Director: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Zazie Beetz, Morena Baccarin, Brianna Hildebrand, T.J. Miller, Julian Dennison
The Overview
Foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (AKA. Deadpool), brings together a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy of supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-traveling mutant, Cable.
The Review
If there is one thing that can always be appreciated with Deadpool, it is the genius marketing campaigns, and Deadpool 2 somehow managed to beat its predecessor in that respect; no easy feat it should be mentioned.
The first Deadpool movie rubbed a couple of people up the wrong way, but it was also cited by many as being fairly “ground-breaking” for the comicbook movie genre, paving the way for more R-rated superhero shenanigans. This is something that Deadpool 2 gleefully points out, along with sharp jabs in the direction of DC and The Avengers. This is Deadpool exactly as we know and remember him, and really that is part of the problem with this sequel.
On the more positive side of things, this film is in places, an absolute riot. Undoubtedly bigger, badder, and more outrageous than the first film, there are a host of unforgettable moments. The Basic Instinct reference is nothing short of genius, and the post-credit scene is arguably one of the best post-credit sequences…ever! The lines of Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool are becoming increasingly blurred, and if anything this sequel cements the fact that he really was born to play this role. He knows exactly how to play it, and whilst not every single joke lands, he is never anything short of totally committed to the part.
This film undoubtedly benefits from an extended cast this time around, and special props to Zazie Beetz as Domino and Josh Brolin as Cable. Domino in particular is a total scene-stealer and in a lot of ways, feels like the perfect match for Deadpool’s quips. Deadpool is the sort of character that needs someone who can give back as good as they can get or it risks being self-important, and Domino is definitely able to provide that. As Cable, Josh Brolin strikes gold again in his second superhero movie appearance in as many months. Not quite as developed as Thanos, Cable is an undoubtedly interesting character and his arc – when given some space – is an interesting one. Unfortunately, everything in the movie plays second fiddle to Ryan Reynold’s one man show, and therein lies the problem.
Deadpool 2 is fine, there will be people that love it, but if anything this sequel just further highlights the problems that people had with the first film. The character veers just too close to the annoying, the constant fourth wall breaks and self-referential nature now feel predictable rather than exciting. The first film had that “lightning in a bottle” effect; you were never quite sure what was going to come out of the merc’s mouth! Now in the second outing, we know exactly what he is going to say, and this makes the film feel incredibly tiresome in places.
There’s still a lot of fun to be had, but it does feel incredibly formulaic, and it is beyond evident that everything else in the film is an afterthought. This is the Deadpool show, and if you’re a card-carrying member of his fan club, then you won’t be disappointed. The more discerning, or casual viewers however, may be a little turned off by his antics this time around.
The Verdict
I saw this movie and you should too. Deadpool 2 is not a bad movie, and in many ways, it is exactly what you would hope and expect to get. However, it simply doesn’t feel as fresh and exciting as the first film did, and the fact that it feels so predictable is its biggest drawback. There’s some fun set pieces however, and the actors are clearly having a ball, so for fans it is of course still worth your time, just don’t expect anything ground-breaking this time around.
Sarah Saw a Movie 