Deadpool 2 is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Deadpool. Distributed by 20th Century Fox, it is the sequel to Deadpool (2016) and the eleventh installment overall in the X-Men film series. (Wikipedia)
After surprising most observers with a worldwide box office of $783 million (against a $58 million budget), it was inevitable that a Deadpool sequel would be produced and fast – within two years!
Deadpool 2 is bigger – not necessarily in terms of budget – but in the scope of the plot and characters, as the film adds Cable (Josh Brolin) and Domino (Zazie Beetz) to the ensemble, together with a team of super-heroes, whom the titular character (Ryan Reynolds) christens “X-Force”.
Fans who enjoyed the appearances of X-Men Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead and other supporting characters (Vanessa, Weasel, Blind Al and Dopinder et al) will be glad that they all return in one form or another.
The plot pits Deadpool and Cable against each other as they battle over the life of young mutant Russell Collins (aka Firefist) and the storyline takes some twists and turns along the way but Deadpool’s irreverent, scatological humour remains intact.
Pop culture buffs will revel in the sheer volume of in-joke references that are fired off during the course of the film. It is utterly silly and ridiculous but provides a refreshing contrast to the heaviness of Avengers: Infinity War.
The creative team makes full use of the film’s R-rating to provide geeks with adult-oriented thrills and spills but of course, as with the first film, these guilty pleasures come at the expense of a coherent plot. But maybe that’s part of the deal.
Of all the new characters, perhaps Domino is the most intriguing of all, Beetz handles the lucky mutant with a kick-ass charm that merits further exploration in future films – depending on how the Disney acquisition of Fox pans out.
Brolin does his best as Cable but sadly, the character is nothing like his comic book counterpart. Cable comes across as a poor man’s Terminator (alluded to in the film, naturally) and Brolin never quite captures the character the way in which Reynolds completely embodies Wade Wilson.
Worth the price of admission for the number of laugh out loud moments and the sheer number of ridiculous set pieces – a slight improvement on the original that when viewed seriously, falls apart in respect of plot and characterization. But then again, it’s a Fox X-movie that is superior to most. so we’ll leave it at that.
Watch Deadpool 2 on Disney+.
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