Masterpiece, Deadpool 2 is not. But then, nor was the first in the franchise. It's just that the original Deadpool was such a departure from trad superhero tropes that the cinema-going world sat up and took notice, on account of the wit and non-stop banter.
Which is a bit odd. Because wise-cracking has always been part of the super-hero schtick. Just think Adam West and Burt Ward in the original TV version of Batman. It's just that Deadpool (the first) took the practice to new heights. Or maybe depths. And Deadpool 2 has sunk even lower. I would love to fill this blog with half a dozen of the dozens of quotable quotes with which the film is peppered, but I just know that the Letchworth Blogmeister would have a heart attack if I did so.
If you are sensitive to excess use of the f-word, the c-word, in fact pretty much every *-word that we know but aren't meant to use in polite conversation, this film is not for you.
I will therefore content myself with one of the few non-sweary witticisms. As hero/villain Cable observes that “Dubstep's for pussies!”, Deadpool shoots back: “You're so dark. Are you sure you're not from the DC universe?”
Yes. There are loads of comic book references, much “breaking of the fourth wall” - a now trademark Deadpool move – in which the film steps back and starts talking about itself, the film industry, comic books. You name it. Also, an entire barrel load of Easter Eggs and hidden references. Check them out here.
So what's all the fuss about? Deadpool 2 carries on where Deadpool left off, with Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) being a BAD super-hero, determined to put an end to evil in the world by terminating it with extreme and bloody prejudice. This time, though, there is a price to pay as – mini-spoiler – one of the villains gets past Wade and kills the lust of his life, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin).
What follows is a redemption arc. Deadpool lets himself down, badly, and is sent to the “icebox”, a detention centre for mutants such as himself, alongside angry New Zealand kid Firefist/Russell Collins (Julian Dennison). This is a bad move, alienating an already alienated teen even further and setting up disaster on a global scale.
Deadpool therefore assembles a team to go rescue Firefist and save him from the dark side – in this case, his murderous rage directed at the abusive headmaster (Eddie Marsan) of the mutant facility where he was first held. There is a great comic prelude, in which Deadpool assembles a team of hopeless wannabe superheroes. Don't blink – or you'll miss the cameo from Brad Pitt!
Then on to the final explosive battle, pitting Deadpool plus Cable, Domino (Zazie Beetz), Dopinder (Karan Soni), Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna) and Colossus (voiced by Stefan Kapicic) against Firefist and Juggernaut (also voiced by Ryan Reynolds).
Yay! Great kick-ass soundtrack. Plenty of effects. And a neat (OK, ever so slightly predictable, plot twist).
And as these anti-heroes stride towards the camera in the almost final reel, we just know that this is Deadpool's Avengers' moment. The team is assembled. So look out for Deadpool 3, which will likely be even ruder than its predecessors, skating that incredibly fine line between a 15 certificate (which this film just scraped) and an 18.
In line with Marvel's original concept of mutants (alluded to in the film) as stand-in for ethnic minorities as target of hate, this film abounds in subtle and not-so-subtle political allusion. The ice-box has it's origins in the comic books as ultimate prison: but given the recent antics of America's ICE security force, it is hard not to make some read across. And the quasi-religious hatred of the headmaster and the film's clear linkage of that to paedophilia is a sharp rebuke to the anti-queer politics now taking root amongst US Conservatives.
Sitting down to Deadpool 2 I was expecting to be disappointed. After all, it is a sequel and, historically, sequels are never as good as the first in a series. In this case, I am not so sure. Yes: there are some carry-overs (like the deconstructed title sequence with which the film opens): but there is real development of existing character, introduction of new ones, appalling humour and despite the comedy surface, a real serious undertone.
This is a fun film and well worth the trip to your cinema to see.
Four stars.
