Pulling up to see an R–rated movie at 9:45 a.m. on a Friday, I wasn’t expecting a crowded theater, but there were at least 40 other people without jobs looking to exploit that matinée pricing. Deadpool 2, I’m happy to say, delivered the laughs for us all.
The sequel to 2016’s Deadpool opened much like its predecessor, jumping straight into an unexplained scene of Deadpool/Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) doing some deadly things before launching into the past to explain it.
This past also includes a fight set to happy music that seems inappropriate given the content, a ploy used throughout the first film to surprisingly funny effect. The similarities don’t stop there, with the same meta humor, returning lovable characters like the taxi driver Dopinder, and lots and lots of Tarantino–esque gore. Suffice it to say, if you didn’t like the first movie, you’re not going to like this one.
Although similar in style to the first Deadpool, the plot of the sequel is driven by a tragedy rather than by love. No spoilers here, but in order to repair himself and his heart while saving a young, chubby, New Zealand–accented mutant, Deadpool needs a family by his side.
Since he's still too murderous for the X–Men, many new characters are introduced, forming a team called the X–Force—a makeshift family of mutants with a much–needed gender–neutral name. The new team sets up everything nicely for an X–Force and a Deadpool 3, both of which are already in the works. And the standout has to be Domino (Zazie Beetz), whose “superpower” is luck, heavily doubted by Deadpool, but which makes her basically invincible.
Honestly, seeing the first film isn’t really necessary. It may ripen some of the jokes, but you’ll easily still follow the plot and laugh at every crack Deadpool makes. Nevertheless, I would still recommend seeing the first film simply because it’s just as good as this one, and who doesn’t enjoy some more comedy?
Oh, and make sure you stay for the mid–credits scenes. You’re welcome.
‘Deadpool 2’ is currently playing at Cinemark University City Penn 6, and most likely a theater near you—if you’re not in China, or one of the other countries which banned it.
