Cutting straight to the quick, Deadpool 2 is fabulous.

Clearly benefiting from a bigger budget and a more confident style now that the always risky franchise-starter is out of the way, the inevitable and hugely-anticipated sequel arrived just a week after a certain ‘other’ MCU film arrived at the cinemas (and is doing, shall, we say, “brisk business” at the box office, even right now as you are reading this).

Needless to say ‘Deadpool 2’ positively revels in its own vulgarity (you’d be disappointed if it didn’t). Razor sharp wit, brutal, brutal violence, extremely bad-taste gags – baby’s testicles and David Bowie’s cancer not withstanding – all pack the film to such an extent, there is such a bewildering array of jokes, meta-jokes, meta-meta jokes, celebrity cameos and ‘Fourth Wall’ breaking sardonic asides to keep up with, repeat viewings are not only recommended, they are nay on essential (‘Puppet Show – 2pm’, Green Lantern, Thanos, One-Eyed Willy, X-Force to name but a few!)

The action this time clearly benefits from a more experienced hand in stuntman-turned-Director David Leitch (who orchestrated the magnificent carnage of ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’), this is evidenced nowhere better than in the marvellously-orchestrated armoured convoy attack.

Some of the characters are shifted to the sidelines this time (Dopinder, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Blind Al) but still find room to develop in their own ways and have a little slice of the action (if not much), whereas other characters current and new are thrust into the limelight more to allow the franchise to grow further.

Anarchic, side-splittingly funny and way filthier than before, Deadpool 2 proves it is not just legal wrangles preventing him from joining the more family-friendly corners of the MCU.

It’s also interesting to note that ‘X-Force’ (that’s all I’m saying) has proved such a hit with the audience, they have actually secured their own spin-off film, which should tide us over nicely until the inevitable ‘Deadpool 3’ is released, having raked in nearly $727 million dollars on a $110 million budget.

Although not to be mistaken for a family-film at all, there are a few familial themes running through the film, with Deadpool developing a noticeably paternal side, for reasons I of course won’t reveal.

In keeping with the film’s anarchic spirit, the film’s structure does not follow your typical superhero-action film formula, meaning that the film is constantly suprising the audience, as well as being ultra-stylish, insanely violent and – perhaps most importantly – absolutely bloody hilarious.

If you haven’t already, go and see it (it’s still on in the cinemas!). Just remember to leave your tastebuds at home, you won’t be needing them.

Project Square Eyes – Sunday the 15th July 2018