Deadpool (2016)

Review:

Rude, riotous and refreshing – Deadpool rewrites the superhero rules.

Ryan Reynolds excels in a film that is brimming with dark laughs, weird love and gory graphics; it is most definitely not your average Marvel movie. First time director Tim Miller gives us 148-minutes with a punch and a kick (and an unexpected wedgie) of the kind that the Marvel Universe has needed for a while, knowingly poking fun at almost everything along the way. Deadpool, AKA Wade Wilson, starts off using his prior knowledge of combat fighting as a means for petty cash by working as an underground mercenary for hire. It’s only when disaster strikes that he decides to secretly turn to the solace of an off-the-radar project, which promises to give him superhero powers. During gruelling experimentations, Wade is in fact imbued with the ability of healing any part of his body, but with the noticeable downside of being left disfigured and in fear of losing the love of his life due his appearance. Thus begins his vigilante style mission in his full body suit to get access to the man who did this to him, and whom he also believes can fix his nasty looks for good.

We’re thrown in at the deep end; a disorientating start soon develops into a cleverly woven, non-linear narrative that has us rooting for the cheeky protagonist before the first fight scene is even completed. On the outset, the film can appear to be a rather simple and crude comedy, but every foul-mouthed joke somehow makes the touching moments more charming and poignant. This is in part down to Reynolds’s ability to switch from portraying a sardonic asshole, joking directly to the audience about the fun he’s having brutally killing the people on his list, to demonstrating his evident desperation to ensure his partner Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) doesn’t suffer any hurt. The lengths he would go to protect her is what leads him into the hands of villain Ajax (Ed Skrein) and his tests, which leaves disturbing echoes of Dr. Mengele in WW2. Even these, however, are spun into some form of a joke; the reason for Deadpool’s very existence and his popularity with fans is that he partakes in the superhero genre whilst simultaneously taking the piss out of it, and his blatant self-awareness when doing so – hence his frequently breaking the fourth wall. Wade isn’t going to suddenly turn into a mean and moody withdrawn sort of hero, or become the goody two-shoes whose only purpose is to save the world – these are superhero stereotypes to which we’ve all been going growing too accustomed. Even his relationship with Vanessa is built on their being daft and dirty with each other, whipping and mocking each other before and after sex, as opposed to some epic and heroic battle that leads inevitably to a glamorous, windswept kiss. The result is witty and wickedly satirical, and I applaud the writers (Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick) in particular for how they’ve translated this character from the comic to our screens.

Whilst there is quite a lot of nudity in the film (unsurprising, really, with a rather salacious lead character), it doesn’t feel gratuitous. Well… apart from one scene that does feel unnecessary due to some lingering shots on topless female dancers – you will not be shocked to learn that they added absolutely nothing to the story. Otherwise, there is a pretty fair balance of bare male and female flesh on show, including an item of a man’s anatomy that is never really given much screen time, and which makes up most of Deadpool’s jokes! Deadpool is also shown to be pansexual, which is most definitely a big step in this type of movie – especially as he is depicted as the invincible one, whilst the macho, massive, gun-toting men frequently have their fragility displayed by being walloped in the balls. The film also illustrates how women can be in charge of their own sexuality too, being painted as strong (both physically and mentally) in a variety of ways… until Vanessa is turned slightly into the (albeit feisty) damsel in distress during the final act.

Regarding Deadpool’s visual elements, there are some extremely well crafted and delightfully squelchy graphics during the fight scenes, but this is nothing particularly groundbreaking. Then again, this film isn’t about the slick and super glossy elements – it’s entertaining chaos. The soundtrack choices often feel wonderfully sarcastic, which would certainly make this character proud, and might have feasibly inspired a knowing wink through the screen.

Deadpool isn’t flawless a film, but its eponymous character’s flaws make him, surprisingly, one of the most relatable superheroes out there in the moviesphere right now. Cock jokes ’n’ all.