Dead from the neck up
DEADPOOL 2
Cert 15 Running time 119 minutes ★★
Not even superpowers can defeat the law of diminishing returns in this insufferably smug comic book action sequel. Ryan Reynolds indulges his taste for lavish attention seeking and mawkish self-pity in his return as the mutant mercenary-turned-hero, Deadpool.
He creates the X-force, a team of superpowered people and an alternative to the X-men, some of who appear here.
X-force’s mission is to save a fire-starting mutant orphan from being killed by a soldier from the future, called Cable.
He’s played by the hefty Josh Brolin, and if the deal for 20th Century Fox to be bought by Disney goes through, Deadpool may soon feature in the Marvel cinematic universe alongside Iron Man and the rest. Which may be problematic because over there Brolin plays the supervillain Thanos. An X-force parachute drop is easily the most entertaining sequence but the rest of the movie is a slog, being a dull vehicle for Reynolds to banter his way through a series of shootouts, car crashes and explosions. Many of the original supporting cast return, bolstered by the winning presence of Zazie Beetz as Domino, a hero with the ability to manipulate luck.
The original Deadpool film was characterised by a bullying sensibility and child abuse jokes. It so successfully pandered to the worst instincts of its target audience of 15-year-old boys, it made over 10 times its budget and became the highest grossing X-men movie.
With a bigger budget, the CGI is more expensive and the jokes are cheaper. Reynolds co-wrote and it’s less than two minutes before the first paedophile joke arrives. Most of the rest of the gags mock other superheroes and frequently fall flat. Fans may be surprised at the lack of sex this time around.
I wasn’t a fan of the first film and I enjoyed this one
even less.
Reynolds co-wrote and it’s less than two minutes before a paedophile joke arrives. Most of the other gags fall flat too