Deadpool 2
Year: 2018
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Zazie Beetz, Josh Brolin, Julian Dennison & Ryan Reynolds
Runtime: 119 mins
BBFC: 15
Published: 19/09/23
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Zazie Beetz, Josh Brolin, Julian Dennison & Ryan Reynolds
Runtime: 119 mins
BBFC: 15
Published: 19/09/23
Deadpool was a massive critical and commercial success for Fox, who had for years been sceptical about the project pitched by director Tim Miller, and actor Ryan Reynolds. A mature rated superhero movie that would ultimately go on to change Hollywood’s attitude towards mature rated blockbusters. A sequel was always on the cards if the first film was successful, and so almost immediately after Deadpool’s box office debut the sequel was in development. Expectations were high for what quickly became one of the most anticipated non-MCU superhero movies of all time. But with Miller stepping down and David Leitch taking his place as director, would Deadpool 2 retain that same spark at the original?
Following an assassination gone wrong, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) is murdered in front of Wade (Ryan Reynolds). Grief stricken, Wade repeatedly attempts, and consistently fails to commit suicide thanks to his healing abilities. Inducted as a trainee X-Man by Colossus (Stefan Kapicic), Wade’s first mission goes awry when he tries to defend a vengeful young mutant named Russell (Julian Dennison). With Russell vowing to kill those who caused him harm, both Wade and Russell become the target of a time travelling cybernetic soldier, Cable (Josh Brolin). Having decided he must protect Russell if he is ever to be reunited with Vanessa in the afterlife, Wade forms the X-Force, consisting primarily of Domino (Zazie Beetz) and vows to stop Cable.
Following an assassination gone wrong, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) is murdered in front of Wade (Ryan Reynolds). Grief stricken, Wade repeatedly attempts, and consistently fails to commit suicide thanks to his healing abilities. Inducted as a trainee X-Man by Colossus (Stefan Kapicic), Wade’s first mission goes awry when he tries to defend a vengeful young mutant named Russell (Julian Dennison). With Russell vowing to kill those who caused him harm, both Wade and Russell become the target of a time travelling cybernetic soldier, Cable (Josh Brolin). Having decided he must protect Russell if he is ever to be reunited with Vanessa in the afterlife, Wade forms the X-Force, consisting primarily of Domino (Zazie Beetz) and vows to stop Cable.
Personally, I don’t think that Deadpool 2 is as strong a film as the first. Deadpool 2 definitely feels much more like a traditional superhero film in comparison to the first film, what with the plot being about fighting time-travelling villains, assembling a team of superheroes, and helping a young newbie understand their powers (sort of). But I don’t find it to be quite as tight and funny as the first film. Original film lives and thrives almost entirely on the excellent performance by Reynolds, and it doesn’t need anything more to get by. Deadpool 2 often pairs him up with someone, which can work, but most of the supporting cast in this film don’t do or say an awful lot. Colossus continues to run with the whole ‘no killing’ schtick because of his role as an X-Men, and Wade’s rivalry with Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Briana Hildebrand) carries on as expected. Russell is the epitome of teenage angst, and honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of Dennison’s performance, with it often coming off as unnaturally forced. Domino doesn’t say an awful lot (though when she does, Beetz’s timing and delivery is always spot on); and then Cable just kind of growls and grumbles a lot. Brolin delivers a strong physical performance in the role, but he isn’t given a lot to work with in terms of dialogue.
Almost double the original films budget was provided to Deadpool 2 and honestly it shows. Looking at the two films side by side the visual effects quality is night and day. It also allows Deadpool 2 to have much larger scale action sequences that are befitting of the superhero genre. It’s still small scale in comparison to other superhero movies, but it’s a significant escalation of what we saw in the first film. The problem is that in comparison to other superhero movies, the CGI effects still look a bit ropey though and that’s a problem has affected all of the X-Men films so it’s clearly the studio that Fox get to do the effects that make them look a bit cheap.
But just like before, Deadpool 2 features a great soundtrack with appearances from the likes of Celine Dion, Skrillex, Cher, and Dolly Parton. Each and every song is implemented perfectly, in a brilliantly self-aware Deadpool way, and they go a long way in helping you ignore some of the rough edges in the film’s appearance.
I may not like Deadpool 2 as much as the first film, but I won’t deny that it uses its increased budget to great effect by expanding on the scope of the story and the world massively. It lacks that tightness and sharp wit of the first film, but it does gain some fun set-piece orientated action scenes and an expanded (although somewhat bland) cast of characters. It feels bigger in every way, and for some people that will make it better. But I am glad that thanks to Deadpool 2’s success, the Deadpool effect won’t be wearing off on Hollywood anytime soon, and that’s the real winner right there.
Almost double the original films budget was provided to Deadpool 2 and honestly it shows. Looking at the two films side by side the visual effects quality is night and day. It also allows Deadpool 2 to have much larger scale action sequences that are befitting of the superhero genre. It’s still small scale in comparison to other superhero movies, but it’s a significant escalation of what we saw in the first film. The problem is that in comparison to other superhero movies, the CGI effects still look a bit ropey though and that’s a problem has affected all of the X-Men films so it’s clearly the studio that Fox get to do the effects that make them look a bit cheap.
But just like before, Deadpool 2 features a great soundtrack with appearances from the likes of Celine Dion, Skrillex, Cher, and Dolly Parton. Each and every song is implemented perfectly, in a brilliantly self-aware Deadpool way, and they go a long way in helping you ignore some of the rough edges in the film’s appearance.
I may not like Deadpool 2 as much as the first film, but I won’t deny that it uses its increased budget to great effect by expanding on the scope of the story and the world massively. It lacks that tightness and sharp wit of the first film, but it does gain some fun set-piece orientated action scenes and an expanded (although somewhat bland) cast of characters. It feels bigger in every way, and for some people that will make it better. But I am glad that thanks to Deadpool 2’s success, the Deadpool effect won’t be wearing off on Hollywood anytime soon, and that’s the real winner right there.