Deadpool (2016)

"Deadpool" stars Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, and Ed Skrein. Released on February 12, 2016, the film has a mercenary with mutant abilities searching for the man who nearly destroyed his life.

The film features the directorial debut of Tim Miller, who is known for creating opening sequences for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Thor: The Dark World. It is based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and serves as the eighth installment of the X-Men film franchise. After their disastrous attempt to reboot the Fantastic Four, Fox and Marvel decided to regroup and focus on a few more X-Men films, starting with this one. Now, this isn't the first time we get to see Deadpool on the big screen. His first big screen appearance was back in 2009 with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and let's just say people weren't too happy with the fact that they made him into a Baraka-like Merc without a Mouth. But now with the help of a lot of fan service and the film's test footage, Fox and Marvel finally got a chance to rebuild Deadpool's reputation by making a film that will please die hard fans of the character. Now that it's finally here, does it fully succeed in impressing its fans and those outside of that group?

Ryan Reynolds reprised his role as Deadpool, aka Wade Wilson, a mercenary who is diagnosed with terminal cancer (Why does cancer exist?). After he undergoes an experiment lead by Ajax (Ed Skrein), not only did it cure him, but it also made him into a disfigured freak. Yeah, if something like that happens to me, I would be pretty ticked off right about now. Reynolds has come off of a few films that didn't quite capture his audience. With this film, I believe it's one of his biggest comebacks in his career. Much like Robert Downey Jr. did as Tony Stark in Iron Man, Reynolds successfully captures the essence of his character with his charisma and humor. This is exactly how I imagined Deadpool when it comes to this film. He's violent, has a twisted sense of humor, and has an attitude that's just as bad as his foul mouth. T.J. Miller was also pretty good as Wilson's friend, Weasel, although he's not as equally funny as Reynolds in this film. Ed Skrein, who is known for his role in The Transporter: Legacy, takes on a villainous role as Ajax, a mutant who is impervious to pain. I thought he did a nice job with the role, but I do feel that there should be more to this character instead of just being a big butt head who made Wilson's life a living hell. Of course, what's a Deadpool movie without some R-rated violence and some crass humor? The humor in this one was definitely crude for a superhero film, but it works because of the character's nature. There are some jokes that either break the fourth wall or involve some pop culture references, such as Reynolds' other superhero film, Green Lantern. The violence is not only stylized for the right reasons, but it's also entertaining at the same time.

One of the flaws I had with this movie, besides Skrein's character, was that the story follows the superhero origin formula. They didn't offer anything new to the story, but if you don't care about that, good for you. Also, the film is not 100% filled with violence and raunchy humor. It also involves a love story between Wilson and Vanessa, played by Morena Baccarin. While some who don't like romance films might find it a bit boring, I found it to be suitable as it is the only reason for Wilson to go through with this program in order to cure his cancer.
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Overall, while far from being a perfect superhero film, "Deadpool" is the type of film that die hard fans have been waiting for. It is a rare R-rated superhero film that relies on style, action, fun, and humor, and the result is just as satisfying as a bag filled with chimichangas. Despite the story being formulaic and the villain being generic, I had a good time watching this film. If you're a fan of the Merc with a Mouth, you won't be disappointed with this installment. Just don't bring your kids. For those who are not, then don't expect this film to be like Captain America or Iron Man because this is the type of superhero that emphasizes more on the "super" and less on the "hero".

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B+