Deadpool (2016) Review

Title: Deadpool
Year: 2016
Director: Tim Miller
Country: US
Language: English

Development on a solo Deadpool adaptation began over a decade ago, but there was no real traction until X-Men Origins: Wolverine (a terrible picture) debuted in 2009, when Reynolds played a version of Deadpool whose mouth was sewn shut, rendering the cameo rather pointless. Fans protested and, to their credit, Twentieth Century Fox caved by making one of the rare "Rated R" superhero flicks. It was so financially successful that movie studios are deciding to make more adult-oriented comic book adaptations. 

Structurally, the film cross-cuts between Deadpool’s current mission of revenge on someone named “Francis” and his recapping his own origin story for the audience. The writers, aptly credited as “The Real Heroes Here”, do a decent job at mixing meta-humor with drama; one minute you'll feel bad for Deadpool's situation and another you'll be laughing as the 80's boy band Wham! is referenced. 

Director Miller and editor Julian Clarke create a frenetic pace to the action, delivering it in bursts of viscera and fast, super-powered violence, all set to music by Tom Holkenborg. Deadpool, even visually, is not a film you should take your children to. Unfortunately, despite making fun of other super-hero films, Deadpool follows a similar "heroes journey" arc (and all the tropes that go along with it) Aside from the "R" rating, its pretty common to see a story like this in the cinema. 

Overall I enjoyed Deadpool and found the story stronger than its sequel Deadpool 2. Even though this isn't going to get the highest rating from me, I do appreciate Fox staying true to the comic-book character and going out of its way to impress fans.