Completely Different and Just As Good

Rating: 9/10 (22 May 2018)

The first film was a complete surprise hit, that somehow managed to be way better than even die-hard fanboys could have anticipated. Initially that gave me a great amount of excitement for the sequel, but in recent months the doubt of sequel syndrome has been creeping in. There's no way it could be better, not with a bigger budget, more convoluted story, and more characters. No way.
I'm glad that, to a degree, I was wrong. It's certainly not better than the original, even if just because the first film was so fresh and unexpected and changed the entire superhero game for Fox. But Deadpool 2 does at least match it's predecessor by upping the ante in the best ways and never taking it too far. The story is a little more complicated than the first film (which ultimately boiled down to three scenes), involving time travel, assembling a team, and the lack of a real villain. While both movie's stories are not exactly the paragon of originality, both the first film and its sequel wear their influences on their sleeves.
Of course this is one of Deadpool's trademarks, and Deadpool 2 is no different. It's extremely self-aware, not only of itself but also of its context in the genre and pop culture in general. In many ways, Deadpool 2 feels almost like Ready Player One - chock full of references, easter eggs, and inside jokes. The film opens with a music box of Wolverine impaled on a branch in reference to the end of Logan, the opening credits play out like a James Bond movie, complete with a melancholic ballad by Celine Dion, Deadpool refers to Josh Brolin's character as Thanos, and asks how many Sharknado movies there are in the future, a prisoner number is the same as Hugh Jackman's in Les Miserables, there's a running joke about Kirsten Dunst in Interview with the Vampire, and on and on and on. Not to mention sly cameos from Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and the majority of the X-Men: First Class cast. Oh god it's a treasure trove, and each and every one is played for comedic effect (unlike Ready Player One that used it all as world building).
Time (and multiple rewatches) will tell on this, but Deadpool 2 is also potentially funnier than the first. Its jokes feels so much more natural, and they come thick and fast. Many of them are referential so they do depend on a certain degree of audience knowledge, but otherwise it's still packed full of more straightforward jokes like Wade having legs the size of a toddlers, Deadpool failing to die repeatedly throughout the whole film, unexpected side-effects of a superhero landing, and so on and so forth. Of course the humour is certainly not for those weak of disposition, with plenty of more adult-orientated jokes dotted about the place as well.
As with the first film, the gore is also not advised for those of a weaker disposition. In fact there might even be a bit more gore this time. Deadpool's ability to resist fatal injury is played up as far as it can go, including blowing him up into little pieces, having him torn in half, and breaking his back falling from a great height, but there's also plenty of graphic stabbings, shootings, squashings and beheadings that don't hide the details.
One thing that Deadpool 2 definitely does better than the first film is action. The action sequences in Deadpool 2 are super stylish and super entertaining to watch. I guess this is the benefit of having David Leitch behind the cameras. The fight choreography is on point, managing to be gory and realistic, while also making the most of the superhero benefits. Cable is a complete and utter badass for instance, punching his weight about with such a strength and ferocity in stark contrast to Deadpool's more reckless style. MVP of the action scenes though is definitely Domino who just waltzes her way through as everything collapses around her. Her superpower of luck is portrayed unimaginably well by putting her in the middle of chaos that simply can't touch her, but falls afoul of everyone around her.
But what made the first Deadpool so strong wasn't the humour, the action, or its self-awareness (although they all played a big part in it of course). What really surprised everyone was how truly charming and emotional it was as a Romance. The relationship built up between Wade and Vanessa is so endearing, and his terminal diagnosis really stings the tear ducts hard. While Deadpool 2 never quite reaches the same zenith of emotional depth, it certainly makes a good attempt at it. Wade's depiction of grief is top notch for starters, but the whole plot of saving the future by saving a kid from himself can also hit pretty hard.
Deadpool 2 is a completely different animal to the first film. It's no longer held back by being the risk it was, and now that the origin story is out the way, it makes the most of giving us a bigger plot that's a little more standard for a superhero movie, but nonetheless still great. It's a laugh a minute packed full of easter eggs, cameos, and fourth wall breaks, but doesn't forget its more heartfelt core that keeps it's characters relatable and sympathetic. Honestly, I could talk about this movie way more, but by that point you may as well just go and see it for yourself. I give Deadpool 2 a cautious 9/10.