The Merc with a Mouth is back for his second big-screen adventure. In the first film, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) was diagnosed with cancer, and traveled the world looking for a cure. He ended up becoming a subject in a rogue mutant experiment that left him horribly disfigured, but with accelerated healing powers, and seemingly the inability to die. So Wade donned a red body suit and became a wisecracking assassin-for-hire.

As the sequel opens, things are going well for Wade (Ryan Reynolds)—he’s got no shortage of work, and he and Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) are ready to take their relationship to the next level. However, when strategy strikes, Wade is sent into a downward spiral, looking for meaning in his life. Much to the annoyance of Colossus, Wade decides to join The X-Men as a trainee, but Wade isn’t too keen on following the rules. His rogue actions, while trying to save a young mutant named Firefist (Julian Dennison) from harming himself and others, quickly lands Deadpool and Firefist in the Ice Box, a maximum security prison for mutants. Just as Wade is making “friends” in lockup, a time-traveling soldier from the future, Cable (Josh Brolin), shows up and tries to kill Firefist, whose future self causes the death of his family. So Deadpool takes it upon himself to protect Firefist and take down Cable. In the process, he recruits his own team of super-powered mutants (and one average Joe named Peter), calling them X-Force.

Deadpool 2 is a thoroughly-satisfying, worthy follow-up to the original film. While the first Deadpool movie is still my favorite, this sequel comes in an extremely close second. It takes all of the elements that worked in the first form and amps them up. Deadpool is still the same fast-talking, wisecracking guy with a morbid sense of humor, but there’s a bit more heart to his actions. At the opening of the film, Deadpool calls the sequel a “family film”, and that is certainly true, just not in the normal use of that phrase. The core of the film is about Wade Wilson finding/creating his own form of family. But throughout this journey, he’s still making lots of fun pop culture references, self-referential and self-deprecating jokes, and breaking the fourth wall to the audience. While the other MCU films don’t reference Deadpool, this film definitely takes place in the same universe, and Deadpool the character has a lot of fun making jokes about the MCU and DCU—there’s reference to the fact that Josh Brolin also plays Thanos, and that Ryan Reynolds was in the poorly-reviewed Green Lantern film.

This sequel does a great job of subverting expectations. Just when you think you know where the story is going, it switches things up and goes in a completely unexpected direction. Back are Deadpool’s friends Weasel (T.J. Miller), Blind Al (Leslie Uggams), and Dopinder (Karan Soni), who’s now had the taste for murder and is eager to become a merc himself, like his best friend D.P. Also back are Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), along with her new, always-cheery girlfriend Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna). Deadpool’s new X-Force team is also filled with a lot of fun new characters, including Domino (Zazie Beetz), whose superpower is just being lucky. And Josh Brolin really wins the summer, doing an excellent job making you care about both Thanos in Infinity War, and now Cable in Deadpool 2. As Cable, he not only brings some dry humor, but also a lot of heart to a character that initially seems like your typical comic book super-villain. There are also plenty of great cameos in this film.

Deadpool 2 is not only funny and irreverent, but also filled with some really heart-warming moments and some amazing action sequences. There is also this fun juxtaposition between the soundtrack and the gruesome action on screen. Deadpool will be brutally slicing and dicing and clearing out a room, while Dolly Parton or Enya fills the soundtrack. There is also an incredible theme song by Celine Dion, and a wonderful Bond-spoof opening sequence to go along with it.

FOX’s Blu-ray release provides a really solid video and audio presentation. The picture is clean and detailed throughout, and the audio track provides clear dialogue and makes excellent use of the stereo and surround channels. The action on screen comes to life as you hear slicing and explosions all around your living room, or the sound of rain and helicopters seemingly overhead. The film’s unique soundtrack also sounds wonderful.

The Blu-ray release includes nearly 2 hours of bonus material, including 2 cuts of the film, 2 deleted/extended scenes, a gag reel, behind-the-scenes featurettes, music videos, an audio commentary, trailers, and whole lot more. For this review I watched the extended cut, which is nearly 13 minutes longer, and I couldn’t have told you what was added since I originally saw the film in the theater. I enjoyed it just as much, if not more, the second time around.

