Deadpool 2

Cert: 16; Now showing

Against a relatively meagre budget, for a Marvel film, of $58m, Deadpool did enormous business in 2016 by bursting the swollen pomposity of the spandex-clad genre and inserting irreverence, bad behaviour and a devil-may-care humour that wasn’t afraid to turn both barrels on itself. Producer, co-writer, star and pillar of the franchise Ryan Reynolds and director David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde) don’t monkey with the winning formula for this second outing for Marvel’s “mercenary with a mouth”. And with the world currently on its knees before the hulking grandeur of Avengers: Infinity War, it feels somewhat agreeable that the next release bearing the Marvel tag is an adult-rated middle finger to such imperiousness.

Deadpool (Reynolds), AKA Wade, comes across a young mutant boy (Julian Dennison) with destructive powers who is the target of a time-travelling assassin called Cable (Josh Brolin, who, oddly, also stars in Infinity War). Cable believes the boy will one day wreak havoc on the world. Wade wants to protect the troubled lad and hires mutant all-sorts to help.

Don’t be fooled by this civilised plot outline. Deadpool 2 is mostly a litany of violence, off-colour gags and enough fourth-wall breaks to make you wonder if it’s possible for a comedy film to be too self-aware. If you hated the first outing, steer clear. If you didn’t, you’ll love it. Zazie Beetz and Morena Baccarin costar.