Given the success of the first Deadpool, it wasn’t a surprise a sequel was made. The foul-mouthed, wise-cracking mutant (or do I need to write “Merc with a Mouth” to help with Google searches and to look like I am in the know?) was featured in a movie that brought different sensibilities to the superhero genre earned its R rating with bloody action, filthy language, and meta humor. Plus, it was a vast improvement of the character that appeared in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Deadpool 2 opens with Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) trying to kill himself because of the responsibility he feels regarding the death of his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). Colossus of the X-Men helps Deadpool pick up the pieces, literally, and tries to give Deadpool a purpose. His first mission as an X-Men (trainee) is at an orphanage where a young mutant boy named Russell (Julian Dennison), who calls himself Firefist. When Deadpool learns Russell was abused, he kills a guard, sending him along with Russell to the Ice Box, a prison where they wear power-dampening collars.
In the future, Firefist kills the family of Cable (Josh Brolin), a cyborg soldier, so he travels back in time to kill the Russell. (But does that mean a new timeline has been created or did his coming to present day lead to the death of his family? I mean, if he’s successful, he never would have gone back, right?Damn, time travel is so tricky to make sense of.) Deadpool takes it upon himself to save the kid, but he can’t do it alone, so he organizes a new mutant team known as X-Force. Their rescue attempt goes hysterically (presuming you have a twisted sense of humor like I and the writers do) wrong, leaving him Domino (Zazie Beetz) to work with. While they are busy fighting each other, Russell teams up with a mutant so powerful Deadpool and Cable must work together if either is going to accomplish their goal. .And Deadpool might even learn something by the end.
With Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick returning as screenwriters, along with Ryan Reynolds, it’s no surprise the film retains its Bugs Bunnyesque sensibilities. There are a lot of great in-jokes for comic-book movie fans, from referring to Brolin’s character as Thanos to a blink-and-use-miss-it cameo. Director David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde) joined the team and the action scenes seem enriched by his presence, especially during the new cut, as the camera swirls around the room when Deadpool fights with in Tokyo bath house. But then the new cut also has scenes that are extended for the actors to fire off more one-liners and while funny, it’s understandable why they were edited out for pacing.
The video has been given a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encoded transfer displayed at an aspect ratio of 2.39:1. The colors pop off the screen in vibrant hues, from the red of Deadpool’s outfit to the yellows in the X-Men uniforms. Blacks are rich and the whites are bright. There is fine texture detail seen in objects, both real-world and CGI. The image exhibits sharp focus and depth.
The audio is available in English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, which presents a wide dynamic range. Sounds emanate throughout the surrounds, offering scene ambiance and engulfing the listener in the louder moments. They traverse channels, capturing the movement of objects across and heading off screen. Tyler Bates’s score and the songs come through with great clarity as does the dialogue. The bass delivers powerful oomphs during action and the music, slightly distorting at very loud moments.
Disc 1 (Theatrical Cut) houses the good number of HD extras. There are two Deleted/Extras Scenes (3 min), an old couple on a “Park Bench” with Deadpool and “Hitler Coda Extended,” which appears on Disc 2 (Super Duper $@%!#& Cut). Gag Reel (3 min). Deadpool Family Values: Cast of Characters (15 min) shows folks in front of and behind the camera talking about the new characters and their place in the story. David Leith Not Lynch: Directing DP2 (12 min), the same bunch of folks sing the director’s praises and talk about him as the new guy on the team.
Deadpool’s Lips Are Sealed: Secrets and Easter Eggs (13 min) deals with the secrecy during the shoot, and mentions Easter eggs but no reveals. Until Your Face Hurts: Alt Takes (13 min) starts with everyone raving about Reynolds, and the open, collaborative spirit on the set. Roll with the Punches: Action and Stunts (7 min) covers the stunt work. The Deadpool Prison Experiment (11 min) looks at the prison set.
Peter gets the focus during The Most Important X-Force Member (2 min). Chess with Omega Red (1 min) is as stated. Swole and Sexy (2 min) is about the actors getting in shape for movie. “3-Minute Monologue” (2 min) finds Brolin in the make-up chair, riffing on different topics. There’s an audio Commentary by Ryan Reynolds, David Leitch, Rhett Reese, and Paul Wernick. Closing out the extras is Deadpool’s Fun Sack 2, a variety of promotional videos (35 min) such as trailers, tattoo suggestions for Brazilian Comic Con attendees, Celine Dion’s “Ashes” and its making, and a stills gallery.
Deadpool 2 offers an entertaining mix of action and comedy for those with a high tolerance for vulgarity and does a great job expanding this universe with new characters. Although if you didn’t like the first one, I can’t imagine this one getting a different reaction from you. The HD video and audio will impress viewers and has plenty of extras to explore.