The Blu-ray release comes with 2 discs—the theatrical cut and bonus features on one, and the extended cut on the other—which are packed in a standard HD keepcase with a cardboard slipcover. The release also includes an Movies Anywhere HD digital copy of the film. There are also various retail store-exclusive versions of this release, such as a steelbook at Best Buy, a bonus “children’s” book at Target, and bonus mini Deadpool Bob Ross Funko Pop keychain at Walmart.

What’s Included:

Film: (Theatrical Cut: 1:59:20, Super Duper $@%!#& Cut: 2:13:59)

Blu-ray:
• 1080p / Widescreen 2.39:1
• Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, English Descriptive Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish (same languages for commentary as well)

Digital HD

• HD Movies Anywhere copy of the theatrical cut of the film. The extended cut is included in the digital bonus features.

Extras:
All bonus material can be found on the disc with the Theatrical Cut.

• Deleted/Extended Scenes (2:36)
  Play All, or select from “Park Bench”, and “Hitler Coda Extended”.
• Gag Reel (3:11)
  A fun gag reel filled with flubbed lines, misbehaving props, on-set hijinks, and lots of F-bombs.
• Deadpool Family Values: Cast of Characters (15:09)
  The cast and filmmakers talk about the premise of the film, the new characters, actors, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with screenwriters/executive producers Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese & Ryan Reynolds (“Wade Wilson/Deadpool”), director David Leitch, co-creator/comics artist Rob Liefeld, stunt performer Andre Tricoteux, producer Simon Kinberg, and stars Julian Dennison (“Firefist”), Morena Baccarin (“Vanessa”), Rob Delaney (“Peter”), T.J. Miller (“Weasel”), Eddie Marsan (“Headmaster”), Josh Brolin (“Cable”), & Zazie Beetz (“Domino”).
• David Leitch Not Lynch: Directing DP2 (11:39)
  The cast and filmmakers talk abut working with director David Leitch, his unique visual style, and what he brought to the sequel, particularly in the action sequences. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director David Leitch, co-creator/comics artist Rob Liefeld, producer Simon Kinberg, screenwriters/executive producers Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese & Ryan Reynolds, second unit director/stunt coordinator Jonathan Eusebio, and stars T.J. Miller, Josh Brolin, Eddie Marsan, Shioli Kutsuna (“Yukio”), Brianna Hildebrand (“Negasonic Teenage Warhead”), Morena Baccarin, & Karan Soni (“Dopinder”).
• Deadpool’s Lips Are Sealed: Secrets and Easter Eggs (12:52)
  The cast and filmmakers talk about trying to maintain secrecy while filming, how some things slipped out, the Easter eggs & cameos, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with screenwriters/executive producers Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick & Ryan Reynolds, director David Leitch, makeup designer/supervisor Bill Corso, and stars Lewis Than (“Shatterstar”), Bill Skarsgard (“Zeitgeist”), Rob Delaney, Terry Crews (“Bedlam”), & Morena Baccarin.
• Until Your Face Hurts: Alt Takes (9:25)
  The cast and filmmakers talk about the challenges of making a sequel that feels both fresh and familiar, the ad-libs and improv on set, the freedom the R rating gives to push the boundaries, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with screenwriters/executive producers Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick & Ryan Reynolds, producer Simon Kinberg, director David Leitch, and stars Josh Brolin, T.J. Miller, Karan Soni, & Julian Dennison.
• Roll With the Punches: Action and Stunts (6:57)
  The cast and filmmakers talk about the film’s stunts and action sequences, and the training involved. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, stunt pre-viz footage, and interviews with director David Leitch, screenwriter/executive producer Ryan Reynolds, stunt performer/Cable double Alex Kyshovych, second unit director/stunt coordinator Jonathan Eusebio, visual effects supervisor Dan Glass, and stars Eddie Marsan, Zazie Beetz, & Josh Brolin.
• The Deadpool Prison Experiment (11:28)
