‘Once Upon a Deadpool’ (review)

Produced by Simon Kinberg,
Ryan Reynolds, Lauren Shuler Donner
Written by Rhett Reese,
Paul Wernick, Ryan Reynolds
Based on Deadpool created by
Fabian Nicieza, Rob Liefeld
Directed by David Leitch
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin,
Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison,
Zazie Beetz, T.J. Miller, Jack Kesy,
Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapičić

… In a world where this film is completely unnecessary and ridiculous, four filmmakers have found a very interesting way to rewrap a present no one needed so that you actually need it in your life…

In a very odd but very apropos move, Ryan Reynolds, director David Leitch, writers Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, along with 20th Century Fox, decided to re-release this past spring’s hit film Deadpool 2 to the theaters for 12 very special days before Christmas.

Dubbed Once Upon a Deadpool, it is a literal retelling of Deadpool 2 but with a PG-13 rating… you know, for kids.

What makes this film different is that it is not just a reedited “safe for TV” version of the film but a cleverly recut version with the addition of a Princess Bride twist.

Literally.

Reynolds’ Deadpool has the brilliant idea to “invite” Princess Bride star, Fred Savage, brilliantly played by actor, Fred Savage, to listen to his “toned down” version of Deadpool 2. Complete with recreated bedroom set from the insanely popular 1987 Rob Reiner film in which Savage played the little sick boy who’s grandfather played by Peter Falk reads him…

What am I doing… you know what that movie is about. Literally everyone has seen The Princess Bride. If you haven’t you are dead inside.

Anyway, Deadpool has “invited” an adult Savage to help him make the story of Deadpool 2 more family friendly and accessible to which he begrudgingly agrees to despite his better judgement. The Princess Bride bookends and various interludes are charming and hilarious. A welcome addition to an already great film.

Deadpool 2, even with a PG-13 slant, is still violent as f*ck. Basically they removed most F-bombs via intentionally terrible overdubbing or the use of the “beep” sound everyone is familiar with. Also the number of “sh*t” expletives are reduced. Explicit graphic violence and gore is removed as well. Let me say that they film makers have found very clever ways to do this and it isn’t just straight trimming of the “offensive” wordage.

Also, with the addition of the Fred Savage sections they are able to do something that most films never get to, critique, usually harshly, a lot of the problems in the story telling. In the age of “Honest Movie Trailers” and “How it Should Have Ended” YouTube channels roasting movies it is funny seeing a film do it to itself. As Deadpool films have always been self aware and self abasing this is an added detail that fits in perfect and makes it even funnier then before.

I did note that it is amazing how much of the film is untouched and that the difference between PG-13 and R ratings are becoming scantly different these days. Changing sensibilities and focus makes this a fascinating study of what really makes a film rating the rating it gets.

If you loved the original release of Deadpool 2 then you are probably going to really enjoy this one as well. There is enough extra differences to make it very much an enjoyable view.

You only have 12 days to see this version of the movie as it all goes away on Christmas Eve.

And of course, stay to the very very very end as there is even more post credit goodness.

Merry X-Force and a Happy New Muteyear