Deadpool (2016) (English Language)

Review

108min

Genre:      Comic-book, Action, Adventure, Comedy

Director:   Tim Miller

Cast:        Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller…and more

Writers:    Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Rob Liefeld… and more

-Synopsis-

In an effort to cure his terminal cancer, a mercenary volunteers for an experimental procedure that nearly destroys him but also leaves him with superhuman abilities, armed with a new identity and dark sense of humour, the wisecracking “Merc with a Mouth” will hunt down those who tried to destroy him.

For many a film and comic-book fan following his ill-conceived 1st appearance in 2009’s ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’, a ‘Deadpool’ movie that does justice to the sensibilities of the unique original material has been a long time coming. And thanks to the efforts of director Tim Miller and the relentless charms of star Ryan Reynolds, we finally have the hard R-rated film to change Hollywood’s superhero landscape.

‘Deadpool’ is very much an origin story featuring a hilariously self-aware and schizophrenic narrative that jumps back & forth between past & present, the storyline is relatively small in scope and not too ambitious while serving the main focus of the film which is the comedy, this is what a comic-book anti-hero movie would look like if it were directed by Judd Apatow.

The film benefits from a bold and extensive marketing campaign which not only heavily features but is very much driven by its star Ryan Reynolds, displaying the singular charms and humour of the film in a distinctly cheeky way… sometimes literally!

Expect plenty of high-octane action which bleeds, often literally, into 20th Century Fox’s ‘X-Men’ universe, but with all the pop-culture references and self-referential humour which goes several levels deep, ‘Deadpool’ feels like the ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ of comic-book movies.

However for all its supposedly revolutionary use of graphic violence and irreverent humour, aside from 4th Wall breaks and establishment tie-ins, ‘Deadpool’ does nothing much that ‘Kick-Ass’ didn’t already do 6 years ago… and far more memorably.

In many ways ‘Deadpool’ is a comic-book movie for people who don’t like superhero films, but the constant gruesome dispatching of villains and relentless puerile humour might be grating for some. It remains to be seen whether ‘Deadpool’ can continue to rely on the comedy at the expense of the narrative and how its dark brand of humour will translate beyond the fresh micro-universe that Tim Miller & co. have created.

The Bottom Line…

Though not quite the “game-changer” it promised to be, ‘Deadpool’ is outrageously funny family-unfriendly entertainment with the Ryan Reynolds charm dial turned up to 11, audiences will be pummelled into submission and comic-book movie horizons have been expanded to the joy of fans and studios alike.

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Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Kick-Ass (2010)

A regular American high-school kid puts on a costume and decides to fight crime on the city streets while inspiring other superhero wannabes, things take a serious turn in this all-action, darkly comic and ultra-violent extravaganza.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicolas Cage and Chloë Grace Moretz among many others.

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