Movie Review: Deadpool (2016)

Superhero movies are going to be in full swing this year, and a lot of them hold the kind of gravitas and reputation that longtime fans and followers have embraced through the years thanks to countless adventures and stories told in the pages of comic books. It certainly was a big surprise when 20th Century Fox and Marvel announced that they would do an X-Men Movies spin-off movie based on one of the most popular and insane characters the House of Ideas has ever chugged out… And that’s Deadpool, who FINALLY makes his big screen debut this week with Hollywood comedian and star Ryan Reynolds playing the notoriously talkative “Merc With A Mouth“. And thanks to some convincing from test footage that leaked out in mid-2014, Wade Wilson has FINALLY become a reality.

Now before getting into the review proper I must warn everyone that THIS FILM IS GENUINELY R-16 FOR A GOOD REASON. Don’t think of taking your kids or minors who are sensitive to violence, gore, and sex to this movie, since it doesn’t shy away from those themes at all and RIGHTFULLY SO. The comedy effect plays a HUGE part in what makes Deadpool the way he is, and truly this is not your typical kind of superhero blockbuster movie.

That being said… DEADPOOL JUST HIT THE BALL OUT OF THE PARK. Thanks to a premiere screening by 20th Century Fox Philippines, I got to see just how “Balls to the Walls” this film claimed and promoted itself to be, and it certainly DID NOT DISAPPOINT audiences – both who are hardcore and those who are just getting to know the character for the first time.

Strap your seatbelts and get your panties on, ladies and gents… This is going to be filled with mild SPOILERS. It’s the greatest love story ever told after all… Or the next best thing with a guy wearing red spandex and has all these badass puns and weapons to punish badguys with.

Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name created by Fabien Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, Deadpool is Marvel Comics’ very own clown of a mercenary, who likes to talk (A LOT) and actually breaks the fourth wall. Primarily associated with the X-Men franchise thanks to his ties with Cable, The New Mutants, X-Force, and the main cast of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, the man known as Wade Wilson is a mutant himself – endowed with superhuman abilities such as super fast reflexes and a healing factor, but horribly disfigured and very much “insane in the membrane”. The film, directed by Tim Miller, is pretty much a nod to all things that make the Merc with the Mouth so beloved by his fanbase, as well as not actually forcefeeding audiences who would walk into this with a lame, streamlined origin story for one of the most oversaturated characters of the Marvel Universe who has a TON of comics books using his name and then some… It’s simple and effective and it will be liked by many.

Ryan Reynolds, who was once Green Lantern in the 2011 movie of the same name that simply did not work, plays the role he was born to play – only BETTER and much more faithful than the one that looked like “Baraka from Mortal Kombat” that debuted in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. His jokes, smart-ass pompous nature, and ability to just annoy are what makes him Deadpool, and that’s just what makes the character who he is… Plus FINALLY WEARING THE SPANDEX HE WAS MEANT TO WEAR TOO.

Reynolds may shine out as the star, but he’s accompanied with a stellar cast too, including Morena Baccarin playing the love of his life in Vanessa Carlysle, T.J Miller as Weasel, and Ed Skrein as the big bad Ajax (also known as Francis).

Hell, even two of the X-Men in Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead make an appearance here, as well as a certain “The Man” who makes a cameo in all Marvel films. All these guys play their roles so well that they’re acknowledged accordingly from the start of the movie, and I’m not even kidding there at all. It’s what separates Deadpool from his blockbuster flock, and that’s very much a welcomed change and a good thing altogether.

Now without going more into the details on why this film is so kickass aside from brilliant writing, special effects, and a soundtrack that is similar to Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool is just so different that being a “bad ass, smart ass, and ALL ASS” is what will make this film legendary. All the reviews it’s gotten thus far that are so POSITIVE is justified, and that 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes is no joke. You’ll be laughing your socks off watching this film and singing “Shoop” by Salt n’ Pepa ala the 90’s til the cows come home… It’s just that good. I’d say watch this at your best theater, even IMAX even, just to get the BEST experience of gratuitous violence, sex, and chimichangas you can buy today. Wade Wilson is here baby… And yes STAY UNTIL THE END OF THE MOVIE PLEASE FOR POST-CREDITS GOODNESS.

FIVE STARS OF DEAPOOL FOR THIS MOVIE. YAS.