Review of Deadpool 2 (2018) by Wayne K — 25 Aug 2018

The difficult follow up the irreverent-as-all-Hell Deadpool, the sequel goes down a somewhat different route. Heavier in drama and in tone, but with a far more scattershot plot, an inconsistent pace and an overabundance of villains.

I really enjoyed it, as I did the first film, but there was a sense here that the filmmakers may have bitten off more than they can lampoon. The meta jokes are still present, and as gleefully profane and hilarious as ever, but there were definitely more laughs to be had in the original.

Bad language is often employed as a substitute for wit, and the controversial inclusion of Vanessa, Deadpool's love interest, doesn't add much to the story, and she pops up so rarely and with so little plot impact that her part could have been cut out, and it would have left more space to develop the other characters.

I enjoyed how much more of Deadpool's serious, heartfelt side we see, and the formation of X Force has the potential for plenty of laughs down the road. While this film didn't reach the high watermark set by its predecessor, it's was still a tonne of fun, packed with sharp jokes, biting satire and Ryan Reynolds bringing us the character he was born to play.