Deadpool (2016)
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Directed By: Tim Miller
If you are unfamiliar with the character of Deadpool don't worry, he is an easy one to follow. Wade Wilson (Ryan reynolds) is ex special forces, making him a highly trained killer. When he is diagnosed with inoperable cancer and offered a way to fix it, even if it is from some shady people, he sees no other option if he wants to live to see his would be wife again. His "golden opportunity" isn't as shiny as he'd hoped though as he is left horribly disfigured by the procedure, but there is a kicker. The experiment also made him practically invincible, his new mutations allowing his cells to regenerate at a rapid pace (much like Wolverine). With a chip on his shoulder he decides to use his new powers to enact his revenge on the people who destroyed his insanely good looks.
The simplicity of the story allows them to play with the format and have fun with the characters. From the opening credits down to the final scene what you see is completely absurd and out of line, just as it should be. Reynolds finally gets to play the super "hero" he was born to be, the "merc with a mouth" couldn't have been brought to life any better than what we are given here. He is witty, crass, childish, goofy, and totally offensive and his back forths with T.J. Miller throughout the film are some of the best off-the-cuff comedy I have seen in a long time.
For those unaware, Deadpool is a part of the X-Men universe and being a Fox property this meant they had access to a few, lesser, X-Men. Using Colossus (voiced by Stefan Kapicic), Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), Angel Dust (Gina Carano), and our main villain AJAX (Ed Skrein) they are able to quietly set this movie in a familiar world. This also furthers the notion that Fox has really gotten a handle on the X-Men universe, they understand a story doesn't necessarily need to connect and continue on from the last one. They get that if you just make a good movie, with a good story, and good characters then audiences will embrace it.
This is hardly your average X-Men movie however as Deadpool spends the majority of the film skewering his enemies into nothing more than a bloody pile of flesh and bone. This is a large part of why the 'R' rating was necessary for this project, without the ultra violence, adult language, and humor this is just another average comic book movie. These unique qualities are what allow this character to stand on its own and actually be something we remember. We saw what happens when you water Wade Wilson down for the average PG-13 audience in Wolverine: Origins and it was a train wreck. So much so that it is openly made fun of throughout this film.
In a year where the phrase "superhero fatigue" is bound to be thrown around often and loosely it is quite refreshing to see the first one of 2016 be so unique and absurdly entertaining. Furthermore this opens up countless new opportunities for studios and other adult comic book properties as this film finally proves that an 'R' rating is a deathwish for a film as long as it has it's audiences and is made well. After seeing one of the greatest marketing campaigns in movie history is comforting to know that it was hardly the best thing to come out of this property. If you are looking for the first huge movie of 2016 it is already here, check out Deadpool this weekend on the big screen and show studios that they can make more movies like this.
As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!
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