Deadpool
Dir: Tim Miller
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Ed Skrein, Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano,
and T.J. Miller
20th Century Fox
100 Minutes
He wears a mask, but he’s not Batman. He wears a red suit,
but he’s not Spiderman. He has regenerative powers, but he’s not Wolverine. He
is Deadpool. You know that guy that we’ve all encountered at some point in our
lives, the guy that says whatever he wants, is charming yet a jerk at the same
time, can make the entire room laugh without so much as a hint of effort, that’s
Deadpool. The comic book world knows him best as “the Merc with the Mouth”.
Actor Ryan Reynolds has been lobbying for a standalone Deadpool movie for some
time, it wasn’t until the Internet caught glimpse of some leaked test footage
that the clamor began. First time director Tim Miller helms “Deadpool” and
impressively crafts a film that is a mix of near perfect comic self-awareness,
gruesome violence, and vulgarity that matches much of the tone that defines the
character. On top of all of this, Ryan Reynolds was made to play this role and
he completely owns the film.
Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is a former Special Forces
operative working as a mercenary; he is a smart aleck with a soft side for
helping those who can’t help themselves. Wade meets Vanessa (Morena Baccarin)
and falls in love; everything is going good until he finds out that he has
terminal cancer. Looking for a cure Wade is lead to an experimental treatment,
one that basically tortures him, disfigures him, and turns him into a reluctant
superhero seeking simple revenge.
The narrative is structured through a series of flashbacks,
basically an origin story woven into an action sequence. While this method has
potential in creating some pacing issues, Mr. Miller does a fine job of keeping
the film moving with purpose, keeping everything quick, and utilizing the time
to play out the best scenarios in each scene. Everything within this film is
completely self-aware; it understands the world of the superhero films that
have already been established but also the reality of the people starring in
the films. I don’t want to spoil the fun by revealing too much of this aspect,
but when the “sexiest man alive” cover featuring Ryan Reynolds floats across
the screen you know you’re in for a good time. Mr. Miller keeps this aspect
consistently amusing throughout most of the film, though it is slightly
overdone especially when the film needs to find its footing in the finale.
Ryan Reynolds does a fantastic job of utilizing his natural
charm to find a comfortable balance between being comically self-deprecating
and wittily brash. The performance is
very similar to some of Mr. Reynolds early work in films like “Van Wilder” and
“Waiting…”. The supporting cast is good as well; T.J. Miller is a great
sidekick of sorts to Deadpool and Morena Baccarin builds a sexually charged dynamic
with Mr. Reynolds as the perfect love interest for this kind of film. Unfortunately
the villains aren’t as good. Ed Skrein plays Ajax, a mutant villain who never
seems to be a significant match for Deadpool. Mr. Skrein is overshadowed in
most of the scenes, though this is not the fault of Mr. Skrein’s performance but
rather an issue with the script that never seems too concerned with building a
proper foe for Deadpool.
The action is violent and bloody here, a definite surprise
for those only familiar with “The Avengers” or “X-Men” films. It’s a comedic
roast of the identity that accompanies superhero films, an interesting
direction that doesn’t fall into the family-friendly formula that Marvel has
typified with their summer blockbusters. “Deadpool” is a hard R-rated film
targeted for mature viewers and fans; it’s a welcome addition to the superhero
catalog. “Deadpool” is bound to become a
franchise of its own; this introduction is a great foundation for the future. It’s
funny, gory, and completely self-aware…the Deadpool that fans have been waiting
for.
Monte’s Rating
4.25 out of 5.00
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