Tim Miller directs the R-Rated Marvel Comics film adaptation of Deadpool from a script by Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Starring Ryan Reynolds, TJ Miller, Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano, Ed Skrein and Brianna Hildebrand, the film was released February 12, 2016.
Deadpool stars Ryan Reynolds in the title role as a special forces operative turned mercenary turned anti-hero who was subjected to experimental testing that gave him healing powers. Also starring: TJ Miller as Weasel, Gina Carano as Angel Dust, Stefan Kapicic as Colossus, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Morena Baccarin as Copycat and Ed Skrein as Ajax.
Deadpool has been a long time comin’ for us comic book geeks. After FOX botched the character in their X-Men Origins: Wolverine flick and blackmailed actor Ryan Reynolds into playing him regardless of the complete clusterfuck that he knew it would wind up becoming, we all thought this character was forever doomed when it came to the big-screen. But, after years and years of waiting patiently and with the success of bizarre comic book film adaptations like Guardians of The Galaxy or other R-Rated affairs like Kingsman: The Secret Service – here we are.
Ryan Reynolds has finally broken his comic book movie curse and the pet project that he’s fought for, for so many years is now here and it’s not only great, it’s actually the best X-Men movie yet. Suck it Fox – well…. rake in all that record breaking box office AND THEN SUCK IT. You bastards.
Starring Reynolds as Wade Wilson, a former military operative, turned thug for hire, turned anti-hero, Deadpool is equal parts low-brow comedy, action fiesta, love story and comic nerd smorgasbord. Director Tim Miller, writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and Reynolds himself, have made this movie for the true fans of the source material and because of their effort – not only have they shattered initial studio expectations by delivering an insane record breaking effort for R-Rated cinema, but they’ve let the people be heard – FINALLY.
After learning he has cancer, Wilson signs up for a top secret program that will not only cure his life-ending illness, but give him super powers. In the process, his evil experimenter hosts – Ajax and Angel Dust go a little far and torture Wilson, eventually scarring his entire body to the point of him being unrecognisable. After he escapes, he becomes the villainous anti-hero Deadpool and sets out to revenge murder the people who turned him into something that looks like an older avocado hate fucked a younger avocado. Not my words – Weasel’s. Thank you TJ Miller as always for being the comedic relief in a movie that didn’t even need it because Reynolds was already so damn funny — but, you nailed it.
Breaking the fourth wall, gratuitous language and violence and nudity and sex – Deadpool earns it’s maturity stamp and even though at times the humor can be a little too childish, it hits far more than it misses. I recommend not watching the flurry of trailers as they may have given a little too much away. That would be my only criticism because this movie is a godsend for us nerds who crave a comic book adaptation that doesn’t shy away from the edginess and creativity of the source material from which it was born.
I was surprised at how well the X-Men segments of Deadpool were done as well. Make no mistake, this movie fits in nicely with that universe and franchise. Hell – Colossus was done so damn good here – for the first time – COLOSSUS. Holy shit. Stefan Kapicic’s performance of the famous X-Man was spot-on. I can’t wait to see more mutants make their way into Deadpool’s upcoming sequel – CABLE – If they don’t hire Stephen Lang – they’re doing it wrong.
Director James Gunn (Guardians of The Galaxy) fears that most film studios will misconcieve Deadpool’s success and wind up producing copycat comic book flicks that wind up being raunchy and violent just for the sake of being as much, but in the process we’ll end up losing all of that creative flair and love that went into this movie. That’s why Deadpool did well – not the violence and cursing – but the love that the creative team and cast put into making it. Deadpool was a lot of fun, not just for the hardcore fans who love the merc with a mouth, but for everybody else tired of the same old formulaic and safe superhero franchises out there that are consuming the market.
Rating: [star rating=”4.5″]