Best described as intensely self-aware, macabre, and insanely violent, the mission statement for Marvel’s anti-hero movie seems to be ‘the meta, the better’.
Directed by Tim Miller, written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and starring Van Wilder star Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool is crammed full of irony, pop-culture references, and is legitimately hilarious.
The tone for the film is set straight out of the gate as, instead of the names of actors, the line-up of generic roles are summed up simply as archetypes, for example “Starring God’s Perfect Idiot” and “British Villain”.
Finally a Full Movie
After a cameo role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), fans were annoyed by the fact that Deadpool has never had a full movie to his name and Marvel stepped up to the plate in the most marvellous (no pun intended) way possible.
Deadpool is in many ways the unreliable black sheep of the X-Men family and is considered as more mercenary than superhero, but he has got super-athletic combat abilities and the capacity to heal everything in this body – apart from his disfigured face of course which he conceals with a mask.
Non-Stop Action from the Get Go
Arriving into the fray in the back of a cab, right away it’s evident that Deadpool is hell-bent on wreaking havoc and revenge on the British Villain, Ajax, played by Game of Thrones alumnus Ed Skrein.
The ensuing flashbacks show the viewer snapshots of Deadpool’s past when he was simply Wade Wilson, a former Special Forces agent turned gun for hire (and possible fan of online pokies NZ) who has fallen in love with Morena Baccarin’s character, Vanessa.
Of course, as these things go, tragedy strikes and Wade’s super powered destiny pulls him away from Vanessa and everything he loves, and he transmutes this emotional pain into a thirst for violence and glibness.
Regrettably Not Ed Skrein’s Best
Unlike other superheroes, Deadpool seems to be equal parts good and bad guy and this is the only part where the film’s intention becomes a bit blurry. As Deadpool is so acerbic, it doesn’t leave a lot of room for Ajax to actually be the bad guy and it isn’t a convincing portrayal.
Regrettably, Skrein’s character comes across more as the villain’s henchman than the villain himself and he comes across as one dimensional.
Possibly Reynolds’ Best Role
Ryan Reynold’s seems to be developing in his career like a fine wine.
As he edges closer to the foothills of early middle age, Reynolds has developed a searing self-deprecation, confidence in his good-looks, and a goofy side akin to that of George Clooney – another of Hollywood’s sweethearts. all of these real-life-Reynolds characteristics are brought together with careful precision in Deadpool to create to the ultimate anti-superhero and his razor sharp wit is a clear nod to Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man.
As the complete antithesis of a superhero, Deadpool is neurotic and needy and it makes for a highly entertaining film. Deadpool is an absolute, innocent pleasure.