Review: DEADPOOL Shakes Up Superhero Genre with Profane Perfection

When looking at the history of film, distinct well-worn patterns develop over time; tendencies turn into tropes and conventions become clichés. This has never been truer than in today's Hollywood as reboots and franchises have dominated the calendar for the last two decades, drowning out originality and creativity. However, once every generation or two, a film so exceeds the limitations that an assigned genre has placed on it that it is destined to change the way that we look at cinema forever; THE JAZZ SINGER, CITIZEN KANE, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, THE GODFATHER, PULP FICTION, and now DEADPOOL.

I might be exaggerating just a bit, but after being bombarded by half a dozen superhero movies every year for as long as anyone can remember, the formula is so familiar to every moviegoer that has seen a Dark Knight, X-Men, Man of Steel, or Avenger film that they almost write themselves; that is until now. DEADPOOL is like no other superhero movie that you've seen, mainly because its title character, played by the subversively perfect Ryan Reynolds, has no interest in being a superhero. DEADPOOL is perverse, it is gory, it is graphic, and, if you are comfortable with all of that, it is the most entertaining "superhero" movie since Richard Donner's 1978 SUPERMAN.

It shouldn't be a surprise that Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, the screenwriters who turned the zombie genre on its undead ear with ZOMBIELAND, were able to bring something new, fresh, and delightfully profane to the otherwise cookie-cutter superhero genre. Even though the bones of the plot aren't revolutionary, the execution absolutely is. Hueing very close to the comic book source material's tone and character, the movie is far bloodier than normal Marvel fare, and Deadpool has a sense of humor that would make Tony Stark and Star-Lord blush; routinely breaking the fourth-wall and liberally sprinkling in meta, self-referential jokes as well. He also has a particularly strong affection for Bernadette Peters to boot.

Beginning with the funniest opening credits that I've ever seen, the first 30 minutes are a non-stop laugh-riot assault on your solar plexus that show Deadpool's "Christmas Day" assault on a heavily armed convoy on a busy highway overpass. With running, "real-time" commentary from Deadpool and occasional flashbacks between decapitations and bullets to the brain, this is neither an action scene, nor a character, that we are used to seeing in Marvel movies.

Wade Wilson is a dishonorably discharged Special Forces operative now working as a mercenary for hire. His inability to shut up has earned him the nickname "The Merc with the Mouth," but when he meets prostitute Vanessa Carlysle (played by the ever gorgeous Morena Baccarin), in every way his equal, his life is changed forever. Almost immediately after proposing with a conspicuously hidden Ring-Pop, Wilson passes out and soon discovers that he has terminal cancer. In an effort to find a cure, so that he can be with Vanessa, Wade agrees to join a secret program that promises to cure his cancer and give him superhuman powers.

After months of painful, disfiguring torture, it becomes clear that the program is not designed to turn him into a hero, but a weapon for sale to the highest bidder. Unwilling to give up his life with the woman he loves, Wilson escapes, but now wants revenge for his grotesquely scarred face, and will stop at nothing to find Angel Dust (Gina Carano) and Francis Ajax (Ed Skrein).

Wilson finds allies in his old friend Weasel (the hilarious T. J. Miller), a saucy, elderly blind woman played by Tony-winner Leslie Uggams, and X-Men Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand).

Reynolds originally played a neutered version of Deadpool, with a much different backstory, in X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE in 2009, but now under the direction of Tim Miller in his feature film directorial debut, Reynolds seems to have found a role that fits him like a skin-tight red leather suit. The sarcastic, arrogant humor that has been his calling-card since TWO GUYS, A GIRL AND A PIZZA PLACE and VAN WILDER is in full effect and used to spectacular results. While I know I opened this article by bemoaning the rise of franchises, if this team can turn out three or four more films like this, I'm all in.

It is important to note that while Deadpool is a Marvel character, and the film is co-produced by Marvel Entertainment, as a member of the X-Men universe, Deadpool is not a wholly-owned Disney property. Therefore, the film was produced by 20th Century Fox, which needed a strong showing after last summer's disastrous FANTASTIC FOUR reboot.

I admit that I have a tendency to be hyperbolic about the things that I enjoy, and the excitement of something new can force me to lose sight of the big picture at times, but I can confidently say that DEADPOOL is not only the funniest superhero movie that I've ever seen, but it is also one of the best; if you have a high tolerance for profanity and graphic violence. And, don't forget to stick around after the credits for a distinctly Deadpool post-credits scene.

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Check out the UNRATED Red Band trailer for DEADPOOL:

DEADPOOL starring Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, Ed Skrein, Leslie Uggams, Brianna Hildebrand, and more, opens nationwide this Friday, February 12th. DEADPOOL is rated R for strong violence and language throughout, sexual content and graphic nudity.

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Is The Merc with the Mouth your type of superhero? Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. If you want to follow along with my "366 in 366" articles, you can check out #BWW366in366 on Twitter.

Banner Image:
Ryan Reynolds. Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

Trailer:
Video Credit: 20th Century Fox

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