Deadpool Review

Superhero films are now populating cinemas so densely every year it’s amazing that, to this point, there hasn’t be a case of superhero fatigue setting in. Different studios are all taking different approaches with the quippy fun over at the Disney owned Marvel Studios being the undisputed box office daddy. The latest  superhero outing comes from 20^th Century Fox, who after their disastrous Fantastic 4 reboot last year have taken a risk this year in the form of the violent, sweary, frequently masturbating ‘merc with a mouth’ known as Deadpool.

                Deadpool has actually been on screens before in the not so impressive Wolverine solo film, but here he is finally given his full due, R rating to boot. Deadpool focuses on the story of mercenary Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) who after being diagnosed with terminal cancer enters into a program to heal himself, which unfortunately mutates him, though he is now empowered with regenerative healing he has physically changed, meaning his appearance is not befitting of the former sexiest man in the world , described at one point ‘you look like Freddy Kruger face fucked a topographical map of utah’. Deadpool is also undeniably insane, other heroes have rules about killing, Deadpool’s only rule seems to be to have fun whilst you’re killing.

                Its fair to say that this isn’t like other superhero films, for starters the film is very meta, in that the character of Deadpool is aware that he is in a film and breaks the 4^th wall to speak directly to the audience. There are moments where Deadpool, being played by Ryan Reynolds makes reference to the fact that Ryan Reynolds is playing him and how uncool that is. Deadpool also makes constant references to other superhero films, making one wonder how if this film does become a success in what way is this ever going to be able to fit into other 20^th Century Fox properties?

                There is a lot of fun to be had with this, Ryan Reynolds was born to play this role, his quick wit really brings so much to the comedy of this film and lines like “shit spackled muppet farts” and “chrome cock gobbler” are frequently funny. Unlike the PG-13 exploits of other caped crusaders, Deadpool is often gloriously violent which brings a new dynamic to this universe. The problem however is that the film is nowhere near as smart and ground breaking as it thinks it is. The 4^th wall breaking very rapidly becomes smug, it takes shots at other films for their inferiority forgetting that if it wasn’t for their existence and success, a film like this couldn’t even exist. It also uses the 4^th wall breaks as a mask for what is essentially a very formulaic film, it’s a film where the hero has to save the damsel in distress from the villain. The villain in this case is Ajax, who even by the low expectations of superhero villains still disappoints because of how utterly dull he is. A problem also lies in that outside of Deadpool himself there aren’t any characters that really register, Deadpool is such a big character that no one else is really left any room.

                There’s no question that this film is going to be a success, but no matter how much audiences love it, they will never love it as much as it(3 Stars)   

loves itself.