryan Reynolds that this cinematic navel-gazing is as balls-out entertaining as it is.
Oh, and don’t be a dick. It’s a Marvel movie. Stay for the post credits scenes. Kthx.
Haus Verdict: Deadpool 2 nails it. Fun, violent, clever, meta, and PLAYING RIGHT NOW.
Deadpool 2 opened Friday, May 18.
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