20th Century Fox has had a rollercoaster ride with their X-Men film series. They’ve been at their best with titles like “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and “Logan” and at their worst with “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” However, one of the franchise’s more daring installments was 2016’s Deadpool, which chronicled the origin of Marvel’s infamous red-suited, foul-mouthed, fourth wall-breaking mercenary. The film was a surprise hit with both critics and general audience alike, citing the over-the-top humor and the character of Wade Wilson as its highlights. The character was already a well-known character before 2016, but his debut film skyrocketed his popularity.
And thus, here we are with Deadpool 2. Taking place two years after the events of the first film, the sequel pits the titular anti-hero against the time-traveling cyborg Cable. In order to prevent Cable from changing the future, Deadpool assembles his own team of mutant operatives named the X-Force. Unsurprisingly, the film’s plot, much like its predecessor, is pretty simple in comparison to most comic book films. But in Deadpool 2‘s case, the simplistic plot works cohesively with the characters and setting.
One of the most substantial differences between the two films is the focus of humor. Deadpool 2 is notably more funnier and overt than its predecessor, and offers more references and Easter eggs, some which only die-hard comic fans will recognize. The first film did have its share of humor but it was a (surprisingly tragic) origin story first and foremost, so the tone of the film was a little more serious overall. The sequel escalates the humor factor and sacrifices some of the grounded tone that was present in the original, though this is in service of the expanded cast of colorful and interesting characters.
Most of the fan-favorite characters like Colossus return for the sequel, though the spotlight is shined upon newcomers Cable and Domino, both prominent characters from the X-Force and The New Mutants comics from years past. Their personalities contrast with Deadpool’s zany antics, and they provide some great character moments. While they do not have a large amount of screentime, they are well-portrayed by their respective actors.
Overall, despite a few minor shortcomings, Deadpool 2 is an well-made sequel that continues to bring the Marvel anti-hero’s humor and charm to life, and even offers a few poignant moments to further elevate the character on the big screen. The film hints at a bright future for the mercenary and some other key X-Men characters, so there are surely more hilarious antics on the way.
4 out of 5 stars