By JASON GUYER
iRate
Ready Fight!! … Oh wait that is “Mortal Kombat” — probably the only franchise “DeadPool 2” didn’t happen to make fun of.
Deadpool, the red-and-black clad bawdy anti-hero we all love, is back in “Deadpool 2.”
Picking up where the first film left off, “Deadpool 2” keeps the humor coming right from the start.
Just as with the first, it starts with the opening credits.”Deadpool 2’s” James Bond-themed credits are fantastic. Along with the patented changing people’s credits to funny one-liners.
Although those from the original “Deadpool” were better, I did like the “John Wick” one.
Ryan Reynolds and the character of Deadpool are the perfect marriage, almost better than Reynolds’ real life marriage to Blake Lively.
His humor and the humor of the Deadpool character from the comics complement each other very well.
They are a comedic tag team like no other (and the weirdest, since they are the same person), seemingly always one-upping one another.
Reynolds was born to play Deadpool. Even Reynolds himself admits it.
If you don’t believe me, stay after and watch the mid-credits scene,. There is a Deadpool on Ryan Reynolds scene that is very funny.
In the second film, Josh Brolin joins the Deadpool universe as Cable. Brolin brings that smoldering intensity the Cable character needs.
Brolin is also not above the Deadpool smarm and only a brute character like Cable could take it and dish back.
Deadpool even points out the obvious fact that Brolin plays another Marvel character.
Deadpool is all about delivery and the Brolin line is one of the best deliveries in “Deadpool 2.”
In the midst of a back-and-forth between Cable and Deadpool, Deadpool basically looks at him and says, “Look, Thanos.”
Not wanting to spoil the entirety of it, that is the gist, although I believe it is in one of the trailers.
Newcomer Zazie Beetz plays the often auspicious Domino.
Beetz does a wonderful job in the role, especially with the attitude and subtlety her character and the character’s powers deserve on screen. Luck is her power — or subconsciously altering probability. But I like the simplification of luck better.
Beetz plays well against Brolin and Reynolds and is a solid third-wheel type character. Just as many are in Deadpool.
They all have their own moments and one-liners but none steal the show or overshadow Deadpool.
Deadpool and his humor may always be on point in “Deadpool 2” but there were things that were not as good as the original.
“Deadpool 2” has a “Hangover” problem.
The first and second installments are far too similar in humor, style and even structure.
“Deadpool 2” is set up to be nearly identical to the original film — starting after an event, flashing back to the event, then continuing to the conclusion.
Add in the same style of humor, often different but still the same type of jokes and you get a film that feels just like the first. Just as “The Hangover” and The Hangover 2” were very very similar.
This is both good and bad for the Deadpool franchise. Repetition can get boring but then again you don’t want “The Hangover 3.”
Personally, I will take good repetition over bad originality.
If a film series works, then it works and Deadpool with Reynolds at the helm works.
If a movie franchise is funny and stays funny, then it is funny and Deadpool with Reynolds in charge is hilarious.
Deadpool should continue to be the hilarious, wall-breaking and anti-hero universe to Marvel’s hero universe.
“Deadpool 2” gives maximum effort and all you need is that effort, that and, like Peter in the film, you need to show up.
Hopefully, the Deadpool franchise continues with this success. Reynolds’ Deadpool is a breath of fresh anti-hero air in a room filled with too many and too-similar heroes.
As long as the Deadpool franchise watches out for the wind advisory and Deadpool stay true to Deadpool, he won’t go the way of Peter or “The Hangover 3.”
Like Deadpool says, hit those hate breaks.
Then sit back and enjoy the rollicking good time that is “Deadpool 2.”
IRATE SCORE: 4/5
Jason Guyer is an avid moviegoer and works in the Graphics Department at the Eagle Times. For questions or comments he can be emailed at [email protected]
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