Deadpool 2

DEADPOOL 2

Director : David Leitch
Year: 2018
Genre : Comedy
Rating : **1/2

It may be louder, swearier and more violent but 'Deadpool 2', the fast-talking sequel to the record breaking hit and the latest entry in 20th Century Fox's (soon be Disney's) 'X-Men' franchise severely lacks the surprise and charm that made the original film such an unexpected and unpredictable treat. In a plot that is strangely reminiscent of 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day', Ryan Reynolds once again returns as the sword-wielding anti-hero who, following a personal tragedy, joins forces with a group of mutants and non-mutants to take on the murderous Cable (Josh Brolin once again taking on the mantle of a beloved Marvel antagonist), a time-travelling villain who has come from the future to kill a troubled young mutant (Julian Dennison) whose destiny could prove catastrophic. 

While it may not be as clever or as consistently entertaining as the 2016 film, 'Deadpool 2' is still very funny indeed; once again utilising the character's trademark pop culture-heavy humour and fourth-wall-breaking antics to varying degrees of success - a key element that works at it's best when used during the high-octane action sequences which are handled with skull-crunching, limb-severing vim and vigour by 'John Wick' co-creator and 'Atomic Blonde' director David Leitch. As was also the case with the previous 'Deadpool' movie, Ryan Reynolds gleefully revels in the eponymous role of the merc with the mouth and credit must be given for his willingness to poke as much merciless fun at himself as he does at the entire superhero sub-genre. However, while his quick wit and vulgar vernacular proved to be oddly  charming in the first film, here it instead comes across as rather smug and annoying. Yes, recurring gags about Hugh Jackman, the DC Universe and the Barbra Streisand picture 'Yentl' are amusing in passing but unlike the first movie which had me laughing heartily at regular intervals, 'Deadpool 2' raises little more than a handful of well-earned chuckles - chuckles which pale in comparison to those that greeted the absolutely hilarious advertising campaign for the film.

Joining Reynolds on screen are a host of fresh faces to the series, including those of rising star Zazie Beetz who is great fun as the extremely lucky Domino, Josh Brolin who is reliably strong as the human-cyborg hybrid Cable and Julian Dennison who continues to impress  following his terrific turn in Taika Waititi's sorely underappreciated 2016 Kiwi comedy 'The Hunt For The Wilderpeople'. Unfortunately however, while the newcomers are rewarded with plenty of opportunities to shine, the returning actors are barely given a look-in on the chaotic proceedings; most notably Brianna Hildebrand's now openly lesbian mutant Negasonic Teenage Warhead who was such a key player in the original film but whose powers are relegated here to little more than a small extended cameo in the movie's CGI-heavy finale.

In the end, while it may boast some inventively choreographed set pieces, numerous moments of eye-popping gore and a healthy amount of cine-literate jokes sure to please comic book aficionados alike, 'Deadpool 2' is very much a standard franchise sequel that attempts to up the ante but ultimately fails to capture the same alchemic magic that made it's forerunner so unique and successful. I guess the age-old maxim "bigger is better" isn't always necessarily true - although I'm sure Deadpool himself would disagree.