One has to know what this film is all about as well as what DEADPOOL2 is all about before heading out to watch ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL.

ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL is a PG-13 version of DEADPOOL2  with no ‘fuck’ word used though other ‘f’ words (that could substitute for the fuck’ word) are allowed.  When the film opens the action anti-hero DEADPOOL is in Fred Savage’s bedroom explaining the story of the film to him.  Fred Savage is one of the most famous child actors in America with his TV series “The Wonder Years’ aired for a long time.  Non-Americans might not be that familiar with Fred Savage.  This segment is intercut with DEADPOOL2 the film.

With DEADPOOL2 too released less than a year ago, watching ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL becomes too familiar.  The story, jokes and surprises in the plot are no longer effective.  DEADPOOL2 was great (see review of DEADPOOL2 attached below) but watching ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL was boring and a chore.  After all the original was supposed to be R-rated so removing the adult portions of the movie is undermining the original’s purpose.

ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL is close to 15 minutes longer with all the additional scenes put in.  The Fred Savage segments are not that funny either.  It is my Christmas wish that no other major studio will re-issue a super-action hero hit film with additional footage.  ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL does not do it for me.  It might be different if one has not seen the original.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCf03KXyzIg

(Film Review of Deadpool2)

DEADPOOL 2 arrives 2 years after the first DEADPOOL, the 11th film in the X-Men film series.  The important question on everyone’s lips is how this film fares with regards to the first DEADPOOL and the recent Marvel films like BLACK PANTHER and AVENGERS INFINITIY WAR.  Well, it is different and notably raucously hilarious. Co-written by star Ryan Reynolds himself who did a bit on his own character’s dialogue, there are lots of swearing, so be prepared to be hearing lots of vulgarities like “fuckshit”.

DEADPOOL (Reynolds reprising his original role) is the wisecracking Marvel Comics mercenary with accelerated healing but severe scarring over his body after undergoing an experimental regenerative mutation.   He forms the X-Force, a team of mutants, most of which hilariously die while unsuccessfully parachute landing in an attempt on the job to rescue Russell (Julian Dennison), a boy Deadpool befriended while in prison.  Foremost in the story is the character of Cable (Josh Brolin) a time travelling cybernetic mutant soldier who wishes to kill Russell.  It should be noted that DEADPOOL 2’s humour is in the extreme, from fake opening credits to ridiculous subplots to senseless dialogue.  To the credit of everyone making this movie, it actually works.  It took me a while to get into the film’s groove, admittedly a full 15 minutes or so (I initially hated it, thinking it all too silly, but the tactic grows into you quickly and the effort is soon appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed.)  The laugh-out loud jokes are too many to innumerate but there are prize one like the inside joke on Disney’s Frozen (since Disney has recently bought over Fox) and a running joke that makes no sense on the progress of dubstep.  The soundtrack that includes two new songs: “Ashes” by Céline Dion and “Welcome to the Party” by Diplo, French Montana and Lil Pump are especially inventive.  Those who have seen/heard “Ashes”, released as the lead single on May 3, 2018, along with a music video of the vocalist singing the song will still be laughing.

Star Ryan Reynolds is perfect as the hilarious Deadpool.  He makes the character including the dialogue he wrote.  He was given large creative control over this film after the success of the first one that resulted in the leaving of the original’s director Tim Miller due to artistic differences.  Josh Brolin plays Cable marvellously, as Brolin does in all his roles.  Brolin was also in the last recent Marvel film AVENGERS INFINITY WAR playing the main villain Thanos.  Fortunately, the makeup of Thanos results in Brolin hardly recognizable or that would have been a problem with Brolin being in two Marvel stories.  Familiar characters from the first DEADPOOL like Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Karan Soni as Dopinder, the taxi driver, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al (the fake opening credits has her listed as the film’s cinematographer) and T.J. Miller as Weasel, Daedpool’s best buddy bartender who has absolutely no loyalties are in the sequel.  Miller is good in this movie but was almost removed from the film due to alleged sexual misconduct and calling in a fake bomb threat during the movie filming.

DEADPOOL 2’s looks very expensive with great CGI and special effects.  The fight scenes are particularly stunning with humour always present.  Action and hilarity mix well in the funniest of the Marvel franchise.

Make sure to stay for the closing credits as they include a few extra scenes including surprises such as who is listed playing “Vanishing Man.”  The film also sets up for the next continuing film X-FORCE which may or may not be a direct sequel to DEADPOOL 2.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D86RtevtfrA