Deadpool (Rated C)
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Ed Skrein
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Dwight's Rating: 3.5
This is the biggest surprise in years!
Who would have thought the new film "Deadpool" would have been such a record-smashing success? And that it would actually be incredibly entertaining?
The comic book fan boys and the nerds seemed to have known, and were anticipating something great. But for the rest of us, who never even heard about the Marvel Comics character, Deadpool (who apparently first appeared in print back in 1991), we probably didn't know what to expect -- although the character did make an appearance in one of those "Wolverine" flicks!')
I know I certainly wasn't expecting much from another superhero movie starring Ryan Reynolds! But "Deadpool" is nothing like that train wreck "Green Lantern". That was DC Comics, and the fan boys will tell you, this is Marvel! Like that means something better! (Remember "Elektra", "Daredevil", "Fantastic Four (2005)", "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer", and "Fantastic Four (2015)"?)
But forget all that! "Deadpool" is here, and has raised the bar and set a new standard for adult action-adventure comedies. It will also refresh and reset the increasingly stale, monotonous and repetitive comic book movie genre. Honestly, this has almost everything almost everyone could want in a movie.
Premiering over the Valentine's Day weekend, "Deadpool" is surprisingly quite romantic, with a great and passionate love story. For drama lovers, there's even a serious health crisis. For those who crave action, it is quite violent, but is a very sarcastic manner.
Which leads to the movie's greatest achievement -- its sense of humor. Yes, it's only February, but "Deadpool" is almost certain to remain on the list of one of the funniest movies of the year.
Wade Wilson (Reynolds) is a former special forces operative who now works as a mercenary. His world comes crashing down when evil scientist Ajax (Ed Skrein) tortures, disfigures and transforms him into the character Deadpool. The rogue experiment leaves Deadpool with accelerated healing powers and a twisted sense of humor. With help from mutant allies Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), Deadpool uses his new skills to hunt down the man who nearly destroyed his life, and to reconnect with the love of his life, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin).
This "twisted sense of humor" can be a bit much at first. Deadpool, the character, is so self-aware; he's narrating the story, and often looking away, mid-action -- as everyone else freezes -- to relay to the audience some bit of information about the past, often accompanied by a flashback. Once you get accustomed to the rhythm, and come to terms with the type of ride you've just signed on for, you may come to see the cynical digs at the entire comic book movie genre and of the whole superhero universe as priceless. Nothing is sacred, and nothing is spared from the comic jabs, including that green person from that other comic factory.
Reynolds is at his snarkiest best, and is superb in the role. Few other actors would have been suitable. He comes this close to making the character an over-the-top mess, but ever so delicately straddles the line of overdoing it, remaining skillfully in the safe zone.
The movie is the funniest of its kind since "Guardians of the Galaxy". But that was wholesome, kids' stuff compared to what's served up in "Deadpool". It's like going to see the late, late show at a comedy club for adults -- shockingly raunchy, designed to make grown men blush! Again, it's also stupendously violent, but in a disturbingly cool way. It's hard to explain, but somehow the light-hearted nature of the film seems to nullify the blood and gore. It's sad, but true!
It also makes me realize just how very much I despise most of these comic book movies.
Regular readers have probably already discerned that I'm so tired of their silly "weight-of-the-world, must-save-the-planet" plotlines, and their brooding, angry or ambivalent protagonists. Deadpool, on the other hand, is selfish and playful, and the ultimate anti-hero. Such a refreshing change from all the bitter and confused Batmans and Captain Americas and Wolverines out there!
Will this mean many of these type movies are on the horizon, as opposed to the darkness of a "Batman" or "X-Men"? Well, as we've seen with this genre, too much of a good thing is never a good thing. But you know Hollywood, and "Deadpool" shattered already lofty expectations, breaking countless records.
Most notably, it premiered with the highest-grossing opening weekend ever for an R-rated film in North America ($132.7 million -- more than $150 million if you take into account the President's Day holiday in the United States on Monday). That was two to three times greater than most early estimates. Those numbers guarantee at least one sequel. They almost have to do it! And therein lies the problem with all movies, but especially superhero comic book movies.
How do you duplicate the success of the original? We saw this challenge with "Iron Man" and many others. Very few manage to improve once that sequel conveyor belt is turn on.
We'll hope for the best in the future for "Deadpool", and hope the talented Reynolds can keep the momentum going, and with the same writing, directing and producing team intact. In the meantime, we can bask in magnificence of this original, a most welcome surprise coming at just the right time.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
