Deadpool 2

Plot

Now having been a ‘superhero’ for a couple of years, Deadpool/Wade Wilson is living it up with his new life – however when girlfriend Vanessa is killed by one of the crooks he let escape, he spirals into depression.

The X Men bring him on board, and his first mission is to save a fire-starting mutant Russell – when things go south, he and Russell are sent to mutant jail. However a time travelling soldier, Cable – has travelled from the future – in order to kill the man who killed his family ‘before it happens’ and that man as a child was Russell.

Direction

David Leitch takes over direction from Tim Miller, and takes some further challenges than his predecessor. There is some good camera work (like the 360 spin in the spa house). There is again a needed use for CGI – and this is even joked about in one sequence when two CGI characters fight each other.

There are some questionable moments of CGI that probably should have stayed on the cutting room floor, and they are unintentionally funny due to how badly they looked.

Cast/Characters

Returning are of course Ryan Reynolds as the lead, and he once again gives his “Ryan Reynoldsist” performance. Morena Baccarin is back briefly as Vanessa, Karan Soni as Dopinder, TJ Miller makes his (thankfully) final appearance as Weasel, and Leslie Uggams is back as Blind Al. Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead are back too.

New introductions are Josh Brolin as Cable, Zazie Beetz as Domino and Julian Dennison as Russell/Firefist.

There are more cameos here than I can mention but they are all hilariously funny in their own way.

Screenplay/Setting/Themes

There is once again a mixture of heart and comedy in the film just like the first, and that comes in the protective nature that Deadpool has on Russell, and DP gets his ‘4 or 5 moments’.

There is some slow pacing in the prison sequence, than is until Cable shows up – and I forgot how late in the proceedings (and how little they appear on screen) the X Force sequence happens.

Score/Soundtrack

This is where the film excels, with so many fan favourite vocal artists in the soundtrack – Dolly Parton, Barbara Streisand (Josh Brolin’s mother in law), Enya, Cher. Special mentions go to Celine Dion whose haunting ‘Out of Ashes’ is played in the James ‘Bondesque’ opening credits, and We Belong by Pat Benatar over the closing.

Overall

Neither better nor worse than #1 – it has exactly what we were expecting from a Deadpool movie. If you’re a Ryan Reynolds fan and you haven’t seen this… then you’re not a Ryan Reynolds fan.

It might be a ‘touch’ overlong with some slight pacing issues, but still a high recommend from me.

4/5