By: Daniel Buser
The idea of a Deadpool movie has been around for a long time now. But how could it be done? Deadpool is not the typical superhero. He curses, steals, lies, cheats, and kills people without much thought. How could one do the source material from the comics justice while keeping the Marvel name squeaky clean?
Deadpool sets out to tell the origin of the superhero named Deadpool, or Wade Wilson, played by Ryan Reynolds. Wilson has never had an easy life, but lately his luck seems to have changed. He’s met the girl of his dreams and they had recently gotten engaged. However, his recent streak of luck is abruptly ended when he is diagnosed with terminal cancer in multiple parts of his body.
Of course, this being a superhero movie, Wilson does the only logical thing anyone would do in his case: he volunteers for a program, led by the main villain, Ajax, that will turn Wilson into a superhuman. It is at this moment where he is given his superpowers which include enhanced reflexes and increased healing. Additionally during the procedures, Ajax also burns off all of Wilson’s skin and replaces it with large tumor like structures. This sets up the plot of Wilson turning into Deadpool, finding Ajax, and winning back his girl, who he left when he went to get his procedure.
Fox took a large risk with Deadpool. Thankfully, the studio allowed the writers Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and director Tim Miller to make the movie that fans wanted. Casting Reynolds was a great choice, as he fits the role perfectly and manages to make a normally unlikable character extremely approachable.
Deadpool doesn’t shy away from its R rating. Blood squirts from people’s head as they get shot, people curse throughout, and the movie just has a generally brutal feel to it. However, this all makes the movie better. Having violent action makes the fights feel more impactful and realistic. Deadpool also stays away from an over reliance on CGI, which also adds to the realistic feel.
This being said, I would be doing Deadpool a large injustice if I did not mention the movie’s comedic elements. For example, Deadpool is aware that he is in a superhero movie, and frequently breaks the 4th wall. If not executed perfectly, the movie would have been lacking its comedic element. However, Deadpool never falls into this trap, rather it is what ultimately pushes Deadpool over the line between good and spectacular.
Deadpool tells a simple origin story. While it may be too simple, no one can deny that Deadpool takes full advantage of the story that they do have. It has brilliantly choreographed action scenes, hilarious writing, and the best opening credits ever to grace the big screen. Obviously not everyone will love Deadpool, it will be too violent for some and too crude for others, but you wouldn’t take someone who loves Mozart to a Miley Cyrus concert. If you love barbarous action movies and laugh-out-loud comedies, then Deadpool is for you.
Rate: 9/10
