Deadpool 2 Review: The F Word Stands For Family In A Brilliant Sequel

People go to see superhero films for a number of reasons. Some viewers connect with the characters, while others enjoy the huge set pieces and action-packed scenes. Some just want to laugh their asses off, which is where Deadpool 2 comes in. The first Deadpool set an extremely high standard with its meta humour, fourth wall breakage and zany leading character. All the tropes that people have come to love about superhero films were ripped apart and turned on their head. So, with expectations so high, does Ryan Reynolds manage to capture lightning in a bottle twice? Spoiler alert: It’s a resounding fuck yeah!

The film picks up with Wade Wilson balancing his life as a contract killer with wanting to settle down and start a family with his girlfriend Vanessa. The family theme plays a big role throughout the story, as Deadpool soon finds himself looking for a place to belong. This leads him into a team up with the X-Men, which brings back Colossus and Nega Sonic Teenage Warhead. Throw in a mission that involves a fired up teenage mutant and Deadpool has his opportunity to be a hero. Of course, Deadpool plays by his own rules and ends up on the wrong side of the law again as quickly as he puts on his X-men uniform.

All protagonists need a foil and Deadpool’s arrives in the form of Josh Brolin’s Cable. Brolin injects his character with a no-nonsense determination that slams up against Deadpool’s irreverence for some of the best scenes in the film. Zazie Beetz as Domino is another highlight, playing it cool through all the mayhem around her as she proves why being lucky is the best superpower.

The comedy is Deadpool 2’s greatest strength, taking shots at everything from the dated sexism of the X-Men, to the heaviness of the DC Universe. The superhero parodies are shown in Deadpool’s decision to form his own team called X-Force. The team’s big set piece together is one of the funniest moments I’ve ever seen in a film. I was crying with laughter the whole time, even with all the violence and blood.

That’s where Reynolds’ acting really shines through. He puts it all into his performance to entertain viewers, inviting them to share in the chaos. But underneath all the black humour there’s an underlying message of family. All the characters in the film have lost something, which leads them down paths that are understandable. By the time the movie was over, it made me eager to see an X-Force spin off because of how well the cast played off each other.

Deadpool 2 takes everything that was good about the first and cranks it up to the next level with a fun story, hilarious references and an entertaining cast. Stick around for the post-credits scenes. You won’t be disappointed.

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