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New Release Birb: Deadpool 2

Deadpool 2
Starring: Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin
Directed by David Leitch
US Release Date: May 18th, 2018
My First Viewing: May 17th, 2018
image credit: movieposter.com

 Nearly two and a half years after turning the superhero/comic book genre on its ear with the original, Ryan Reynolds returns with a new director, but with the familiar quips and fourth-wall breaking in Deadpool 2. 

 Taking place after the events of the first film, we follow the Merc with the Mouth as he continues his mercenary ways. However, after a hit goes wrong, Mr. Pool tries to turn a new leaf by trying to help a young mutant Russell (Julian Dennison, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) while also becoming an X-Man (trainee). On the hunt for Russell is Cable (Josh Brolin), traveling back from the future to try and kill Russell. 

 This is a much different movie from the first Deadpool. While I preferred the first due to it's more spontaneous nature, the sequel had a lot to live up to, and for the most part, it paid off. There are plenty of callbacks from the first film, including the return of Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) still trying to recruit Deadpool to become an X-Man (or X-Person). 

 Where the film falls short for me is two-fold. The first is the first act is all over the place. There was a lot they were trying to pack in with previous events and the introduction of new characters that it lacked cohesion. Luckily the last two-thirds of the movie got it back on track with the creation of X-Force. The second thing is even though this film had twice the production budget as the original, the special effects and CGI in some of the fight scenes looked off, and you could tell Tim Miller was missed from the visual effects side. However, Leitch coming from the John Wick series knows how to do action.  

 Thanks to the increase in budget, they packed in the star-power, bringing in the likes of Brolin (who now has a monopoly in strong-chinned misunderstood Marvel characters), Terry Crews, Bill Skarsgard, and Zazie Beetz as Domino, who, much like Negasonic in the first film, was my out-of-nowhere favorite character in this film. I just wish there was more of her in the movie. With an upcoming X-Force film announced with Drew Goddard (Cabin in the Woods) at the helm, she can have a chance to shine and be a central focus. 

 While in terms of tone and substance this was different than what I was expecting, this was still one of my favorite films thus far in 2018. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, the characters and script were on-point, and the post-credits scenes are far and away better than anything the MCU has put out there. See it in a packed theater and enjoy the experience. 

 Deadpool 2 is rated R for strong graphic violence, language, and sexuality/nudity. What are your thoughts on the film? Follow me on twitter and facebook and leave your comments. 

-birb

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