Reynolds ratchets up jokes, violence for ‘Deadpool 2’

There are Marvel movies, and then there are Deadpool movies.

Deadpool, as embodied by a hi l a r i o us l y hyper Ryan Reynolds, is the self- absorbed, foulmouthed Frat Bro of the Marvel universe. He hurls a torrent of one-liners, pop culture put- downs and sexual innuendo almost as often as he slices off heads, chops off arms, or otherwise shoots, burns or blows up enemies.

His maniacally mischievous antics make for a madcap and blood-soaked romp in “Deadpool 2.” If you liked the original, you will love the sequel. It’s more of the same. Only more so.

“Deadpool” in 2016 was the first Marvel film to embrace an R rating: sex and drugs and rocking violence. No. 2 also exploits the sleazy regions of the R. This is not your cuddly, PG-13, superhero movie.

The jokes and asides — Deadpool likes to talk to the audience — are fast and unrelenting. The pop songs, like the seemingly incongruous tunes in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” f ilms, are recognizable, hummable, somewhat nauseating and yet oddly satisfying. ( Celine Dion even contributes a “power ballad,” “Ashes.”)

The gang regrouped for No. 2. Deadpool ( aka Wade Wilson) is still mad- crazy for Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), gains wisdom from Blind Al ( Leslie Uggams), trades comic barbs with Weasel ( T.J. Miller) and receives dubious assistance from Colossus (voice of Stefan Kapicic).

Along the way, Deadpool visits X- Men headquarters, whe r e he becomes a “trainee,” and

teams with a fiery young dude with a thick New Zealand accent named Russell (Julian Dennison), who has escaped from the Essex House for Mutant Rehabilitation.

The chief villain in “Deadpool 2” is a time-travelling vengeance-seeker named Cable.

Of course, casting is crucial in any film, but the choice for Cable really slaps you in the face: Josh Brolin.

Yes, that Josh Brolin! The same guy currently playing universe-altering Thanos in the global megasmash “Avengers: Infinity War.”

The Screen Actors Guild has 129,000 members, and they couldn’t find anyone else to play the Marvel supervillain other than the guy who is already playing the Marvel supervillain in the other Marvel movie?

Deadpool needs help battling Thanos, er, Cable ( actually Brolin is terrific), so he recruits a not- so- awesome group of ne’er- do-wells including Domino (Zazie Beetz), Bedlam (Terry Crews) and Shatterstar ( Lewis Tan). They call t hemselves “X- Force,” and yes, there will be a spinoff movie. There are also a host of surprises and bonus characters, and must- see closing credits.

It’s always a kick when an actor and a character are so utterly simpatico. Reynolds could not be having any more fun as the zany, scenery- chewing Deadpool, and his enthusiasm is contagious. He is also expert at wrapping inside jokes within inside jokes. According to Marvel movie lore, it took Reynolds 11 years to make the f i rst “Deadpool.” The studio j ust wasn’t quite sure what to make of it ( and all of the F- bombs).

Thanks to director David Leitch (“Atomic Blonde”) and the writing team of Reynolds, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the sequel is not a letdown. It may not be as refreshingly clever as the first “Deadpool,” but it certainly delivers in laughs and lunacy.

TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX Ryan Reynolds stars as Deadpool in “Deadpool 2.”

PHOTOS BY 20TH CENTURY FOX Zazie Beetz as Domino in “Deadpool 2.”

Josh Brolin plays Cable, the chief villain in “Deadpool 2.”