Released: February 10th 2016 (UK)
Length: 108 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, Stefan Kapičić, and Brianna Hildebrand
Deadpool has arrived at an interesting time in cinema; for
the past eight years, we’ve been getting superhero films left and right, most
of them being solidly produced action blockbusters that rake in millions year
after year. For the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the company
has taken a step back with their most outrageous and downright wacky character.
The film follows the misadventures of Wade Wilson (Ryan
Reynolds), the “merc with the mouth” who lives a fairly simple life with his
girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). After being diagnosed with cancer, Wade
runs afoul of Francis Freeman, also known as Ajax (Ed Skrein) who subjects him
to nasty procedures to trigger the onset of mutant abilities. The narrative is
told out of order, bouncing between past and present with Deadpool himself
often narrating the proceedings. Whichever perspective we get to see it’s
consistently crude and hilarious, filled with clever pop-cultural references, in-jokes, and parodies of established superhero traditions. The only times it deviates from this are when it needs to tell an
origins story and a romance; I’m happy to report that it does both of those
very well too. Deadpool’s backstory is pretty sinister when you get into it;
his body is warped and badly damaged by his transformation which fuels his push
for vengeance. It’s a dark tale which stands completely at odds with the humour
on display. The romance feels genuinely believable too; beneath all the comic
relief you can feel the closeness between Wade and Vanessa. On top of all that,
we have the ties to the X-Men Universe and their efforts to discipline Deadpool
a bit, which also leads to some great jokes. Multiple components in a single
plot can be tricky to manage, but Marvel’s latest effort pulls it off without a
hitch.
The film makes a point to set itself apart at every turn and
this is mostly down to the characters. At the film’s centre is Deadpool
himself, who is a thousand times better than his portrayal in the much maligned
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (heck there’s even a point where he whips out an
action figure of the infamously mouthless portrayal). He’s shameless in every
sense of the word, spouting jokes and toying with his foes with reckless
abandon, making him wickedly entertaining from start to finish. Ed Skrein is
highly detestable as the villain; he takes such pleasure in what he does while
fully embracing the common cliché touted in the film’s opening credits. The
side characters are just as strong with a feisty performance from Morena
Baccarin. Although Colossus (Stefan Kapičić) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna
Hildebrand) are relatively serious (they are part of the X-Men after all!),
Deadpool still does a great job of playing off and giving them some comedy as
well as incorporating them into the action sequences towards the film’s final
act. There really isn’t a single weak link in the cast; they all have their
place in the story and all contribute to the film’s comedic aspects in their
own ways.
The way Deadpool looks and sounds is also very different to
any other superhero film. It all begins with the opening credits which use of
kinds of questionable phrases for the director, writer and cast, immediately
informing the audience that it isn’t meant to be taken seriously. The fourth
wall breaks give way to some additional camera angles, such as when the
anti-hero turns the camera away or when it concentrates on specific… body
assets in several scenes. It feeds into the more dramatic aspects fluidly and
the same holds true of the action. It’s well shot, widely varied and fun to
watch with ample use of slow motion to give a proper impact. The soundtrack is
equally laidback, tying in with the immature tone that hangs over the entire
film.
Deadpool gets the central character perfect, hits you with
brilliant comedy every moment it can and stamps itself as one of the freshest
superhero films in a long time. It’s right up there with the best Marvel has to offer
and under no circumstances should you pass on one of the funniest movies in
years.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
