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Deadpool 2

9/10

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Zazie Beetz, Julian Dennison, Karan Soni, T.J. Miller, Stefan Kapicic, Brianna Hildebrand, Eddie Marsan

Director: David Leitch

The (inevitable?) sequel strikes back.

That's Show Business after all.

Fortunately, here Hollywood's implicit maxim 'If at first you succeed, then repeat the formula again and again, but bigger, louder and (with any luck) even better box-office' succeeds splendidly. Deadpool 2 is funnier and even more enjoyably foul-mouthed than the original (there are enough four-letter words to qualify the film as a Channel 4 Christmas offering) and, by not taking itself too seriously, it comes across as hugely entertaining. (The paying punters I saw Deadpool 2 with confirmed this throughout the show).

The Critics’ Crib Sheet (more usually known as press notes) strikes exactly the right note, stating 'A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE DESK OF THURSTON DEADPOOL, III, ESQUIRE. Dear Extinguished Member of the Press. For our purposes, a Press Kit is a way of bribing professional journalists with glossy insider information they can keep in a desk drawer or sell on eBay when drugs become expensive. I'm kidding. Nobody's selling Deadpool Press Kits on eBay'.

Cynical? Yes. Witty? Yes. Tasteless and more than just a tad cruel?

Definitely!

But also perfectly establishing the hilarious blend of cruel comedy, foul-mouthed action so enjoyably delivered by director David Leitch, screenwriters Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Ryan Reynolds, the latter also doubling one of the film's producers and, superbly, as eponymous hero Wade Wilson/Deadpool.

As the star Wade doubles as barman and costumed avenger - when not happily hugging his girlfriend (Baccarin) and even discussing having kids. Bliss ends when she is killed and more action kicks in when Wade sets out to save fire-starting young mutant Dennison from Brolin's would-be killer from the future Cable.

Says Our Hero, 'I won't let Cable kill this kid. But I can't do it alone. We're gonna form a super duper f***ing group: we need them tough, morally flexible and young enough to carry a franchise for 10-12 years. We'll be known as... X-Force!'.

Does right triumph?

Is it Force or Farce that's emphasised?

Does Marvel creator Stan Lee appear?

Of course, he does (but happily this time only as a poster).

But the slam-bang way to the happy ending is splendidly decorated with wild action, daffy sequences and excellently created special effects that bring Deadpool and his barmy band of fellow mutant superheroes to life.

And make sure you don't leave before the final credits.

Lewd, crude and thoroughly pleasurable. Eat your heart out Avengers Infinity War.

Alan Frank

USA 2018. UK Distributor: 20th Century Fox. Colour.
119 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 2, Violence/Horror 3, Drugs 3, Swearing 3.

Review date: 19 May 2018