Deadpool (2016)

"Whatever they did to me made me totally indestructible... 

and completely unfuckable."

They say that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit and 'Deadpool' may be the most sarcastic film I've ever seen... But that doesn't mean that it's not funny. 

After a rogue DNA experiment, a former special forces operative gains the power of accelerated healing and adopts the alter ego Deadpool. 

Like most superhero films, I went into 'Deadpool' with low expectations and quiet scepticism. I'd heard a few rave reviews but I’d also heard good reviews of 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' before I went in to that so I figured that it was best to just go in and see for myself. 

However, to my surprise, I actually really enjoyed 'Deadpool. 

Straight from the start it sets the tone with quick fire wit, breaking the fourth wall, extreme violence and comic book madness. Even the opening credits got the whole audience laughing and it instantly sets everyone in the right mindset. 

It pokes fun at the whole genre and is very self aware. It knows it is a comic book movie and it knows what you've come to expect so, with great help from a very charismatic Ryan Reynolds, it flips the expectations and the clichés upside down and catches you off guard. 

It knows how ridiculous it is and it has fun with that notion. 

With a fantastic advertising campaign behind it, it was always going to smash R rated box office records in its opening weekend. It took over $135 million in the opening weekend which, with a budget of around $58 million, makes it one of the most successful comic book movies of late and one of the most profitable ever. On top of the traditional trailers, it has clever spoof movie posters, raunchy slogans and a multitude of funny interviews and clips to get everyone curious. 

Ryan Reynolds is the star of the show as the charismatically annoying Deadpool. He's an asshole but he's totally likeable. Without Ryan Reynolds at the helm, this film would crumble. He steals every scene and makes the character come alive. 

'Deadpool' looks and feels like a comic book strip. From the way it's shot to how the violence is portrayed, it's all straight off the page of a 'Deadpool' comic book. Having never read a 'Deadpool' comic it's hard for me to compare but I imagine it to be stylistically the same based on the choices that the filmmakers make.

It is a violent film but the gratuitous violence is in good humour and matches the immature nature of the story and characters. It brings out the fun in the video-game like action and violence and sticks a middle finger up to the people that will be offended. It's nice to see a film that embraces the fun of it for a change and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s not a kids comic book movie and it revels in that.

Deadpool's background and his love story felt a bit dull compared to the rest of the film that's pretty fun and imaginative. Not that it's lazy but I suppose they don't really care too much, you want Ryan Reynolds in the suit as fast as possible so the finer details can get lost in the crossfire. It's functional to give you enough exposition but in terms of storytelling it's not great.

His wife/fiancé Vanessa played by Morena Baccarin is just horrific. If ever there was a casting just for someone to get naked on film, this was it. They may as well have got a pornstar to play her character because they would have matched her acting ability and wardrobe. 

It felt very contained for a marvel movie which was nice, it didn't feel too large and it didn't take itself seriously. I am curious to see how they can fit the violent, swearing, asshole 'Deadpool' into the existing PG Marvel Universe but that's a conversation for another day. The fact that it’s not a Disney owned property might help.

Overall, 'Deadpool' is one hell of a sarcastic film that keeps you laughing and does the comic book film genre justice.

It's total trash and it's a lot of fun. 

Bad ass.

Smart ass.

Great ass.