Joel’s review of Deadpool (2016)

After our Valentine’s Day dinner at Sophie’s Bistro, we went to see Deadpool (2016), the first ever Hollywood attempt to make a film about the “Merc with a Mouth.” It’s been in Development Hell for over six years, so it’s been a long time coming. It didn’t help that 20th Century Fox has owned the license for this Marvel character (much like the X-Men) for years but didn’t know what to do with him. Finally, the script was finalized, they started making the film, they cut the budget, but still got the film in the can. Starring Ryan Reynolds — yes he of romantic comedies, some lackluster films, and the infamous atrocities Green Lantern (2011) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009).  Okay, yes, Ryan Reynolds has already portrayed Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), but that film’s portrayal of Wade Wilson was so completely,fantastically, and bizarrely NOT Deadpool, I don’t think it should count.

The film stars Ryan Reynolds and a mostly unknown / obscure cast, which, hey, I’m totally fine with. The only other big star is Morena Baccarin (of Justice League, Firefly, and Stargate SG-1 fame. Wade Wilson is a fomer soldier now mercenary who finds love, but just when he’s got it all together, discovers that he’s got cancer. Bad. Desperate, he gets involved with the Weapon X program, and imbued with healing powers on par with Wolverine (another product of the Weapon X program.) Unfortunately, the “treatment” also leaves Wade horribly disfigured. And a little more warped than usual. Wade Wilson goes by the mercenary name Deadpool, and hunts his torturer for revenge.

Okay, first off, it’s an R-rated film. It’s a hard R. Don’t be bringing your kids. We saw parents bringing their small kids to this film, and I was appalled. We’re talking graphic language, graphic violence, sex scenes, and plenty of female nudity. It’s an R rated film people — what kind of idiot parents are you?

It’s an entertaining film, but it does suffer from some pacing issues during some of the character-focused scenes. I’m all for character-based moments, but they needed a little tightening up. In any case, once you get to the action, it’s more entertaining. I also appreciated the albeit minor cameos from Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead, but mostly Colossus. The CG on him was so-so, but good enough, I guess. The villain is no big deal and a rather bland British-type villain.  I would probably attribute this to the limited budget.

The film has done well enough to merit an immediate green light for the sequel, which is cool. The film is overall entertaining enough, but it’s not the greatest thing since sliced bread. If you don’t mind the stuff I mentioned earlier, you can go freely to enjoy yourself.

Deadpool (2016)

Deadpool (2016)

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