BACK in February 2016, Deadpool arrived in cinemas and changed the superhero genre.

It wasn’t the first superhero flick to feature extreme violence or excessive swearing, but never before had audiences ever seen anything quite like this outrageous anti-hero.

Deadpool is a majorly self-aware, fourth wall breaking maniac who enjoys interacting with the viewer.

He is cheeky, sarcastic and loveable yet an individual who can kill four men with one bullet and use enough foul language that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Martin Scorsese joint.

And the film was a monumental success. It was loved by critics and also amassed over $780 million at the worldwide box office.

But as the old adage goes, sequels are always meant to be bigger, better and ever so slightly more indulgent. And this is exactly what Deadpool 2 is.

Deadpool 2 has truly upped the ante here, delivering an adrenaline fuelled laugh out loud bonanza of ultra-violence, silly humour and insanely cool characters. It’s one of the craziest movies you will see this year.

On this adventure we follow the foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (Aka Deadpool, portrayed by Ryan Reynolds) who must bring together a team of fellow mutants in order to protect a young boy of supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-travelling renegade Cable.

Whilst many of the main new recruits have very limited screen time, this movie absolutely nails two characters flawlessly - Cable and Domino, played by Josh Brolin and Zazie Beetz.

Beetz entered the scene last year with her stunning supporting turn in the TV show Atlanta, and here she plays a superhero whose power is simply… luck.

It’s a fresh spin for a superhero to have an ability such as this and it really works, every scene with her just elevates the movie thanks to the sheer madness of what unfolds and how good fortune is truly on her side.

If you weren't already loudly proclaiming 2018 the year of Josh Brolin after Infinity War, you definitely will be now. He’s always been a tremendous actor but Brolin will be remembered by comic book fans for years to come after perfecting another iconic superhero character.

He never quite reaches the dizzying heights of the terrifying Thanos, yet Cable is still a truly memorable antagonist. He’s a slick, nonchalant character whose story does not go the way some may think and Brolin is awesome.

However, the star of the show is still without a doubt Ryan Reynolds. Playing the eponymous lead, (but also this time round credited with co-writer duties too) he is a sensation. This role was made for him, with the quick witted humour and insane likeability, and this time around it also has a surprisingly dark tone at times yet he never slips up and excels at both the humorous and darker elements.

Whilst this sequel does tread similar ground to the original, it isn’t afraid to take major risks. With unexpected cameos, demises and added villains, this story goes in unexpected directions whilst still keeping a frenetic pace throughout.

It also expands on the first film at times, outdoing its predecessor in numerous ways. You liked the title cards and the end credits scene in the first movie? This time round they have really exceeded themselves, creating two of the best sequences you will see all year.

The problem lies is that with so much going on, and very little going the way you expect it too, it can feel bloated. There is a lot happening at once, whilst the film also tries to ensure its reoccurring and newly established characters all have screen time to shine.

For the majority of the film, the comedy really hits, but sometimes when it does miss, it can miss badly. It was one of my only complaints of the first film in that some of the humour was just too childish or immature that it simply didn’t work.

This time round it can be more of the same, but thankfully there are some really well judged and unexpected gags plus plenty of hilarious references to pop culture such as the DC Universe, Say Anything and James Bond.

What really makes this movie work though, is the skilful, stylish and all round excellent directing from David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, John Wick). It’s gritty yet breath-taking and features aspects of the afterlife, love and family which were incredibly realised.

The Dark Knight is the pinnacle of all superhero movies and easily the best DC movie ever made.

But what made it so special was just how it took everything that worked and was established in the excellent Batman Origins and somehow made it even better.

The story, villain and action went to all new heights and Deadpool 2 is also precisely this. We have our Marvel equivalent of The Dark Knight. It’s just a shame that it doesn’t quite match the same level of brilliance.

Verdict: Brutal, bombastic and beautiful. Deadpool 2 is a sequel for the ages with unexpected depth and heart but still finding time for frequently crazy action and huge belly laughs.

Best Moment: The entire middle section with the X Force arrival and Domino’s first use of her ‘powers’ is the perfect mix of jaw dropping and hilarious.

Rating: 8/10