By Robert Yaniz Jr.

He may be indestructible, but Deadpool still falls victim to the sophomore slump.

THE HYPE

Remember pre-2016? When the only people who really knew anything substantive about Marvel Comics anti-hero Deadpool were, you know, the people who actually read the comics? That naturally all changed with the release of director Tim Miller’s 2016 film, the culmination of years of development. Just as superhero cinema was reaching its apparent apex, Ryan Reynolds proved to be the right man to punch some self-awareness into the genre. But now that the character is part of the institution himself, Deadpool 2 attempts to keep that novelty act going strong, even as it sets up a team-up of its own.

THE STORY

Directed by action maestro David Leitch (Atomic Blonde), the film follows Wade Wilson (Reynolds) as he attempts to maintain a successful double life as the loving partner to Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) and the katana-wielding badass never short of ammunition and wit. However, before long, Wade winds up on a mission to protect a volatile young mutant (Julian Dennison) from a time-traveling Cable (Josh Brolin), with the help of a newly formed mutant team of his own. Unfortunately, that setup is nearly all the plot Deadpool 2 offers. The film’s more earnest aspects feel muddled down by its ultraviolence and crass humor, which is more repetitive, unimaginative and obnoxious than ever. While the first film felt grounded in a real love story, this one leans too heavily on all the tricks audiences have already seen, coasting along on the “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” tactics that have nearly run dry. The fact that Wade’s arc feels in direct contrast to the film’s playfulness creates a tonal mishmash that keeps it uncomfortably off-balance.

THE CAST

If there’s one thing about Deadpool 2 that is a highlight, it’s certainly the performances. Despite the weaker material he has this time around (ironically, since he has a screenwriting credit), Reynolds feels born to play this character, and it’s impossible to imagine anyone else slipping into the red-and-black suit at this point. Brolin is stoic and imposing as the straight man to Deadpool’s goofiness, a balance that bodes well for the upcoming X-Force film. However, the only other true standout is Zazie Beetz as Domino. While Deadpool 2 makes the argument that no one needs a third solo film, audiences will certainly be up for a Domino spinoff by the time they leave theaters. As for the other cast members, fans shouldn’t expect too much from them, as their impact barely registers at all. This is a real shame in the case of Baccarin, whose charm was so essential to the first film. Her character’s story is one of the most disappointing aspects of Deadpool 2.

THE PRODUCTION

The script to Deadpool 2 might be a bit of a mess, but the execution of it all does thankfully compensate for some of what the story is lacking. As with the first film, the pacing maintains a certain liberation from genre convention, allowing Deadpool’s story to more effectively serve as parody. The soundtrack — which is anchored by the new Celine Dion song “Ashes” — adds an extra dimension of personality to the entire affair, though the absence of original composer Junkie XL is noticeable. In addition, the fight choreography and countless action set pieces are pulled off with the same technicality and precision one would expect from Leitch, whose background is in stuntwork. No surprise that the most memorable one also happens to center on Domino.

THE VERDICT

The original Deadpool remains something of a watershed moment for superhero films, but its follow-up slips into many of the same traps that plague sequels of any genre. Like most comedy sequels, Deadpool 2 is content to rehash and overheat gags, coming off as more of a pale imitation than an extension of what came before. Rather than choosing to innovate, the film simply amps everything up, from its high-octane action to meta-references. Still, it takes more than a relentless onslaught of pop culture references and shock-value violence to make this overstuffed sequel live up to the hype. There’s fun to be had amidst it all, but there’s no measure by which Deadpool 2 is an improvement on what’s come before it. By now, all of Wade’s antics are underscored by a predictable unpredictability that robs the film of the verve its predecessor delivered. More often than not, Deadpool 2‘s attempts to make you love it are more off-putting than irreverent.

RATING: 3/5

Deadpool 2 stars Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Zazie Beetz, Julian Dennison, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller and Leslie Uggams. It is directed by David Leitch and is now playing in theaters.