Deadpool 2

One thing Hollywood blockbusters have made very clear over the years is that any action scene, no matter how silly or mundane can be made awesome with the judicious application of AC/DC. There's something about those driving riffs and Brian Johnson's voice that just melds perfectly with any onscreen action. Deadpool knows this and uses Thunderstruck in a scene that both delivers the goods you'd expect whilst ripping the living piss out of itself and genre expectations. It's a perfect moment and a perfect microcosm of the Deadpool franchise.

Wade Wilson aka Deadpool is down in the dumps. His bloodthirsty ways have brought trouble to his doorstep and he's just not feeling that heroic anymore. The X-Men see this and decide to recruit him to give him a reason for being. His first mission brings him into contact with a troubled teen and a time travelling assassin. Can Deadpool find his joie de vivre again?

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's not all perfect by far but it makes for a very entertaining couple of hours. The early part of the film is rather melodramatic and had me fearing a darker sequel but once we got to the Bond ape-ing opening credits all fears were put to one side. It's just a fun film packed with some comedy gold. The opening 30 seconds mocking one of the most emotional X-Men moments, that aforementioned AC/DC scene, Wade's endearingly odd connection to a new Japanese X-Men member, a couple of really funny cameos, Rob Delaney, a smart phone homage to one of THE best 80's teen comedies and so much more. The gory action from the first is amped up to the Nth degree too. Chainsaws, bisections, too many amputations to count and one particularly cringeworthy scene involving a large arse and a big dab of electricity. Yes this is not a film for the easily offended. The homage to a very famous erotic thriller from the 90's will make you gag.

We're also introduced to X-Force. In the comics they were a more mature audience friendly version of the X-Men. They fit the tone perfectly here. I won't say much more about them aside from saying their first foray into action is......well it's one for the books.  Josh Brolin plays Cable, the time travelling bad(?) guy. He does well and like his role as Thanos in Infinity War he plays a surprisingly complex part. Thanks to him the film feels more substantial than the first. A nuanced big bad is a rare thing in modern comic book films and it's always welcome. His plan and Deadpool's intertwine as the film moves forward and the events that propel them forward strangely brought to mind The Outlaw Josey Wales. Go with me on this. It works to make the film that little bit more muscular. Director David Leitch (John Wick) helps too. His previous experience with action gives the onscreen mayhem a lovely bit of oomph. Ryan Reynolds of course nails the lead. His physicality serves him well and he sells the film's more emotional beats (yup, emotional, seriously) very believably. He's my main issue with the film though.

The only real problem with this was Deadpool himself. Sometimes you'd just wish he would shut the fuck up. I know nonstop quips, injokes and winks to the camera come directly from the comic book but Jesus it gets exhausting at times. The pop culture references come thick and fast and will date the film quickly. Zazie Beetz's as new hero Domino isn't well used either. She's excellent in TV's Atlanta at the moment but feels underserved here. She's great in action and her fight scenes provide some of the films more imaginative moments but every time she opens her mouth to deliver a zinger the result is far more cringe than lol. Beetz's screentime comes at the expense of characters from the original who barely get a glimpse. And let's not even mention TJ Miller. But there's more than enough good here to outweigh the bad. 

It's not a brilliant film but you'll have a brilliant time watching it. If the first didn't do it for you nothing here will change your mind but you loved the first it will hit the spot big time. Make sure you stay during the credits too. if you thought the jokes in the film were meta......well you just ain't seen nothin' yet.