'Once Upon a Deadpool' Film Review: Ryan Reynolds Cleverly Milks Cash Cow a Second Time

Rereleasing old films in new packages has been a popular practice throughout the history of cinema; B-movie distributors used to send features out on the drive-in circuit multiple times under various titles (this practice is the source of several jokes in “Grindhouse”), and 20th Century Fox once tried to recoup losses on the megabomb Julie Andrews musical “Star!” by trimming the running time and retitling it “Those Were the Happy Times.”

Fox is at it again with “Once Upon a Deadpool,” a trimmed-down-to-PG-13 version of “Deadpool 2” that will be in theaters from Dec. 12-24, with one dollar from every ticket sold going to the charity F— Cancer (which will be retitling itself “Fudge Cancer,” in the PG-13 spirit of the film, during the run).

The real selling point is the new interstitial sequences, in which Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) takes a page from “The Princess Bride” and reads the film as a story to Fred Savage — only it’s 2018 Fred Savage, playing himself, kidnapped and strapped to a bed in a room that has been art-directed to be identical to the one from “Princess Bride.” In true “Deadpool” style, the movie shows you the joke, then tells you it’s a joke, then looks at the camera to make sure you got it. That sounds terrible on paper, but these movies somehow know how to make this brand of humor work.

Watch Video: 'Once Upon a Deadpool' Trailer: Ryan Reynolds Kidnaps Fred Savage for Festive PG-13 Bedtime Story

Reynolds has this drily ironic fourth-wall business down pat, and Savage makes for an entertaining foil. If “Deadpool 2” gave Reynolds the excuse to look at the camera and say “Lazy writing” in regards to certain labored plot points, “Once Upon a Deadpool” lets Savage speak for the audience when mentioning, for example, that the film’s female lead Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) has been fridged, or that the backstory for time-traveling assassin Cable (Josh Brolin) is much more interesting in the comics.

All told, these charming sketches take up no more than about 20 minutes of screen time, and beyond that, you’re just watching “Deadpool 2” again, albeit with some of the violence trimmed, some of the coarse language covered up, and a brand-new, digitally-inserted tribute to the recently departed Stan Lee. As I noted in my original review, watching “Deadpool 2” the first time wasn’t all that different from watching “Deadpool,” so whether or not you’re up for another go-round is a matter of taste, as is whether or not you want to buy a ticket to see a movie ensconced in the ultimate DVD extra.

Watch Video: Deadpool and Fred Savage Debate Nickelback: 'Overproduced, Formulaic Ear Garbage'

So since there’s no real point in reviewing “Once Upon a Deadpool,” here are a few thoughts regarding the experience of watching “Deadpool 2” again:

• I’m not a parent, but in the age of Netflix and iTunes and Hulu and very large multiplexes, is there really anything left these days to stand between an R-rated movie and a very determined 11-year-old?
• Parents who would like their younger kids to enjoy a superhero movie with self-aware humor, comics-insider jokes and meta-commentary should check out “Teen Titans GO! to the Movies.”
• Watching TJ Miller in anything is still really uncomfortable.
• I did not catch the Brad Pitt cameo until Reynolds and Savage stopped the movie to point it out.
• Zazie Beetz as Domino totally deserves her own spin-off. And even though the “Deadpool” movies have yet to go all-in on the character’s bisexuality, it’s great that they’re so supportive of Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) having a girlfriend.
• For me, the original “Deadpool” held up better for a second viewing, and that was on a plane.

'Deadpool 2': Here Are All the Pop Culture References, From 'Frozen' to 'Sharknado' (Photos)

"Deadpool 2" is full of awesome and hilarious references to classic films, toys, songs and yes, even other superheroes. Click through TheWrap's gallery to see what made the cut.

