Ryan Reynolds plays Deadpool, (a.k.a Wade Wilson), Marvel’s latest antihero to hit the big screen. He’s a martial artist, swordsman and like the X-Men mutants, he regenerate damaged cells in his body, pretty much making him invincible. Yet while he has the trademark characteristics of your typical superhero, his crude and sarcastic sense of humour set him apart from the rest. Deadpool is no Superman.
Comic book fans no doubt will be sceptical as to whether or not the X-rated character translates well in a cinematic universe. Indeed, Wade Wilson is Marvel’s most self-aware character and constantly breaks the fourth wall to ridicule both himself and the clichés found within the genre. If it’s done correctly, it’s movie magic. And if not, the film would be nothing more than a super-hero spoof movie. With a marketing campaign which I believe is one of the best I have ever seen for a feature-length film, the stakes were high. Luckily, the writers’ strike this balance and the results are an incredibly entertaining film experience. YES – these same clichés are reproduced but through such unconventional direction, and delivered in a way that you would never see coming. Thought the trailers were funny? They didn’t even scratch the surface.
The beauty of this film is its ability to get the audience to care about the selfish, sadistic and deeply flawed character- Wade Wilson. As a mercenary, he’s hardly the hero and is essentially just killing people who are slightly worse than he is. And despite this, we root for him and his relationship with the equally troubled Vanessa. Romances are usually paper thin, especially in this genre but this particular connection is almost tangible. How does its director do it? Cue the art of the fourth wall – we’re always in on his jokes. Such irreverent humour sets the tone of the movie, right from its opening credits and gives him a certain charm.
This movie is for everyone – comic book fan or not. Put simply, Deadpool is a must see.
Edited by Katie Randall
Images Sources:
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http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/deadpool
http://media4.popsugar-assets.com/files/2015/04/07/943/n/1922398/ec4e2fc…