LIFE OF THE PARTY
Movie Review – Deadpool 2
Review by Ray Schillaci
Make way for the outrageous return of Marvel’s clad-in-red bad boy, the class clown of the Marvel heroes who insists he’s no hero. Although, this time around he might have softened a bit. Does that mean a PG-13 Deadpool? Absolutely not. Ryan Reynolds is in fine form once again as the no-holds barred, merc with the motor mouth in all his gory glory and bawdy laughs. Is he for everyone? Nope. Thank goodness, even if there’s little goodness in another bad boy tale of dirty jokes, cringing puns, and near slapstick violence. There’s no homogenizing this antihero, but he does show the signs of a conscience.
For those easily offended, don’t bother giving Deadpool and his buddies a chance even if the story is about family. What?! Yes, our first introduction to Deadpool was all about love, and oh yeah, kicking ass, cancer, death (lots of it), sex, mucho violence, and something to nearly offend everybody. It was also a laugh riot, lampooning the superhero mythos, action films and the people that make them. The filmmakers went as far as to make a farce out of the opening credits, and why should this time be any different?
After another outrageous day at work picking off bad guys like the best video game player, Deadpool happens upon tragedy, the kind that makes you want to kill yourself. But, Deadpool is not easy to kill, even by his own hands. He ends up being taken in by the friendly and polite silver Colossus of X-Men fame. Once again, Colossus is determined to turn Deadpool into a respectable superhero.
Imagine Deadpool as a X-Men trainee. Exactly, things never go according to plan. Their first mission is hysterically mega-botched with Deadpool trying to talk down a portly New Zealander boy mutant, Russell, with fire breathing hands that can release massive bursts of power. Russell has been abused, and he’s in full form to strike back. As Deadpool attempts to save the day, he ends up with his usual clusterf*ck, and both Russell and Deadpool end up having their powers subdued and thrown into prison.
Russell tries to befriend Deadpool (Wade Wilson, sans his mask), but DP wants nothing to do with him until a super soldier from the future, Cable, rips the hell out of everything to get to the boy. DP has an epiphany, at least he thinks he does, and is determined to save the kid. Josh Brolin as Cable is the stone cold opposite of Ryan Reynolds’ whip-smart Deadpool. He’s so serious and dark that Deadpool actually suggests that he might have come from the DC universe. Just one of the hysterical moments in this very funny film.
There is so much lampooning being volleyed around here. In fact, director David Leitch, the former stuntman-turned-action director after his turn with Atomic Blonde, and his team of writers play a good game of one-upmanship. As mentioned, opening credits are every bit as good while poking fun at James Bond, making the post credit a must-stay for fans. Some of the funniest bits may be familiar, but God are they funnier this time around. Remember “baby-hand,” well they blew that joke out of the water with their hysterical new take. The question: is Deadpool 2 better than Deadpool? It’s kind of like comparing apples to elephants. You can enjoy both, you just want to avoid eating or getting trampled by one. Deadpool 2 is gutsy, glorious, goofy…and I have no more “g” adjectives…it’s just plain fun.
Directed by: David Leitch
Release Date: May 18, 2018
Run Time: 119 Minutes
Rating: R
Country: USA
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
