Deadpool 2
Directed by: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Bacarrin
Review: Tom Stephens
[rating: 3.5/5]
Deadpool 2 was always going to be tough to pull off. With the commercial success of fan-favourite Deadpool (2016), coupled with its satire of the increasingly saturated superhero genre, a simple re-tread of the original could have been on the cards for Deadpool 2 as the ‘safe option’.
Surprisingly, Deadpool 2 does an admirable job of balancing what made the original so refreshing with a new, unique, storyline. Screenwriters Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Ryan Reynolds manage to tell an impressively dark and well thought out character study on Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), while at the same time filling the film with the same quirky, fourth-wall-breaking, vulgar humour, that we’ve come to expect and love.
The film follows the title character Deadpool/Wade Wilson on a mission to stop time-traveling cyborg, Cable (Josh Brolin) from killing a young mutant Russell (Julian Dennison). What starts as a familiar plot actually contains a few unexpected twists and fresh subversions. Again, action and comedy elements are nailed.
The action sequences are exciting, well-choreographed and ultra-violent, and the film is consistently funny from beginning to end. What really surprises with Deadpool 2 is how director David Leitch managed to hit some genuine emotional and dramatic beats in the narrative. These moments are scarce, with dramatics often being passed up for funny subversions: so when Leitch doubles down on the inherent drama of the scene it’s all the more effective and unexpected.
Cable is a convincing and surprisingly sympathetic villain who epitomises the notion that the bad-guy should be the hero of their own story. The rest of the supporting cast are in equal parts hilarious (T.J. Miller as Weasel) and badass (Zazie Beetz as Domino).
Leitch brings the trademark slick and violent action scenes he perfected in films like John Wick, expertly balancing comedy and action elements. Deadpool 2 avoids the trap of prioritising comedy over action, with the actions sequences feeling fresh, innovative and grounded enough to keep the audience glued to the screen. Similarly, despite the title character being essentially invincible, Deadpool 2 keeps the stakes real and Deadpool vulnerable.
Deadpool goes through an interesting and unexpectedly dark character arc involving grief and life’s purpose. The film is well paced with a run time of 1 hour and 59 minutes going quickly, despite a slightly overlong second act. Buried below all the funny jokes and exciting action, Deadpool 2 deals with revenge, loss, family, destiny and death. It’s everything you loved about the first one, plus more.