Spoiler alert: Do not read on if you haven't seen "Deadpool 2."
"Frozen"

In a state of utter sadness, Wade Wilson compares "Frozen" to Barbra Streisand's 1983 film "Yentl."
Buena Vista
"Yentl"

Wade Wilson seems fixated on Barbra Streisand's 1983 musical "Yentl" -- and watches it early on in the film.
"My Little Pony"

When the Merc with a Mouth heads to the Academy in the movie, he makes a "My Little Pony" joke.
Lionsgate/Hasbro
"Fox & Friends"

In the movie, Deadpool uses "Fox & Friends" as an insult.
Fox News Channel's 'Fox & Friends'
"RoboCop"

Colossus does something that reminds the rest of the X-Force gang of the movie "RoboCop."
"Harry Potter"

In the movie, the Merc with the Mouth makes a joke about the Sorting Hat from the "Harry Potter" series.
"The Human Centipede"

Which other Marvel character would openly (and happily) talk about the 2009 Dutch horror film "The Human Centipede" mid-conversation?
Six Entertainment
"Cool Runnings"

Deadpool mentions the comedy "Cool Runnings" in a moment he talks about hitting rock bottom.
Walt Disney
"Sharknado"

When Deadpool is speaking to Cable, he asks about the future and what "Sharknado" film we are on.
DC Universe

Not only does Deadpool mention Superman, Green Lantern and Batman, but he asks Cable: "You're so dark -- are you sure you're not from the DC Universe?"
DC. Warner Bros.
Marvel Superheroes

Deadpool mentions Black Widow, Hawkeye, Thanos and Black Panther -- in some form. Deadpool also tells a character, "The sun is getting low," a clear reference to The Hulk.
Marvel
Cher and Celine Dion

The pop divas get name-checked by Wade -- and the latter also sings the title song.
James Bond

The opening of the movie pays homage to the opening title sequence of classic 007 films.
MGM
"Felicity"

"I cried when they canceled 'Felicity,'" T.J. Miller's character says in the movie.
The WB
"The Terminator"

"Hands off that kid, John Connor," Deadpool says at one point.
MGM
"Basic Instinct"

Deadpool loses another body part in this film that finds himself having a "Basic Instinct" moment, crossed legs and all.
"Say Anything"

There's also a "Say Anything" homage, complete with the Peter Gabriel song "In Your Eyes" and Deadpool holding up a smartphone with a picture of a boombox.
20th Century Fox
"The Passion of the Christ"

At the beginning of the movie, Wade Wilson says "Deadpool" made more than "The Passion of the Christ" did overseas. Which is true.
"Star Wars"

Not only does Deadpool talk about Luke and Leia, but he and wife Vanessa (Morena Bacarin) talk specifically about "The Empire Strikes Back."
Lucasfilm
Taylor Swift's Cats

Deadpool wears a T-shirt with the names Olivia and Meredith, Taylor Swift's beloved cats, on it.
X-Men

Not only does Wade prance around in Professor X's wheelchair but there is so, so, so many more references to X-Men characters in and out of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
Twentieth Century Fox
Beyonce

Deadpool references the singer when he says "please stop cheating on me."
Getty Images
Arby's

Deadpool makes fun of Bill Skarsgard's Zeitgeist for his "toxic spit" superpower by referencing the fare at Arby's.
Getty Images
Social Media and Dating Platforms

Throughout the film, Wade Wilson mentions LinkedIn, Grindr and Tinder.
Getty Images
McRib

Paging McDonald's corporate offices: Wade Wilson wants nothing more than to have a McRib year-round.
Getty Images
"Adventure Time"

The Merc with a Mouth still dons his "Adventure Time" watch.
Cartoon Network
Eleven from "Stranger Things"

Millie Bobby Brown's character gets a special shoutout in the film.
Netflix
"Annie"

A part of the movie features the song "Tomorrow" from the musical "Annie."
"Sabrina the Teenage Witch"

Deadpool calls Negasonic Teenage Warhead "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" in the film.
ABC
George Michael and David Bowie

Wade Wilson talks about the two iconic singers at the beginning of the film.
TriStar
"John Wick"

