Film Review: Deadpool 2

09:21 May 21, 2018
By: David Vicari

Ryan Reynolds returns as the sarcastic, fairly indestructible, fourth wall-breaking superhero derived from the X-Men universe Deadpool, in—what else?—Deadpool 2, a movie that is just as vulgar and ultra-violent as the first, except it's a little too bloated.

This time, Wade Wilson/Deadpool takes on the time-traveling cyborg, Cable (Josh Brolin), as well as trying to save a rotund, mutant kid, Russell (Julian Dennison), from seeking vengeance.

Once again, Reynolds delivers some laugh-out-loud zingers. For instance, Deadpool once refers to Cable as Thanos, because it is actor Brolin who also plays the villain Thanos in the other Marvel Comics movie now playing in theaters, Avengers: Infinity War. There is also a shot at Marvel rival DC Comics when Wade says to Cable, “So dark, you sure you're not from the DC universe?”

Of course, the freshness of the original is gone, but does the sequel expand on that first film? Well, the writers (Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Ryan Reynolds) do try to tell a new story instead of just rehashing the first film. They succeed well in the first half, but Deadpool 2 peters out in its second hour. The script becomes fragmented and the big action finale seems to go on forever. 

As it is, Deadpool 2 is serviceable entertainment, but, as is typical with most sequels, it just isn't as good as the original.


** ½ out of four

Sign Up!

FOR THE INSIDE SCOOP ON DINING, MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, THE ARTS & MORE!