Ryan Reynolds stars in a scene from the movie "Deadpool 2." The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. (CNS/Twentieth Century Fox)

By Catholic News Service

A second helping of excessively violent action with a side of foul-mouthed sarcasm is on offer in director David Leitch’s follow-up to the 2016 original. This time out, the titular smart aleck (Ryan Reynolds, who also co-wrote the script) teams with a fellow mutant (Zazie Beetz) whose superpower is amazing luck to prevent a time-traveling bionic warrior (Josh Brolin) from killing the fire-casting mutant lad (Julian Dennison) who will grow up to murder the fighter’s wife and daughter.

Bloodletting, especially the repeated dismemberment of the antihero, whose inability to die is a source of torment for him, overwhelms some potentially interesting ethical material concerning revenge, the morality of taking out a future villain and Deadpool’s effort to prove himself worthy of his recently deceased live-in girlfriend (Morena Baccarin) by becoming a better person. An ambiguous outlook on faith and a benign view of homosexual relationships are other troubling elements.

Pervasive gory violence, drug use, a lesbian theme, a bizarre scene of exhibitionism, brief rear male nudity, some irreverent humor and a vaguely anti-religious tone, about a dozen uses of profanity, at least one milder oath, constant rough and crude language, obscene gestures. The Catholic News Service classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Click here for full reviews of this and other current movies by Catholic News Service.