Match for its predecessor
Deadpool 2 (15) Two years ago, Deadpool was a limbslashing, fourth-wall-breaking, foul language-spouting shot in the arm for the comic book movie genre.
It’s more adult tone led to an extra-violent and sweary Wolverine in the character’s apparent farewell in last year’s Logan, DC arming its Suicide Squad with a 15 certificate and a raft of green-lit R-rated comic adaptations in the pipeline.
Plenty of pre-Deadpool comic book flicks weren’t kid-friendly, but after the launch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe a decade ago they became very uncommon.
The original was a bit of a trailblazer, then, but the question going into this much-anticipated sequel was can leading man – and all-round Deadpool fanatic – Ryan Reynolds recapture lightning in a bottle for a second time?
Thankfully he just about manages it as although, inevitably, Deadpool 2 isn’t as fresh and vibrant as its predecessor, it’s another hilarious, brave and outrageously entertaining adventure.
While Reynolds, and several other characters, are back for this follow-up, there’s a change behind the camera as Atomic Blonde helmer David Leitch replaces Tim Miller in the director’s chair.
Not that you really notice the difference as, thanks to an infectious Reynolds and a zinger-crammed script by returning writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick that lays waste to much of current pop culture – including nice jabs at the DC universe – Deadpool 2 feels like a comfy pair of slippers that you’re happy to pull on again.
This is no lazy retread, though, as we are introduced to a cavalcade of new characters and there’s solid advancement to the storyline groundwork so expertly laid in the original.
Hot on the heels of laying waste to the Avengers as Thanos in Infinity War, Josh Brolin returns to comic book villain duties as unstoppable time-travelling mutant Cable.
It’s not as nuanced a turn as his Thanos showstealer but Brolin makes for the perfect serious antidote to Reynolds’ wise-cracking hero, even if his carnage-inducing mission is a little too Terminator-like.
Zazie Beetz is fantastic as the invincible Domino, there’s an excellent surprise cameo from an A-list star and it’s nice to see Reynolds’ relationships with girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) and straight-talking buddy Weasel (T.J. Miller) develop.
The action is taken up a notch with more at stake this time around and fortunately Leitch and his writers don’t overdo the set-up for the recently green-lit X-Force movie which will star Reynolds and several characters given their on-screen bow here.
And this is a crew you want to spend more time with, striking that balance between Marvel day-glo and DC darkness.
Deadpool 2 isn’t a superior sequel but the fact it even manages to match its predecessor is a remarkable feat in itself.