In the new Marvel film, Ryan Reynolds stars as Deadpool; the Marvel Comics character that many audiences agree is the best comic adaption yet. The 20th Century Fox film crossed $500 million worldwide at the beginning of this week.
(Spoilers Ahead!!!)
Wade Wilson, or Deadpool, was previously a Special Forces agent that now works in New York City as a mercenary. Wilson is diagnosed with terminal cancer just after proposing to his girlfriend Vanessa, played by Morena Baccarin. Wilson agrees to try an experimental cure with a secret program, but of course, they are actually the bad guys whose only goal is to make super slaves to be sold to the rich. He is left with a disfigured face and skin and doesn’t want to go out into the world unexposed.
In order to track down the men who did this to him, he picks up the alias “Deadpool” and begins his hunt. He is confronted by two X-Men, Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead, who want to recruit him, but Deadpool’s only concern is finding his enemies and demanding a cure. Eventually, he accepts the help of the two superheroes and defeats his enemy, only after finding out that there is no cure. Vanessa still accepts him in the end, despite his disfigured look. In a post-credit scene, it is announced that a sequel is already in place, which will include the X-Men comic hero, Cable.
Reynolds was the perfect actor to play Deadpool. It’s almost fitting that he had a chance a second time around at playing a superhero, since the “Green Lantern” was such a bust (although, he did meet wife, Blake Lively, through the film). Marvel is famous for making screwed up characters seem likeable. All the comic characters have serious flaws, yet we can’t help but love them. Reynolds masters the sassy, foul-mouthed character to a T. He uses the flaws to produce more laughs instead of making us feel bad for the character.
One unique aspect of this film is how Deadpool continually talks to the camera, the audience, as if we are his best friends. He breaks the fourth wall throughout the entire film. The ridiculous and chaotic character delivers comedy with each line. And let’s not forget his insane number of kills. Like the ‘New York Times’ wrote, “he points, shoots, jokes (repeat), often while cracking wise right into the camera.” Deadpool is unlike any other Marvel superhero you have seen brought to the big screen. It’s no wonder he belongs with the X-Men, instead of The Avengers, whose members are more gritty and hardcore.
Lets talk about Vanessa, Deadpool’s girlfriend. Her character is not some innocent girl who sits at home at night with no friends. She’s not someone working in an office or accomplishing humanitarian work. She’s a stripper. I’m not knocking down the occupation, just stating how it’s refreshing to see something different. So many times, I want to shake the women love interests in superhero films because they are so boring and uninteresting. I could care less about their role in the hero’s life. You love Vanessa and want her and Deadpool to be together. You are rooting for, as ‘Rolling Stone’ put it, this “hot couple from hell.”
Even if you don’t care for the superhero films, go see “Deadpool.” Multiple reviews have stated that this character will be the highlight of Reynolds’ career. His adaption of the Marvel comic is worth giving a chance. Finally, the film industry did something right with a superhero film. Instead of dancing around the thin line between PG-13 and R, they went straight for the restricted rating, giving the film no limits. “Deadpool” earns a 5/5.
