Deadpool 2 (David Leitch, 2018)

More of the same as the first film, with Ryan Reynolds motormouthing and slicing his way with joyful abandon through hordes of gangsters until he comes up against a cyber-soldier from the future, who's set on killing a mutant orphan that Deadpool has formed a grudging bond with. Josh Brolin delivers his trademark stone-faced gruffness as the would-be killer - a sort of anti-hero version of his Thanos from the Avengers films - and Julian Dennison as the kid with a chip on his shoulder against authority, who really needs a father figure,  could easily be a superpowered version of his role from Hunt from the Wilderpeople. But since a major aspect of the film is constantly breaking the fourth wall with references to real popular culture and other Marvel films, perhaps that makes some kind of twisted sense. Needless to say, the action is absolutely relentless and the violence extreme, but it's a good popcorn fare all the same. It's less than sure, though, whether the character has the legs for the third instalment that's coming up.

6/10