Review of 'Deadpool'

deadpool.jpg Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is a former Special Services operative who becomes a mercenary. When he is diagnosed with terminal cancer he is offered a proposal that will not only cure his cancer but give him extraordinary powers. He undergoes the painful but successful procedure but when subjected to torture designed to test his new abilities he escapes though ends up horrifically scarred. With his new powers he creates his alter-ego “Deadpool” which he uses to violently eek out justice then goes in search of those that tortured him.

This was a much-touted “anti-establishment” film from, of all things, the establishment of superhero films, Marvel. It is not one for children with large amounts of personal violence, swearing, sex and all other things that we are not supposed to expose to the innocent (!). In the first ten minutes of the film you get an idea of what is in store as we see wise-cracking Deadpool in the back of a taxi talking to cabbie but also the audience. Poking fun at himself, the film itself, the director, other films, and, well, basically everything else this is how the rest of the film goes. The opening credits indicate it is directed by “Some Douchebag” and stars “God's Perfect Idiot” with “A Hot Chick” thrown in (etc, etc). And so it goes on…

I do think that perhaps here the effort to be relevant and anti-establishment is overdone to the point of absurdity and banality. Can a movie simply try too hard? Yes, I think so. For example: When Deadpool is turning through the air, in super-slow-motion he talks to the camera about having left the gas on. While funny it is, frankly, ridiculous and only distracts. Having said that, I did find the movie quite refreshing and a lot of, er, fun (?). The action is amazing though the unconvincing set piece on the aircraft carrier at the end is disappointing. The presence several X-Men characters, “Colossus” (Stefan Kapicic) and “Negasonic Teenage Warhead” (Brianna Hildebrand), is amusing with a comment from Deadpool regarding the fact that the bigger characters were not in the film because they could not be afforded. They continue to appeal to Deadpool to join X-Men but their approach is rebuffed in a bloody manner at the end…

Deadpool is different but will certainly not be to everyone's liking. Who will not like it? Well, anyone that is not willing to overlook the brutal violence (that is often encouraged on screen), ever-present sarcasm, extreme sexism, offensive swearing, etc. However, those that are willing to not take it at all seriously will find Deadpool enjoyable. Sit back and enjoy the frenetic ride.

Rating: “Really good but I have some issues”

Review Date: 2016-10-23


Directed by: Time Miller

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Year: 2016

Length: 108 minutes

Genre: Action/Adventure

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431045/