Deadpool 2 (2018)

Foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (AKA. Deadpool), brings together a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy with supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-traveling cyborg, Cable. (IMDb)

The distasteful opening mercenary montage makes for a poor start, but then tragedy strikes, sans punchline, and sets off a tonally wild (compare the gruesomely uproarious botched landing with Wade’s lengthy emotional vision) but always potent film that never feels disjointed: the boldness of the risque humour is now shared with the drama, to great results. Deadpool is as wisecracking as ever (Cable’s a perfect straight-man for him) but now he’s been smartly surrounded by an engaging story.

7.5/10 (Really Good)

 

Deadpool (2016)

A former Special Forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopting the alter ego Deadpool. (IMDb)

Cheekily self-aware and irreverent right from the great frozen-in-time opening credits (the People cover is perfect), Deadpool is loaded with outrageous dialogue (“Kidnap her!”) and hilarious edits (“Happy Lent”) to go with frequent 4th wall breaks and superhero satire. By the end though, it becomes just as predictable as what it’s satirizing (you know he’s going to cut off Colossus’ speech). The lead’s shallow motives also thin the plot; some more study of his tragic side would have been good.

7/10 (Good)