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Trying to create a follow-up to one of the most successful rated 15/R movies of all time was always going to be a difficult task, but luckily Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, is up for the task.
Deadpool 2 is a sequel to 2016’s Deadpool, starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with the Mouth, alongside newcomers Zazie Beetz as Domino and Josh Brolin as time-travelling Cable. The first movie took over ten years to be made, luckily the wait for the sequel was much shorter.
The story sees Wade Wilson/Deadpool having to protect a mutant kid from Cable, a cyborg from the future. But in true sequel style, there is a lot more going on as well, with Deadpool being depressed and now a trainee for the X-Men.
At heart, according to Deadpool’s narration, this is a family movie. But one that features decapitations, chainsaws and a recreation of a scene from Basic Instinct. It’s a movie about the importance of family and finding a place to belong, but it’s definitely not one for the kids.
The plot is well paced and balances the chaotic madness with an actual story really well. There is one moment midway through that seems to skip a lot, with the characters suddenly at another place without any explanation, but it doesn’t take away from the story.
Ryan Reynolds once again proves to be the perfect choice for Deadpool, with his sarcastic attitude and natural charm. He’s hysterical and manages to bring a good amount of emotion to the role, in between addressing the audience, similar to the way they handled him in the first movie. This may be strange to those unfamiliar with the character, but it works well again and doesn’t distract from the plot.
Josh Brolin, not content with playing one Marvel character this year in Avengers: Infinity War, stars as Cable, the time-hopping, cyber soldier from the future. Sure enough, he makes the role his own and is able to balance the aggressive and emotional sides to the character well.
Domino, played by Zazie Beetz, is one of the new recruits for Deadpool’s team. She’s a great character and well utilised, with some of the most imaginative action sequences ever created, due to her mutant power of luck, which Deadpool frequently insists isn’t a superpower. She will surely be a fan-favourite.
As part of the X-Men universe, the movie does a fantastic job of expanding it. There’s the return of metal-skinned Colossus, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Dopinder and Blind Al, but we are also introduced to super-team X-Force, who will be receiving their own movie sometime in the future. There’s plenty of surprise cameos, both characters and actors, who make an appearance too.
Just like the first movie, this is a comedy that pokes fun at everything, from the success of Logan (2017) to the thousands of pop-culture references. There’s some fantastic visual gags that even the most hardened of individuals may struggle to keep a straight face. It even has possibly the best mid-credits scene ever created, so be sure to stick around for that.
Under the direction of John Wick’s David Leitch, Deadpool 2 contains some incredible action scenes that make full use of Deadpool’s healing factor. It’s brutal and even more violent than the first. At a 15 rating, this does contain some graphic scenes that will surely have many viewers wincing.
Although Deadpool is a much more grounded film compared to most superhero flicks, it features lots of fantastical mutants and scenes that show off just how much bigger the budget really was. The effects on Colossus, Cable and few other characters are near perfect and look fantastic.
The score was created by Tyler Bates, who’s no stranger to superhero movies, having already scored Guardians of the Galaxy and Watchmen. It doesn’t have the meat of the Junkie XL score, but it definitely enhances each scene and fits the movie well.
The choice of songs is also on point, with everything from a Dolly Parton song to Wade’s favourite genre, Dubstep. A particular highlight is the new song ‘Ashes’ by Celine Dion, which is played over the hilarious Bond-style opening titles.
Overall, Deadpool 2 has managed to escape the curse of the sequel by being bigger and better with a good story and engaging characters. It’s a hysterical and entertaining film that both fans and casual viewers will enjoy.
Purple Revolver rating: 4/5. It lives up to the hype.