Deadpool Review
Deadpool is easily one of the most popular characters in the Marvel comic universe, so much so that his popularity exploded into heights that nearly eclipsed mainstays of the brand. He’s been featured in games and animated TV shows, and yes, he technically was in a live-action movie. But as all true fans of Deadpool know, that wasn’t really him. When would the true Merc With The Mouth get his due? Well, after almost 10 years of pleading, Deadpool got his film, and it’s debuted in theaters. And yes, it’s awesome.
It’s almost nuts to think how good this movie is on how little a budget it was given. 20th Century Fox took a risk on Deadpool, and as such only gave it a certain amount of money. However, with that money, Tim Miller, Ryan Reynolds and the whole team made something that’ll make you laugh from the first minute to the last with only minor breaks.
Let’s start with the important stuff. This is the Deadpool we’ve been waiting for, and god bless Ryan Reynolds for being so patient and wanting to be Deadpool. It’s hard to see anyone else do this character with such flair and fun as Ryan Reynolds clearly had here. Nearly every line is spoken with passion as he brings Wade Wilson to life. From his early days as a literal merc with a mouth, to his slow rise to being Deadpool, it’s a great show.
Everything you expect from Deadpool is here. The costume is spot on, the fourth wall breaking is there in spades, and it’s all well done. Even how he fights is perfect Deadpool. His katanas and gunplay are outrageous and brutal, and there is no holding back. This was meant to be an “R” rated film, and it succeeds in that front numerous times.
Now that’s not to say there isn’t a story here. In fact, I was honestly surprised by how much story there actually was. The team honestly takes the time to show why Wade does what he does and doesn’t do what doesn’t do (which is not much!). The filmmakers show the depth of the character, but without going to cliche and sappy. Yes, he does fall for a girl named Vanessa, but their love story is anything but typical. More on that later though.
Then there’s the process and fallout of Wade becoming Deadpool. What starts out as a noble gesture becomes a trap and fate that Wade clearly wants to escape from. Even as he goes on his quest for revenge, you can feel the tragedy as he’s forced to stay away from Vanessa and see the looks that other people give him.
That’s the thing most people forget, Deadpool honestly is a tragic character. It’s just that his insanity and comedy gets the spotlight to make him “not another superhero,” which was another fun aspect. He says throughout the story that he’s not a hero, and he’s not. He’s on a quest for vengeance, to get back at Ajax for messing him up. There is virtually no “save the world” aspect here. This is a one-man wrecking crew out for blood.
Not that there aren’t people wanting to make him a hero. The inclusion of the X-Men was a fun and very on-the-nose merging of Fox’s franchises to show what could, and now likely will, happen in the future. Though there are only two X-Men shown, they are called out on it, and many more get named in movie and after the end.
Colossus gets a much deserved spotlight, and one that truly reflects his comic book origins. He’s fully Russian here, and has a heart of gold. He constantly tries to not only show Wade the how to act, but he also shows mercy to his enemies, even in the midst of battle.
Negasonic Teenage Warhead also has plenty of laughs in the film. She’s not a well known X-Men character, but she probably will be after this movie. Even if her powers aren’t fully explained, they put on quite a show.
The villains for Deadpool are very one dimensional, but they show their worth. Ajax is a guy you will love to hate and count down the minutes until Wade ends him. He’s a good foil for Wade, as he’s very soft spoken for most of the film and knows just what buttons to push to make him angry. Gina Carano gets a fun run as Angel Dust. True, she doesn’t say much, but she does get to show her MMA skills in numerous fights, including holding her own against Colossus.
The supporting cast is also nice. From Blind Al, to Weasel, to Vanessa, each character shows why they’re important to Wade, and will no doubt be recurring characters going forward.
Now, I’m giving this a high score, but there are some drawbacks. Though absolutely hilarious, as with all comedies, some jokes fall flat. One long exchange about furniture felt out of place. Also, as stated online and by fans, this is not a kids film. Yes, there are kids who have, and likely will, see this, but they shouldn’t. It’s vulgar, and there’s a lot of content that they honestly shouldn’t see in this film. Also, there some aspects of the origin and use of Wade’s powers that may not sit fully well with comic book fans, mainly in regards to his healing factor.
Aside from that, Deadpool is a shot in the arm to the superhero genre. It proves that you can have a lot of comedy, a lot of action, a lot of character development and story in an “R” rated film. If you’re a Deadpool fan, see this movie. And don’t leave until the credits are over!