I saw Once Upon a Deadpool...

I reviewed "Deadpool 2" months back (see May '18 post); no sense in rehashing the particulars. However, the film is now headed for a limited, Dec 12, theatrical re-release, but this time with a PG-13 rating and bracketed and puffed by freaky fringes to compensate for what's been carved.  

Before I go on, I must say that idea of re-editing "Deadpool 2" to placate passive youths, who remain in general apathetic toward superheroes, seems pointless and yet at least one parent got a horde of hardy publicity demanding a filtered edition, and so here we are, I guess, more or less. 

At any rate, no matter the re-edit's intended cause or effect, "Once Upon a Deadpool" (as this edition of the blockbuster is labeled) turns out to be a crafty way to address the publicized demand, while furthering interest in the abrasive superhero throughout the Christmas season (well, at least up until 12/24). I suppose any means to promote the character (and Fox's X-Men brand) is a good thing, and if it's done with a sarcastic twinge (to appeal to the fervent fan base), all the better. 

As its distinction, "Once Upon a Deadpool" features a shrewd, Ryan Reynolds/Deadpool-narrative "wraparound", with woven-in sequences starring Fred Savage, who references his precise presence in "The Princess Bride". (For those out of the loop, a similar plot device with Peter Falk was once used to unfurl young Savage's quirky, bedtime story.) In truth, Savage stays strapped to a bed as "the Merc with a Mouth" rocks the story's imprudent core. (It was reputed that a fan pitched the ""Princess Bride" idea to Reynolds via Twitter, though the timing may have been coincidental.) 

For the record, Deadpool's interjections do add some neat, new humor to the now curtailed tale. This doesn't make the alternative a full-fledged "Mystery Science Theater 3000", but for those into that sort of thing,  what's presented should hit the spot. 

I like Savage, Reynolds and all those involved in this David Leitch revision, just as I appreciate all those associated with the true-blue cut. Sure, I realize that this re-release wasn't essential (since, despite the alterations, we're dealt the same concept), but what the hell! I'll take "Once Upon..." with the hope that it increases the chances of "Deadpool 3" and/or "X-Force". Indeed, when it comes to wise-ass, mutant misadventures, the more the merrier...

(FYI: For every "Once Upon..." ticket sold, $1 will be donated to the charity, F*** Cancer: a good cause that Deadpool fans {and decent folk in general} can be proud to support.)