Thursday, February 25, 2016

Deadpool

            Out of all the characters that Marvel Comics has brought to us, Deadpool has possibly the biggest cult following behind him. As Marvel’s answer to DC’s Deathstroke, aka Slade Wilson, the Merc with the Mouth, aka Wade Wilson, is somebody who knows that he’s a character in a form of entertainment, whether it’d be comics, video games, and so forth. But what truly makes Deadpool differentiate from other Marvel characters is his style of humor. I’d say he’s less bat-shit insane, and more SHITTING-BATS insane. 4th wall breaks, making fun of other storylines, chimichangas, smart ass remarks…I can go on.

            When Deadpool first made his film debut, it was in the film “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”…and boy, did it not settle well with anybody. First off, the film itself was terrible, we all know that. Second, the biggest mistake they made with the character was that they sewed his mouth shut and made him look like a reject Baraka from “Mortal Kombat.” Which is sad, because Ryan Reynolds was a pretty good casting choice for the character, and in the scenes before that, he does a pretty good job.

            Rumors of a solo movie starring Deadpool had been floating around ever since the turn of the decade, and even Ryan Reynolds was saying he wanted it to happen soon and make it an R rated action comedy, that was as true to the character as possible. That passion to do something right came even stronger, especially after the abysmal flops that were “The Green Lantern” and “R.I.P.D.” We all thought that they weren’t going to happen…that is until July of 2014, when we saw this:



            This was test footage that Reynolds was a part of, made back in 2012, and it wasn’t until someone got ahold of this two years later and leaked it online. When this popped up, people went NUTS. From what we saw, the footage was decently acted, action packed, and really damn funny. The response was so big, that 20th Century Fox had no other choice but to finally give it the attention that it so deserved. And as 2015 rolled around, the film was in production, Reynolds was set as both star and producer, and Tim Miller, the man behind the title sequences for “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011)” and “Thor: The Dark World,” was set to direct. Yeah, this was Miller’s full on directorial debut.

            So, was “Deadpool” worth the wait? Is chimichanga a fun word to say? Of COURSE it was! This film was fucking awesome!


            In this film, we are told the origins of former Special Forces Operative, Wade Wilson, working as a mercenary for hire. After he’s diagnosed with cancer, he is recommended to a program that will not only cure his cancer, but make him into a super human. Of course, things go south, as he spends weeks being tortured and ends up with a messed up face. With his new found powers, he dawns the identity of Deadpool and sets out on a mission to find the leader of the program and get his face fixed.

            “Deadpool” not only sells it as an amazing comic book movie, it’s also one of the funniest comedies that I’ve seen in a long time. Hell, the opening credits alone had me laughing my balls off so badly. The writers of this film, Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese who wrote “Zombieland,” are great comedic writers, and this is by far their best effort yet. It isn’t just 4th wall jokes that poke fun at other superhero films, it also throws in a good chunk of unexpected surprises. One minute you’ll see the punchline coming a mile away, then they’ll throw in something that completely catches you off guard. I really love it when you have a comedy that throws curveballs like to make it feel fresh. The action scenes are super violent, and I love them all for that. Decapitations, shooting three guys with one shot, crushing people with trucks, it’s all so glorious! For a film debut, especially an action film such as this, Tim Miller really knows how to make it seem like it’s his 5th or 6th movie. Talk about natural skill there. All I can say is, with the sequel already greenlit, they better have these guys return to write and direct.

            Ryan Reynolds embodies this role so damn much, capturing the smart aleck attitude and sense of humor that Deadpool is known for. This is the kind of performance that can make you laugh, even when he’s just sitting in the back of a taxi cab. Even if the guy is a complete asshole, the way the character acts toward his close ones, whether it’d be Morena Baccarin as his girlfriend or T.J. Miller as his sarcastic best friend, and how it blends in with Reynolds comedic charm and timing makes him one of the most likable schmucks in any comic book film. While it might not be anything new that we’ve seen from Reynolds as an actor, he makes it feel fresh, and I’d definitely say this is his best film yet. This was his passion project, something that took ten years to make a reality, and I hope that dream continues in the sequel.

            Ed Skrein as the villain really shows that “Transporter Refueled” was a terrible representation of his acting. Skrein may play it straight forward, the evil mad scientist that is mutated, but it fits in with him being the butt of Deadpool’s jokes, especially with the character’s name. Morena Baccarin as Vanessa really knows how to keep up with Reynolds’s comedic energy from moment one. And much like Reynolds as Deadpool, she’s not afraid to bring on the pain to those that she deems unworthy. Whenever the two are on camera, it always feels natural and not like their reading off of a script…although, that could be from all of the improvisation that they do. T.J. Miller as Weasel was a character that I thought wouldn’t really be interesting, but Miller proved me wrong. His dry delivery that we see in the trailers is present throughout the film, but much like Baccarin, it feels natural. I also love how he’s just tries to not get involved in brawls and only be there for moral support, which he implies by the last scene he’s in. Other cast members like Leslie Uggams, Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand, and Stefan Kapičić, all manage to support the film pretty damn well, and aren’t completely overshadowed by Deadpool.

            Overall, “Deadpool” stands with “Guardians of the Galaxy” as one of my favorite comic book films of the past couple of years, and rightfully so. It’s funny, it’s action packed, it’s chaotic, and it’s a fucking good time. With the box office records the film’s breaking, I’m hoping this means we’ll get Deadpool vs. Wolverine done PROPLERLY. But that also gives Warner Bros. some big competition to follow up, with “Suicide Squad” coming out this summer. If you haven’t seen this film yet, do so. Even if you’re underage, hire a hobo to escort you in or something. Just go and support this movie whatever way you can!



Rating: 10/10

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