Sean Hill Reviews DEADPOOL

PJ Deadpool

Wade Wilson AKA Deadpool first appeared in Marvel Comics The New Mutants #98 in February 1991. Deadpool is a disfigured and mentally unstable mercenary with the superhuman ability of accelerated healing. Deadpool, known as the “Merc with a Mouth”, is aware that he is a fictional comic book character and he breaks the fourth wall to humorous effect. He is known as the “Merc with a Mouth” because of his talkative nature and tendency to break the fourth wall, which is used by writers to create humorous effect. The character made his cinematic debut in X-MEN ORGINS: WOLVERINE in 2009 coincidently also played by Ryan Reynolds. Now the character is back on the big screen in all his R-Rated glory in a fun but uneven film.

Deadpool is a fun character. As he says in the film “he may be super but he is no hero”. This is not one of those films where the superhero stays broods and is stoic for stretches of the film. Deadpool talks and talks a lot so much that the other characters can’t get a word in, because he’s constantly filling silences with insane cracks and edgy jokes. I enjoyed the character; I did not enjoy Ryan Reynolds. Full disclosure; I do not like Ryan Reynolds as an actor. Something about him just rubs me the wrong way. Some think he is charming but to me he comes across as smarmy. Maybe it is just me. As a critic I am having a difficult time in separation my dislike for Reynolds versus the Deadpool character, whom I liked. That is not the film’s fault in anyway. Others may not have the same hang up as I do. The bottom lines is that your you enjoyment of the film will largely depend on your tolerance for Reynolds. He is in probably about 98 percent of the movie. That was too much for me. I could have done without the two obligatory shirtless scenes as well.

First time director Tim Story makes a crucial mistake in telling the story with a fractured narrative. Introducing the character of Deadpool before getting to know the man behind the mask did not work. Though it can be argued that Deadpool is an unconventional character and therefore deserves and unconventional narrative but for me it just didn’t work. I have not mentioned the plot because quite frankly you have seen this all done before. Superhero origin story films are quite formula and this one follows it fairly closely. DEADPOOL is fun from start, setting the tone from the onset of the film with the most unique opening credit sequence I have seen in a long time. No spoilers of course. With GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, fun began to creep back into comic book/superhero films. Those that had the misfortune to experience the misfortune of last year’s FANTASTIC FOUR should be able to recall what a joyless experience that film was. DEADPOOL is the exact opposite, though at times it plays like a parody of superhero film and even has Deadpool making fun of the “superhero pose” that seems to appear in every superhero film in recent memory. There are pop culture references galore too many to mention but a references to Sylvester Stallone’s 1986 film COBRA, the pop group WHAM! and a few jabs at Wolverine and the actor who plays him, Hugh Jackman, were favorites of mine.

Make no mistake; if you are looking for family friendly style entertainment similar to Captain America or IronMan you should look elsewhere. DEADPOOL is a lot of things but family friendly is not one of them. Take my advice on this one; leave the kids at home. The film is gleefully Rated-R and it earns that rating and I have no issue with that at all. I would have an issue if the filmmakers had tried to water the character down in an effort to make a family friendly PG-13 film. I enjoyed much of this film despite of the actor who portrays the lead character. It is not perfect but it is fun and for a film like this that is all you can ask for.

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