No one is going to accuse Ryan Reynolds and crew of trying to make a "good" movie with Deadpool 2, but it's definitely one of those fun summertime romps you always hear about. Reynolds is, of course, Deadpool, the merc with a mouth who regenerates like Wolverine, fights with the power of a million ninjas and kills … well, he kills pretty much anyone he can.
When last we left him, Deadpool's affairs seemed in order and he'd found his own place within the Fox-owned Marvel universe (we see you, Venom, we're just not sure what the deal with you is yet), but his affinity for doing what he considers right at all costs has put him in a bit of a bind. No spoilers, but he's trying to die. Throw in a handful of lesser-known (or cared-about) X-Men and X-Force characters (like Domino, Shatterstar and Zeitgeist), a number of in-jokes for comics fans, a barely-there story about helping people (maybe) and Josh "Also Thanos" Brolin as the time-traveling supersoldier Cable, and you've got a recipe for madness—and sequels, even if it's beyond irreverent and over-packed with one-line groaners and over-the-top violence.
Reynolds does his Reynolds thing, breaking the fourth wall, using that voice of his and becoming the victim and perpetrator of some seriously gruesome carnage. Brolin, meanwhile, finds that happy middle ground between emotionless straight man and foil as his character travels back in time to prevent a horrible future tragedy. Regardless—and say what you will—the action in Deadpool 2 is bonkers-fun.
The award for best new character goes to Atlanta's Zazie Beetz as Domino, a mutant whose power is just that she's pretty lucky. It sounds dumb, and Deadpool himself mocks her for it, but between her kickass fight scenes and Beetz' laid-back, funny delivery, we're definitely into it.
Round out the rest with some ridiculous and only-sometimes-funny jokes from side characters—including TJ "I Make Bomb Threats" Miller—and you get a perfectly fine movie that certainly won't give the Marvel Studios juggernaut a run for its money, but still delights in poking fun at it nonetheless. Director David Leitch (Atomic Blonde) deserves recognition for allowing the silliness to always throttle the story forward, just don't take your kids—and make sure to hang around for the self-referential mid-credit scenes. Shit's rich.
7
+Funny and entertaining
-It's not really a "real" movie, now, is it?
Deadpool 2
Directed by Leitch
With Reynolds, Beetz and Brolin
Violet Crown, Regal, Jean Cocteau Cinema, R, 119 min.
Deadpool 2 In theaters 5/18! Get your tickets at Fandango today.
