Bigger and Louder Than the Original, Though Not Nearly as Satisfying

Rating: 6/10 (24 September 2018)

Marvel's merc with a mouth is back to spread teabags, gunsmoke and enchiladas throughout the extended X-Men universe. This time he's brought friends, with the grizzled super-soldier Cable arriving from the future and luck-generating sidekick Domino answering a classified ad. It's a fun time, light-heartedly profane in the same vein as the original, if not half as unconventionally creative.
With the enlarged budget and heightened expectations, not to mention the change in director, far more of the laughs feel forced and manufactured. If the first film spent 90% of its time in the character's wheelhouse, the sequel goes for something closer to 25%, and a majority of that is in the second act. Ryan Reynolds remains a picture-perfect casting choice, I loved his contrast with Josh Brolin as Cable, Zazie Beetz is a spunky, welcome addition as Domino, but the plot structure feels too tame and the jokes more restrained. Rather than doubling down, we've lightened up and settled for a handful of throwbacks to what worked the last time. It feels like some of the rough edges have been smoothed out, and that unsightful grit is a big part of what makes the character operate.