Ryan Reynolds first debuted as Deadpool in Hugh Jackman's The Wolverine. The film was panned for many reasons - unbelievable action sequences, bad CGI, sealing Deadpool's mouth... the list is endless - it almost killed Gavin Hood's career in Hollywood after the sucess of Tsotsi.
Fox has been looking for a new character to take over the mantle of Hugh Jackman as their "go to" franchise man and Deadpool looks to be the heir of the throne once Jackman comes out with his last and final appearance as Wolverine. Let's dig in...
If you haven't followed the saga of how this movie has been made, you've missed out - it's one of those films that has the internet to thank. After the test footage, shot in 2012, was leaked online, the demand grew bigger than what Fox anticipated and here we are, a fully fledged movie that features the test footage scene that started it all. Well, some may say since Ryan Reynolds was so good in that awful Wolverine movie it was bound to happen.
And does it deliver? Yes, it does. Very light on actual story, we are not getting anything new or meaningful from this abrasive origin story content wise but we are getting a very, very, very entertaining story told well. That old debate of form vs content / aesthetic vs substance is crystallised in Deadpool.
Deadpool is all aesthetics. Aesthetics Quinton Tarantino would surely approve of with laugh out loud scenes, homages, breaking of the 4th wall, gratuitious violence and a sense of fun with a capital F!
One of the few movies that delivers on what you see in the trailer and viral marketing campaign. Mind you, it has had one of the most inventive and funniest marketing campaigns of any comic book movie. Sending itself up and parodying other comic book movies which gives you a nice set up for the feel of the actual film itself.
Yes, it has nothing big to say or prove, yes the baddy is a classic one dimensional bad guy, yes the violence borders on glorifying violence for violence sake but with its R-rating and humour, Deadpool shows there are many ways to ride the same horse that's been ridden by all comic book movies: the origin story without turning it into stale and dull afffair.
The formula seems to be: grow some balls and a huge mouth and don't be afraid to make fun of yourself. I wonder if SpiderMan is taking notes. I also wonder what the sequel will deliver with a bigger budget. I am excited.
Side note: most of you will recognise the bad guy from Game of Thrones. Yes, he is the dude who was replaced as the leader of the second sons and the dude from Transporter Refueled.
Most comic geeks will be aware that Deadpool is a character inspired by Deathstroke, Slade Wilson of Batman fame, hence the costumes are almost the same and so are the characters names: Wade Wilson and Slade Wilson.
Rating
***1/2
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index * trash ** meh ***better than watching tv at home ****now we cooking ***** Instant Classic