Deadpool 2: Bigger and Bloodier – but is it better?

By: Victor Philip Ortiz 

The Merc with a Mouth, ups the ante in this sequel to the 2016 hit. By now everyone has some idea about the comic book character Deadpool. Its first iteration in the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine was met with various criticism since it basically botched the true nature of the comic book character. But thanks to leaked footage that gained positive fan reaction, the 2016 movie was greenlit albeit with a lower than the usual budget. That didn’t stop the creative minds of the filmmakers and star Ryan Reynolds, which made Deadpool one of the best comic book movie to release in 2016 (I still prefer Captain America: Civil War).

The massive success of the first movie already guaranteed a sequel, and fast forward to today Deadpool 2 comes with a bigger budget that’s evident from the trailers and various promotions.
It also comes with a new villain in the form of Cable, awesomely played by Josh Brolin, who’s still receiving praise for his (virtual) portrayal of big baddie Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War.

In Deadpool 2, Wade Wilson is tasked to protect a mutant kid named Firefist from being assassinated by Cable. He comes from the future to prevent the death of his wife and daughter, who were murdered by Firefist. To do this, Deadpool must recruit his own team of X-Men – in this case, called the X-Force, to try and stop Cable.

The action plays out well thanks to the expertise by director David Leitch, who already gave us excellent action hits like John Wick and Atomic Blonde. That’s where the film excels, and combine that with Deadpool’s crude and sarcastic humor and you’d be laughing and be grossed out with how each scene plays.

Deadpool did say at the start of the movie that this is a family (despite the R rating), and by the time it ends you’d get what he says. That being said, I felt the characters were not given enough time to showcase themselves (except for a few that highlight the story). Previous characters returning from the first movie were given less screen time in favor of the new ones. That’s not to say the new ones aren’t good. Cable and newcomer Domino are particularly enjoyable, though other new characters like the X-Force were underused. Some may welcome the new direction they chose for this sequel, but I guess for me I miss the toned down and simplicity of the first.

Just like the first movie, Deadpool 2 oozes with pop culture references and various cameos in mostly blink-or-you’ll-miss-it scenes. It’s so many that probably a second viewing could help you point out more references. It doesn't have the same shock and surprise value me as the first one. But dont take me wrong, Deadpool 2 serves up the laughs, action, and gore that you’d expect from the famed comic book character, but between the two the first one is still my favorite.

Oh and as it’s now customary for most modern comic book movies, stay for three various hilarious mid credits scenes.
Kudos to the National Media Council for allowing the movie to be shown uncut in UAE cinemas. Then again, the movie doesn’t have explicit sex scenes and nudity (well, somewhat) like the first one so there isn’t really anything to cut.
Deadpool 2 is now showing in UAE cinemas everywhere. I go with 3.5/5 stars