Ryan Reynolds is back in action with Deadpool 2—and of course, he’s not holding back. Wade Wilson’s comic book film debut was well-received by audiences around the world, and fans have been hotly anticipating the sequel for months on end. Originally created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, Deadpool first arrived on the scene in The New Mutants #98 back in February 1991. Since then, Deadpool has been a beloved character by many fans of Marvel Comics and the X-Men series. Both Nicieza and Liefeld were heavily inspired by Deathstroke, Spider-Man and Wolverine when creating the character of Deadpool.

Two years ago, the first Deadpool film boldly went where no Marvel movie went before, and this summer’s sequel certainly doesn’t disappoint. Director David Leitch might be best known for his work alongside Chad Stahelski with John Wick, but Leitch is also well-respected for his work as a stuntman and stunt coordinator. Naturally, his movement background certainly translates well on screen, and Leitch definitely knows how to deliver with some heart-racing action sequences. We won’t dive into spoilers too much, but who can honestly forget that opening scene with the katana!? Whew! Stepping out of the theater, nearby fans shared similar positive reactions to the film. An amusing meme has been circulating around the interwebz, showing a depressed-looking Groot with the caption, “After Infinity War…” and a super happy Groot, reading, “After Deadpool 2!”. We have to say, it honestly couldn’t be more relatable.

Deadpool 2 fires back with a serious dose of summer blockbuster fun. While Infinity War delivered a heart-wrenching cliffhanger ending, everyone’s favorite merc with a mouth came through with a hilarious sequel. With Deadpool 2, Reynolds relies heavily on the formula which worked for the first Deadpool—wild, irreverent humor and relentless action. Some of the original cast returned for round two, such as Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, and Karan Soni as Dopinder. Also, Deadpool 2 heralds in a fresh cast of bold new characters, including Zazie Beetz as Domino, Terry Crews as Bedlam and Josh Brolin as Cable.

The film is filled to the brim with pop culture references of all sorts, including laugh out loud comic book allusions. While the first movie focused on Deadpool’s relationship with Vanessa with a comedic feel, Deadpool 2 keeps the laughs, but still takes on a darker approach. Interestingly enough, many of the trailers and marketing material for Deadpool 2 teased the introduction of Josh Brolin’s Cable as the film’s new antagonist. Of course, we won’t divulge too many spoilers, but for those who have seen it, Deadpool 2 brings in a surprising new character into the mix. Out of the new roster of characters, Zazie Beetz shines in her role as the lucky lady Domino. Although quite brief, her dynamic with Reynolds was hilarious, and her impressive combative skills definitely left fans wanting more. Could we see a possible Domino spin-off in the near future? Only time will tell!

Sarah Kate Ellis, current President of GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, had warm remarks about the addition of Yukio to Deadpool 2. In a statement, Ellis wrote, "20th Century Fox have finally given countless moviegoers around the world what they’ve longed to see- LGBTQ superheroes in a relationship who protect the world together. Negasonic and Yukio’s storyline is a milestone in a genre that too often renders LGBTQ people invisible, and should send a message to other studios to follow this example of inclusive and smart storytelling." In most recent comic book films, characters with LGBTQ identities have been noticeably absent. On social media, like Twitter and Instagram, many fans were overjoyed by the introduction of Negasonic and Yukio’s open relationship.

However, on the other hand, Deadpool 2 missed the mark with the portrayal of Asian characters. We understand, Deadpool 2 is not the type of movie to be analyzed with a critical lens, but the way the film treats Asian characters is pretty standard across other superhero films. For instance, Yukio's giggly persona falls into the typical Asian female stereotype of being cute, girly, and frankly, vapid. The film is known for mocking these stereotypes and tropes, but when we look towards other similar superhero films and female Asian characters, the situation isn't much better. Sure, in X-Men, Psylocke kicks butt, but isn't given the opportunity to show character development as a whole. In fact, Yukio's character is almost parallel to Mantis from Guardians of the Galaxy. Both characters are handed short scenes with limited lines, and with Yukio’s case, only smiley greetings and farewells. Karan Soni, who plays Dopinder, is treated much in the same. While Dopinder is given a little more time in the spotlight, he is essentially mocked and treated as comic relief. Earlier this year, Black Panther set the standard high with inclusivity and showed the world that representation matters. Let’s hope that studio execs take notes for the next wave of superhero films to come.

In true Wade Wilson fashion, Deadpool 2 certainly packed a punch. The introduction of the X-Force was promoted heavily in trailers leading up to the film. We've already been introduced to Colossus and the effervescent Negasonic Teenage Warhead in the first Deadpool film. In the sequel, fans will get to see Lewis Tan as Shatterstar, Bill Skarsgård as Zeitgeist, and Rob Delaney as the most important character of them all, Peter. For those who have seen the film, make sure to stay for the post-credits scenes for an amusing twist to the tale. While the possibility of Deadpool 3 still remains unconfirmed, fans have still clung to the hope of seeing Ryan Reynolds opposite of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. We’ll be sure to share more updates about any new projects in development, soon!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ryan Reynolds is planning to collaborate with Michael Bay to create an original Netflix film. Michael Bay is known for his work with the Transformers and Bad Boys films. Two of the writers from Deadpool, Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, are also purportedly on board. The film, currently titled "Six Underground", will star Reynolds as the lead. Three producers from Skydance Media, including David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger, will help create the film. Stay tuned for more details about this project, which is slated to release next Summer 2019.

Written by Jade Nicolette

Twitter: @nicolette_style