Review – Deadpool

Thanks to a sweet Comic-Con sizzle reel and tons of campaigning from fans and star Ryan Reynolds, we are finally given the much anticipated and much sought after Deadpool movie.  But, after the debacle that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), where they ruined Deadpool as a character, some fans and moviegoers may have some reservations about the film.

Fear not Deadpoolers, Deadpool is everything you wanted and more.  This is a vulgar, violent, hilarious, action packed, self referential, game-changing comic book movie that only Ryan Reynolds could have starred in.

The origin of Deadpool is about Wade Wilson, a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary who, when diagnosed with cancer, becomes subjected to rouge experiments that end up giving me him accelerated healing powers, but make him look like “an avocado had sex with an older avocado.”  Wilson takes on the alter ego of Deadpool and uses his new powers to get revenge on the man who nearly destroyed his life.

It seems like Ryan Reynolds was born to play Deadpool.  With the combination of great comedic timing, snarky attitude, and great physicality, Reynolds is Deadpool.  This is the best superhero casting since Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.  The supporting characters are excellent too.  TJ Miller is hilarious and Wilson’s bartender friend.  Morena Baccarin as Wilson’s fiancé Vanessa adds strength to a performance that could have been pushed by the wayside.  Ed Skrien and Gina Carano are great villains and Stefan Kapicic and Brianna Hilderbrand give great turns as X-Men Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead.

This is not your typical superhero origin story.  The movie starts off with big action scene on the bridge that we see in the previews, and then jumps back and forth between that and the time before Wilson was Deadpool.  Director Tim Miller does a great job of balancing the action, the humor, and the love story to make a cohesive, rounded story.  Also, the R rating is used to its fullest potential.  Deadpool is filled with bad language, inappropriate sexual jokes, and plenty of bloody violence.  What’s best is that none of it gratuitous, it adds to the story and characters.

In a cinematic world where majority of comic book movies are all the same, Deadpool is a swift kick to the nuts of the genre.  This is the most unique and original comic book movie of this decade.  With its combination of slick action, vulgar humor, and a contained, layered plot, Deadpool is a game changer for the genre and one hell of a good time.

MY RATING – 3.5/4

Did you see Deadpool?  What did you think?  Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @kevflix or on Facebook at Kevflix.