ReelBob: ‘Deadpool 2’ ★★½
By Bob Bloom
You have to feel sorry for “Deadpool 2.”
The movie is like that high-school kid who is compared to and constantly overshadowed by the exploits of an older sibling who graduated with a 4.0 and was captain of the football and basketball teams.
No matter how proficient in the classroom or talented in sports that teenager is, it is never enough to erase the exploits of the one who came first.
Basically, this is the problem with “Deadpool 2.” It’s not a bad movie, but it tries so hard to emulate its predecessor that you feel the screen sweating.
While it is filled with the same snarky, vulgar and violent irreverence as the original, this sequel feels more like a series of strung-together scenes than a cohesive feature.
The movie continues to playfully break the fourth wall, with Deadpool talking to the audience and taking jabs at pop culture, the movie’s script, its special effects, its budget, Jared Kushner, Wolverine, the DC Universe, such movies as “Yentl,” “Frozen,” the “Sharknado” franchise, “Say Anything,” and even star Ryan Reynolds’ turn as “Green Lantern.”
Reynolds’ oversized personality is what propels “Deadpool 2,” although he settles many times for simply repeating schtick from the first movie. Talk about lazy writing!
And, since he contributed to the “Deadpool 2” screenplay, it seems he has some issues to work out with himself about some of his career choices.
“Deadpool 2” is loud, gruesome and hilarious in an uber-Three Stooges, low-brow, physical manner.
Deadpool is constantly being shot, skewered and dismantled, but like the Energizer Bunny, he bounces back and keeps going and going.
One of the film’s flaws is that the jesting seems to override everything, even a tragic turn of events that basically kicks off the film.
“Deadpool 2,” at times, plays like it is aimed squarely at fans of the first movie and not a broader audience.
Despite all its perceived shortcomings, “Deadpool 2” is a gleeful experience, especially for those with skewed or dark senses of humor.
It certainly holds your attention because the action and the gags pile up so rapidly that if you don’t pay attention, you will miss something.
Deadpool’s opponent is Cable, a futuristic soldier, played by Josh Brolin. His deadpan and irritated performance is a fine counterpoint to Reynolds’ motor-mouthed mercenary.
The writers even insert a heavy-handed mention of another Brolin character in a superhero film, but the jab just lays an egg.
The film’s soundtrack, which ranges from “Annie” to Air Supply and Peter Gabriel, is another factor that helps balance the antics.
Two other reasons to see the film are the performances by young Julian Dennison as Russell, a mutant endowed with fiery abilities, and Zazie Beetz as Domino, whose super power appears to be an inordinate streak of good luck.
“Deadpool 2” is an insane feature that probably will not disappoint the majority of people who enjoyed the original.
Sure, it has its issues, but as Deadpool explains, the movie — at its core — is a story about family, with all the warts and imperfections that relationship implies.
One more thing, make sure you stay through the end credits. It will give you one last chuckle before you exit the theater.
I am a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.
DEADPOOL 2
2½ stars out of 4
(R), graphic and bloody violence, language, sexual references, drug use