“Deadpool” is one of the best superhero films to date
When I saw Deadpool at a press screening last week, I was expecting to like it. What I wasn’t expecting was to absolutely love it, wholly and fully. Deadpool is a character I’m indifferent to, but the way he was brought to the screen just made me fall in love with the so called Merc with a Mouth. The antihero is finally getting his own film after star Ryan Reynolds and fans of the character basically demanded it, along with test footage leaking and starting a bit of a frenzy. Well, the end result is an absolute blast. Not only is it easily the best film of the year so far, it’s also one of the best comic book adaptation/superhero movies to date. It opens on Friday and it’s an absolute must see. Trust me folks, you’ve never seen anything like it.
The flick is perhaps the most meta comic book tale we’ve ever seen. Sure, this is also an origin story about how mercenary Wade Wilson (Reynolds) became the mutant Deadpool, but it’s also a commentary on those sorts of plots as well. Wade/Deadpool breaks the fourth wall constantly, always letting us know that he knows he’s a comic book character, as well as starring in his own movie. It’s dirty, profane, and absolutely bonkers, but believe it or not, there’s also a believable, if also sexually charged, love story at the center, with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) representing something more for the character. Tim Miller directs, while Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick penned the script. In addition to Reynolds in the leading role and the aforementioned Baccarin, the cast includes Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapicic, Greg LaSalle, T.J. Miller, Ed Skrein, and Leslie Uggams, along with the required Marvel movie cameo from Stan Lee, of course. Miller steals some of his scenes with comic relief, but Reynolds gives one of his best performances to date here.
Everything about this film works for me, but more so than anything else, it’s the tone here. The filmmakers are taking the piss out of the genre, but in a way we’ve never quite seen before. We’ve also never seen a superhero be this filthy before, so there is some novelty to the R rated shenanigans. Still, it’s apparently keeping in line with what Deadpool is about, and it’s done in such a way that this is the cinematic equivalent of an endorphin rush. I was blown away by how funny Reese and Wernick’s screenplay was as well. It’ll never get awards traction, but it deserves to be in the mix, just going by quality.
Frankly, any awards consideration here for Deadpool will come in the technical categories. That being said, I wish there was a campaign down the line for this one. Best Picture, Best Director (for Miller), Best Actor (for Reynolds), Best Supporting Actor (for Miller), Best Supporting Actress (for Baccarin), Best Adapted Screenplay (for Reese and Wernick), Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Score, and Best Visual Effects are all worthy of consideration. In the end, it’ll just be the two Sound categories and Visual Effects where this has any chance whatsoever, but one can still dream a bit, right?
In the end, what matters here is that Deadpool is coming this week and he’s an absolute blast. Not since the Christopher Nolan helmed Batman movies have I loved something in this genre as much as this one. It’s truly something special, and while it’s definitely not for everyone, if you’re in tune with its humor, this is going to be a riot for you. On Friday, you’ll be getting something special in your theater, so you owe it to yourself to not miss it, especially if you want more of this and less of the other types of blockbusters that we tend to get. Support your local Merc with a Mouth…
Be sure to check out Deadpool, in theaters everywhere this weekend!