In the opening credits, director David Leitch is described as "one of the guys who killed the dog in 'John Wick.'" Leitch directed several scenes in the Keanu Reeves film.
Summit Entertainment
Dubstep

The '90s electronic-music dance craze dubstep -- and how much Cable seems to hate it -- gets mentioned throughout the film.
Tupac and Ice Cube

Julian Dennison's character tells Deadpool they're best friends, like Tupac and Ice Cube.
Winter Soldier's Arm

Deadpool compares the Winter Soldier's bionic arm to the one Cable has in the film.
Marvel
Jared Kushner

Wade Wilson insults one of the characters in the film by calling him "Jared Kushner."
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Flickr
Justin Bieber

Brianna Hildebrand's Negasonic Teenage Warhead gets compared to "Justin Bieber."
Getty Images
Patrick Stewart

Wade Wilson wears Professor X's Cerebra at one point in the movie and says, "It smells like Patrick Stewart."
20th Century Fox
Matthew McConaughey

Blind Al (Leslie Uggams) says "Just keep living," a reference to McConaughey's Just Keep Livin' Foundation -- and the actor gets another name-check earlier in the film.
Lincoln
Bronco Buster

During a prison riot scene, characters break out the classic neck-straddling wrestling move made famous by WWF star X-Pac (Sean Waltman) in the '90s.
Kirsten Dunst

Reynolds' Deadpool mentions Kirsten Dunst twice -- but once botches her name as Kristen once.
ABC
"Interview With the Vampire"

There are two references to "Interview With the Vampire," both having to do with Kirsten Dunst (the second is about how quickly her character in the film develops a taste for blood).
"All Out of Love" by Air Supply

It's pretty much the opening song of the movie.
Flickr/abbamouse
Wolverine

There are multiple Logan/Wolverine references throughout the film.
This is a composite image we made for fun. It is not from the film.
Dave Matthews

Deadpool tells Terry Crews that he's the Dave Matthews of superheroes.
Getty Images
Joker's "Bang!" Flag From 1989 "Batman"

When Deadpool and Weasel are interviewing members for the X-Force, behind them there is a flag sticking out of a gun like the one that Jack Nicholson's Joker used in 1989 "Batman."

Fox
Enya

Enya’s "Orinoco Flow” song plays at a key moment in the film.
Getty Images
"Sesame Street"

In the movie, there’s a riff on whether the puppets in “Sesame Street,” like Grover, can really be called Muppets.
HBO
"The Time Traveler's Wife's Husband"

Deadpool refers to time-traveling Cable in the most round-about way possible.
Plan B Entertainment
"The Proposition"

During a group scene, one of the X-Force members mentions the 2005 Aussie Western, when another pipes up adding that it has a really good Guy Pearce performance.
Sony Pictures Releasing
"The Academy"

In a particular dramatic scene, Wade Wilson breaks the fourth wall to express his hope that "The Academy is watching."
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
"Take on Me"

Actually, you hear A-ha's "Take On Me" multiple times throughout the film.
Winnie the Pooh

The iconic bear is seen in the credits scene.

Getty Images
DMX's "X Gon' Give It To Ya"

During one of Deadpool's rampage fights, DMX's 2003 song plays in the background.
Getty Images
"If You Like Pina Coladas"

Rupert Holmes' "Pina Colada Song" is another song on the movie's official soundtrack.
Wikimedia Commons/Achim Schleuning
Budweiser

Everyone drinks Budweiser throughout the movie.

1 of 56

And the Merc with a Mouth seems fixated on Kirsten Dunst — or is it Kristen?

"Deadpool 2" is full of awesome and hilarious references to classic films, toys, songs and yes, even other superheroes. Click through TheWrap's gallery to see what made the cut.

Spoiler alert: Do not read on if you haven't seen "Deadpool 2."

View In Gallery

'Deadpool 2': Here Are All the Pop Culture References, From 'Frozen' to 'Sharknado' (Photos)

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