Deadpool
Dustin Chase
From the moment the opening credits hit the screen you know this superhero movie is going to be unlike all the rest. And thank-goodness, because I am way beyond my tolerance for that mess. This isn’t however the first appearance of Deadpool in the Marvel universe, he appeared in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”, also played by Reynolds. In fact it’s Reynolds who is nearly solely responsible for getting the project made. It’s a rare thing to have an R rated superhero film, you have to go all the way back to Blade to find another. “Deadpool” offers adult humor, profanity, nudity and a whole bunch of other things kids will trying to sneak into because of the popularity of the character. Audiences up-to-date on pop culture should easily be able to enjoy the extensive references inside and out of the Marvel universe.
After Wade Wilson (Reynolds) is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he abandons Vanessa (Baccarin), the love of his life to seek alternative treatment. Frances, or Ajax (Skerin) as he calls himself, is a mutant doing experiments on other mutants, but not for the reasons they agree to go under the knife. Wilson, desperate to beat the cancer, undergoes such an experiment. If he hadn’t have opened his sarcastic mouth, he probably wouldn’t have pushed Ajax to the point of spilling the beans, but Wilson’s treatment turns him into a mutant which he names Deadpool. His only mission is to seek revenge on Ajax, for turning his face into something out of a horror movie, but things get complicated when Vanessa, who thinks her boyfriend is dead, is kidnapped.
Likely the first time a comic book adaptation can be credited for putting as much effort into dialogue and screenplay as it does visual effects and stunts.
There is a level of importance added to this spin off by including two X-Men (one new, one from the franchise) and a visit to Xavier’s Mansion. Embedding “Deadpool” in that world (especially months before the next X-Men film) removes the failed spinoff complications we have seen with other franchises. Even that gets a dig, “I’ve only seen two of you X-Men, makes you think the studio couldn’t afford any more,” Deadpool says. When he isn’t cutting off heads, ripping people apart with his blades, or shooting them in the face, Deadpool finds an insult for everything, not even Jared from Subway is safe. Wilson has an unusual backstory compared to other superheroes, basically he was an accident, and he has a chip on his shoulder.
The special effects, battles, and fight scenes we have all seen before, but thankfully “Deadpool” is smarter than that. The guys behind the “Zombieland” screenplay, with non-credited help from Reynolds, help make “Deadpool” the freshest comic book adaptation in ages, or at least the first half of the film. “Deadpool”’s worst moments are in the scenes that look like any other comic book movie. Looks like Reynolds, known for his association with poorly performing films, will have the hit of his career. This is also likely the first time a comic book adaptation can be credited for putting as much effort into dialogue and screenplay as it does visual effects and stunts. Let’s see if Deadpool’s guaranteed success, because it goes against the grain, can encourage other superhero films to try something different.
Final Thought
Freshest comic book adaptation in ages.