Film Review: Deadpool 2 (2018)

, the film adaptation of one of Marvel’s more obscure comics, became one of the most pleasant surprises for comic enthusiasts two years ago, at a time when Hollywood’s quality offerings have increasingly satisfied fans both on the big and small screens. The film, much like its source material, flipped the concept of the masked superhero and transformed it into a black-humoured meta self-parody, achieving unexpected success with both audiences and critics. As has often been the case in similar situations, this prompted the inevitable sequel. Naturally, Deadpool 2 became the subject of immense anticipation—and considerable apprehension, the latter owing to numerous disappointing experiences with follow-ups that consistently failed to preserve the spirit and quality of the originals. This phenomenon was further reinforced by Marvel’s own cinematic and television output, with perhaps the most regrettable example being

, a film thematically and stylistically akin to Deadpool. Fears that *Deadpool 2 *might suffer the same fate intensified when news broke that Tim Miller, director of the original film, had left the project during production and was replaced by David Leitch, known for action hits such as John Wick and

.

Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool’s lead actor and co-screenwriter, once again joined the writing and production team and reprised his role as Wade Wilson, a former special forces operative who gained superhuman abilities through a secret experiment that disfigured him and drove him to operate under the Deadpool alias. The plot begins as he attempts to reconcile his merciless career as a crime-fighter with his desire to settle down and find domestic bliss with his beloved girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). However, tragedy strikes when Vanessa is killed, leaving Deadpool so devastated that he contemplates suicide. At this critical moment, his old X-Men acquaintances—Colossus (Stefan Kapičić) and Teenage Negasonic Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand)—intervene and successfully recruit him into their ranks. During one such mission, Deadpool encounters Russell Collins, a mutated and “troubled” teenager known as “Firefist” (Julian Dennison). After Deadpool helps Russell kill one of his tormentors, they end up in a special prison for mutants. There, they discover they are being hunted by a cyborg soldier from the future named Cable (Josh Brolin), and learn that Russell, once grown, will become a destructive homicidal maniac. Deadpool resolves to prevent this outcome and assembles a team of eccentric mutants called “X-Force.”

Although the production of Deadpool 2 was marked by numerous mishaps and setbacks both on and off set—including the death of a stuntwoman and sexual harassment allegations against actor T. J. Miller, which nearly led to his character Weasel being cut from the film—it is likely that crafting the screenplay caused the most frustration. Reynolds and his colleagues faced a challenge common to many superhero sequels: how to construct a compelling narrative after the origin story, which is typically the most fascinating part of any saga. Their solution centred on the protagonist’s attempt to build a family—first with his girlfriend, then as the guardian of a troubled boy in whom he sees a reflection of himself—despite the absurdity and tragicomedy of his situation. Consequently, Deadpool 2, like its predecessor, dances dangerously close to typical Hollywood sentimentality but consistently pulls back to deliver audiences a dose of slapstick bloodshed, dark humour, and numerous references to contemporary pop culture.

The cast is excellent, led by Reynolds, who clearly relishes what could easily become the defining role of his career. New Zealander Julian Dennison, whose physique and appearance starkly contrast the conventional image of a modern superhero protagonist, also delivers a strong performance and stands out among an ensemble portraying a series of memorable characters—many of whom meet spectacularly violent ends shortly after their introduction. A major asset of the film is also Leitch’s direction, which, despite today’s reliance on CGI, places far greater emphasis on straightforward action and humour, resorting to flashy cinematography only sparingly. The title sequence particularly shines, blending a James Bond parody with self-referential commentary on the film itself. Perhaps most crucially, the creators succeeded in keeping Deadpool 2 under two hours, making it significantly tighter and more digestible than most other Marvel adaptations. This brevity will likely lead audiences to forgive even the typically sloppy and uninspired final showdown, which contains too many unnecessary scenes and too little humour. The film’s impression is further salvaged by a clever resolution presented in scenes during the closing credits, granting the protagonist the longed-for happy ending while giving fans solid hope for yet another strong sequel.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

(Note: The text in the original Croatian version was posted

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