Deadpool (2016)

Get your Motor Mouth Running


Director: Tim Miller
Running Time: 108 Minutes
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapičić, Leslie Uggams

From early on, it's clear how much of a unique beast this film actually is. The opening credits lends way to a fun extended gag, and is merely the first of many witty jokes, showcasing a self-referential side that's prevalent all throughout. In layman's terms, this one opening shows you'll have a blast.

Former Special Forces Operative Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) works as a mercenary, beating up and killing people for payouts. Life seems to be on the up when he finds a kindred spirit in escort Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), until he's diagnosed with terminal cancer. He's subjected to a rogue experiment to combat the cancer, but the torture inflicted by the sadistic Ajax (Ed Skrein) leaves him horribly disfigured, and with accelerated healing abilities. Donning a red costume, Wade takes on the name Deadpool, and seeks revenge.

While this isn't the first superhero film to be rated for adults, it is one of the most high profile since the genre gained such popularity in cinema (thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe). The picture thankfully makes the most of its rating, utilizing violence, graphic moments and swearing to a terrific degree. This helps it to stands apart from recent genre additions, showcasing a different side to the world threatening perils of the bigger budget films.

For a directorial debut, Tim Miller impresses. Dynamic visuals are utilized onscreen, lending a pleasantness to the eyes. The action is well choreographed, with the highway sequence from the trailers managing to be an extended highlight. Both aspects are improved thanks to humour that's deftly handled, and fired at a rapid rate. Granted, not all of them manage to hit (a reference to Wolverine early on is a notable dud), but the quips, meta humour and self-deprecation make for a wonderful use of humour.

Guns or a parachute? It was his call.

He may have been starring in films for a good long while, but this feels like the role to make Ryan Reynolds break out in ways he deserves. This film's a clear passion project of his after 11 years of attempting to bring it onto the big screen, which makes it unsurprising Reynolds puts his all into his performance.The wisecracks come across effortlessly from this sardonic character. His presence is felt even behind the mask, while the moments of emotion show how Reynolds excels in dramatic moments just as well. In short, Ryan Reynolds isn't so much a perfect match, but more like the physical embodiment of Deadpool in our reality.

While it would've been nice to see more of Morena Baccarin (especially as a person outside of life with Wade), she at least manages to be more than the typical love interest/damsel archetype. Their relationship lends way to the biggest surprise, where genuine heart lies at the centre. Their wonderful chemistry, shared over moments sweet and sexual, help to make this relationship one worth investing in.

Ed Skrein serves the villainous role well, as Ajax proves to be a physically intimidating adversary who makes the right amount of scowls. Even if the character doesn't stand out much, he proves to be more memorable than some of the other comic book villains of late (especially whatever the hell Toby Kebbell was supposed to be portraying in Fant4stic). Gina Carano plays the role of punching hench-person well.

T.J Miller provides fun comedic support as Weasel, best friend to Wade before and after he looks like the product of Avocados mating. Stefan Kapičić lends a fun vocal performance to Colossus (who's given more to do here than in the other 4 X-Men films he's made prior appearances in), while Brianna Hildebrand impresses as Ripley from Alien 3 the awesomely named Negasonic Teenage Warhead.

After appearing onscreen with a sewn up mouth and laser eyes, fans have been clamouring for a better adaptation of Marvel's own merc to reach the big screen, in all his uncensored glory. If you disregard how successful this outcome is and focus on the film as it's own entity, Deadpool remains one heck of a ride, packed with laugh out loud humour, genuine heart and an abundant need to justify the adults only rating.


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