DEADPOOL
Director : Tim Miller
Year : 2016
Genre : Superhero
Rating : ****
After his frankly embarrassing appearance in the abominable 'X-Men Origins : Wolverine', the merc with the mouth is finally given the movie he deserves with 'Deadpool', Tim Miller's vulgar, violent and very funny anti-hero spectacular that not only serves as the latest addition to the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe but also stands as a staunch satire of the blockbuster industry itself. Filled to the brim with profanity-filled fourth wall breaks and acerbic pop culture heavy humour, 'Deadpool' wears its 15/R rating on it's sleeve with pride, revelling in the sight of severed limbs, exploding skulls, disembowelled torsos and sexually explicit interludes with adolescent glee.
However it is also a very smart film, utilising the talents of some of Marvels greatest writers to create a hugely entertaining spoof that ultimately ends up becoming the product it is satirizing. With over a dozen superhero movies now being released every year, the subgenre is in great danger of growing stale. 'Deadpool' may not totally revolutionise the superhero movie but it may just breathe new life into it.
Clearly bouyed by the phenomenal audience response of his self-funded test footage screening at Comic-Con a few years ago, Ryan Reynolds is absolutely terrific as the motormouthed assassin who embarks on a quest of extremely bloody revenge after being transformed from the mild mannered Wade Wilson into the titular psychopathic mutant. Brandishing a couple of swords, guns and a ridiculously tight costume, the newly christened Deadpool prowls the streets of his hometown, desperate to bring his blade to the man who ruined his life ('Game Of Thrones' alumni Ed Skrein). As he has proved many times before, Reynolds is a brilliantly talented comedic actor; a machine gun of sarcasm, wit and self-deprecatory smarminess - perfect for the role of Marvel's most sarky protagonist (or antagonist?). There is also a strong supporting performance from 'Homeland's Morena Baccarin as Wilson's equally filthy minded girlfriend whose razor tongue is almost as sharp as that of her disfigured partner.
From its convention-smashing opening credits sequence to it's obligatory post credits scene, 'Deadpool' keeps the laughs coming thick and very fast throughout its surprisingly lean running time. While Matthew Vaughn's superior 'Kick Ass' may have deconstructed the superhero film to more thought-provoking and lasting effect, it can't be denied that 'Deadpool' is still easily the most entertaining superhero movie seen in cinemas for quite a long while. It's CGI heavy finale set at a collapsing building site may tread very familiar ground but its barrage of cleverly written postmodern comedy and well executed carnage more than makes up for it's few shortcomings. Hilarious, vicious and incredibly rude, 'Deadpool' is the perfect movie for those bored with the seemingly endless conveyor belt of bog standard, child-friendly franchise fare.
From its convention-smashing opening credits sequence to it's obligatory post credits scene, 'Deadpool' keeps the laughs coming thick and very fast throughout its surprisingly lean running time. While Matthew Vaughn's superior 'Kick Ass' may have deconstructed the superhero film to more thought-provoking and lasting effect, it can't be denied that 'Deadpool' is still easily the most entertaining superhero movie seen in cinemas for quite a long while. It's CGI heavy finale set at a collapsing building site may tread very familiar ground but its barrage of cleverly written postmodern comedy and well executed carnage more than makes up for it's few shortcomings. Hilarious, vicious and incredibly rude, 'Deadpool' is the perfect movie for those bored with the seemingly endless conveyor belt of bog standard, child-friendly franchise fare.
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