  The cast and filmmakers talk about the prison set, filming the big fight sequence, and the character cameos in the background. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, storyboard artwork, stunt pre-viz footage, and interviews with screenwriters/executive producers Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick, director David Leitch, production designer David Scheunemann, visual effects supervisor Dan Glass, makeup designer/supervisor Bill Corso, property master Dan Sissons, second unit director/stunt coordinator Jonathan Eusebio, co-creator/comics artist Rob Liefeld, costume designers Kurt Swanson & Bart Mueller, and stars Julian Dennison, Josh Brolin, Robert Maillet (“Sluggo”) & Jack Kesy (“Black Tom”).
• The Most Important X-Force Member (2:21)
  Actor Rob Delaney and screenwriters/executive producers Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick, and director David Leitch talk about X-Force member Peter.
• Chess With Omega Red (1:16)
  Interview with Dakoda Shepley (“Omega Red”), whose character appears in the background of the prison scene.
• Swole and Sexy (2:12)
  Stars Karan Soni, Julian Dennison, Josh Brolin & Ryan Reynolds and director David Leitch talk about the buff stars of the film.
• “3 Minute Monologue” (2:14)
  Josh Brolin talks about himself, his character, and dub-step while sitting in the make-up chair.
• Audio Commentary by Ryan Reynolds, David Leitch, Rhett Reese and Paul Warnick (1:59:20)
  Star Ryan Reynolds, director David Leitch, and screenwriters/executive producers Rhett Reese and Paul Warnick provide a highly entertaining and informative commentary on the theatrical cut of the film. They share lots of interesting behind-the-scenes stories about the production, point out some of the fun Easter eggs you may not have noticed (such as how Ryan Reynolds is wearing the same shirt Chunk wore in The Goonies in a scene where Wade is talking to Josh Brolin’s character, Cable), and more.
• Deadpool’s Fun Sack 2
  • Videos (35:22)
    Collection of trailers and other promotional videos. Play All or select from:
    • No Good Deed (3:45)
      Original coming soon teaser where Deadpool tries to do a Superman-like telephone booth change, but takes too much time and is too late to stop a mugging.
    • Deadpool”s “Wet on Wet” Teaser (2:10)
      Deadpool as Bob Ross teaser promo.
    • Brazil Comic-Con Tattoos (2:15)
      Deadpool makes an offer to Brazil Comic-Con attendees to get a free tattoo.
    • Deadpool, Meet Cable (2:07)
    • Red Band Deadpool, Meet Cable (2:07)
    • The Trailer (2:31)
    • The Red Band Trailer (2:39)
    • The Final Trailer (2:20)
    • The Final Red Band Trailer (2:20)
    • IMAX PSA (:43)
      Deadpool talks about the difference between IMAX and a normal size screen.
    • Celine Dion – “Ashes” (3:53)
      Music video for theme song. As Celine Dion sings in a theater, Deadpool joins her on stage to do an interpretive dance routine.
    • Behind the Scenes of “Ashes” with Celine Dion (1:10)
      Bacstage with Deadpool as he prepares to do his dance routine.
    • Eur Missing a Country (:51)
      Deadpool makes a plea for Canada to be allowed to join Eurovision.
    • Deadpool Takes Over Manchester United! (1:03)
      The Manchester United stadium and team get a Deadpool makeover.
    • The First 10 Years (1:18)
      Deadpool reminisces about the 10 years it took for Deadpool to spawn a two-film cinematic universe.
    • Diplo, French Montana & Lil Pump Ft. Zhavia – “Welcome to the Party” (Official Video) (3:05)
    • Deadpool 2 Thanks You (1:03)
      Deadpool 80s sitcom opening set to the Golden Girls theme.
  • Stills (2:23)
    Either manually advance through this gallery of 28 production photos, or allow the slideshow to automatically advance every 5 seconds.

Final Thoughts:

Fans of the original Deadpool will not be disappointed by this sequel. It recaptures the same humor, tone and action of the first film film, while also adding in a little more heart. All of your favorite characters return, and a bunch of great new ones are added—especially in Deadpool’s new partner Domino, and new adversary Cable. FOX’s Blu-ray release looks and sounds great, and contains an excellent selection of bonus material. This is definitely a must-own release for fans of the franchise, or those looking for a fun, different kind of superhero film.