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Deadpool 2 review
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin
Director: David Leitch
Genre: Superhero
Rating: 18+
RUNTIME: 119 Mins
The first Deadpool was a surprise hit, breaking box office records for an 18 or R-rated movie with its blend of over-the-top action and side-splitting humour.
Expectations might be higher this time, but Deadpool 2 comfortably satisfies them, delivering a sequel that’s crasser, gorier, and mostly funnier than the first. Occasionally it runs a little short in terms of plot, and doesn’t make the most of its side-characters, but it’s a strong second outing for the Merc with a Mouth.
Deadpool 2 is unmistakably Wade Wilson’s (Ryan Reynolds) movie. He dominates every scene, steamrollering everyone around him, even returning characters from the last film.
Deadpool is the star here, with Reynolds effortlessly bringing him to life once again. Credited as a co-writer this time, Reynolds blurs the line even further between himself and the character over whom he clearly feels a special ownership. He’s perfect in the role.
The impulse to go bigger with a sequel is admirably kept under control. In fact, the stakes are refreshingly low for a superhero movie. Wade’s not trying to save the world - just himself. And, if you were to summarise the plot, it probably wouldn’t take more than a handful of sentences.
Most of the runtime is instead spent dropping Wade into potentially funny scenarios. Within the first hour, he trots the globe offing bad guys of all nationalities, attempts suicide, urinates in a bar, kicks back in his apartment, takes an obscene amount of nefarious substances, and hangs out with his buddies.
This scattergun approach suits the manic nature of the character, and leads to a fair amount of laugh-out-loud moments. One of the best sequences sees Wade attempting to join the X-Men. Not only is Wade allowed to tear his way through Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, we see him in the field, bringing his own distinctive approach to resolving fraught human-mutant relations.
While it yields some great moments, it also feels messy and a little unstructured, as if you’re watching loosely-connected episodes of a sitcom rather than a cohesive movie heading somewhere with a purpose.
The script bulges with rapid-fire one-liners and references to just about everything. Deadpool is seemingly aware of every other superhero movie and isn’t afraid to call them out, repeatedly. While some of these barbs may raise a smirk, for the most part they feel forced and already a little dated.
Far more amusing are the unexpected allusions, which add a weird texture to Wade’s personality and the movie. Who knew he was such a fan of Barbara Streisand’s Yentl? Or that he’s obsessed with a conspiracy theory involving the song Papa, Can You Hear Me?
There’s also plenty of nervous laughter prompted by just how far Deadpool 2 is willing to push its violence and the levels of gore. There’s some gloriously gross stuff in there that even had this usually unperturbed viewer cringing a little.
Director David Leitch brings a wonderful sense of character to each of the film’s many fight scenes and ensures each is reflective of those participating. The opening montage sees Deadpool creatively mutilate and decapitate gangsters across the world. It’s a savage sequence amusingly set to the beat of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5.
By far the funniest moments are when Deadpool’s allowed to subvert a scene from within, reacting to events as they unfold and bouncing off the characters around him – whether that’s joining the X-Men or assembling his own mutant team. It allows enough time for the fourth-wall to be built back up, so when he inevitably knocks it down, it has a much greater impact. He’s far less effective when allowed to riff at length and without purpose.
Furthermore, the film feels small scale in its use of location, particularly compared to the recent Marvel blockbusters. Most of the set pieces feel like they take place across the same few blocks of downtown Vancouver we grew familiar with in the first movie.
Overall, Deadpool 2 improves on its predecessor in many ways. The action scenes in particular are spectacular with their visceral violence and gore, and most of the jokes land on the mark. However, there is an occasional sense of trying too hard to make a joke when the drama can speak for itself, and the movie’s plot and scope feels a little bit on the small side compared to other superhero films.
Now showing in: Cineco, Seef II, Saar, Wadi Al Sail, Mukta A2
Kristian’s verdict: 4/5
