Movie Review: Deadpool 2

FAIR warning: whatever that guy in red and black says, this is strictly not a family movie. Deadpool 2 is filled with expletives and violent gore.
But then again, it is smart, fun, exciting, and will pull your heartstrings in all the right ways – and that is just in the first few scenes.
After the many mind-numbing superhero movies (thanks Marvel) these past months, Deadpool 2 is to me the much-needed breath of fresh air. While the continually-lampooning Merc with a Mouth is not appropriate for innocent ears, what makes Deadpool endearing is his big – and most probably cancerous – heart.
While the first movie gave Deadpool form with his origin story, the sequel gives him substance.
With a cast that is bigger than the previous movie, it still manages to balance the backstories of each person to make me care about everyone.
Without spoiling the movie, I can say that the story in Deadpool 2 is more personal and has a more profound emotional impact than the first movie did, or dare I say, more than all Marvel movies.
From the start, I was invested in Deadpool (Reynolds) trying to do the right thing, in Russell's (Julian Dennison) plight for a better life, and Cabel's (Brolin) reason for travelling back in time. So much so that I forgot that Domino (Beetz) is very different from how she looks in the comics, although I still like her in the movie.
The cherry on top of the Deadpool 2 pie is its soundtrack. The music is an eclectic mix of blockbuster movie-sounding music like Ashes by Celine Dion, to the haunting unplugged version of Take On Me by a-ha, to a hilarious orchestral piece with rude lyrics and a title that I cannot say here without getting into trouble. I loved it.
Comicbook fans, keep your eyes open and ears sharp for fun and quick cameos, Easter eggs, and references that, although not essential to the movie, will add to the experience and perhaps warrant a second or third viewing.
A tip for those who are going to see the movie, there is one mid-credit scene, and no post-credit scenes so you can leave the hall and let the cleaners do their job early.