Deadpool Movie Review

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