Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Once Upon A Deadpool is the same Film as Deadpool 2 and therefore tells the same story. That story is of Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) meeting young mutant Russell (Julian Dennison), who appropriately calls himself Firefist. Deadpool and Russell quickly find out that Cable (Josh Brolin), who is a soldier from the future, wants to kill Russell. After one encounter with the genetically enhanced Cable, Deadpool realizes he can’t save the boy on his own and gathers a team to defeat Cable. However, even though Deadpool 2 and Once Upon A Deadpool follow the same Plotline, there are two major changes between the two Films. Those changes are cutting out numerous curse words and graphic scenes to get a PG-13 rating, as well as adding a commentary performed on-screen by Deadpool and Fred Savage.
There will be many debates over the Holidays as to whether Once Upon a Deadpool was a necessary Film to make. Arguments can be made for both sides. However, I would say that in this retelling of Deadpool 2, the Film is able to reach a wider audience while also being hilarious for those loyal fans of the R-rated Deadpool. The reason it still works is because the Plot hasn’t changed and the added commentary is there specifically for those die-hard fans of the comics and previous Films. The fun, quick and comedic rhetoric between Savage and Deadpool manages to poke-fun at Deadpool 2, relating to both social and adaptation flaws, in ways that will make new and recurring watchers laugh.
Although some curse words are cut out, they have managed to keep quite a lot in and still get that PG-13 rating. When Deadpool really wants to have a curse word said there is an inventive tool used. This tool manages to insinuate that someone is saying something that wouldn’t be acceptable for the rating they received. Therefore, adding humour anywhere they can appeal to their fan-base while reaching a younger audience. I believe this second take and PG retelling couldn’t be pulled off if not for Ryan Reynolds. His love, passion and comedic intelligence bring so much to the franchise that him adding commentary to a prior Film is entertaining. He is simply in the role that he was born to play.
20th Century Fox Canada releases ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL on Wednesday, December 12, 2019.
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