The Wild Bunch of Superhero Movies

Rating: 8/10 (17 February 2016)

Deadpool is to the superhero movie phenomena what The Wild Bunch (1969) was to westerns. At a time every single caped crusader is fit neatly into a little box to justify a franchise or a team-up or a resurgence or an origin story, Deadpool dares to skewer the clichés, the faux intensity and yes even the fans. Don't get me wrong, Deadpool doesn't exactly re-invent the wheel. We've seen superhero films with a tinge of satire like Kick-Ass (2010), Super (2010) and even a little in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). The difference here is I think now people will be clamoring for more of the novelty showcased in Deadpool, and for that reason this film is a game changer.
Ryan Reynolds stars as Wade Wilson a mercenary with a talent for guns, swords and wisecracking. He's nicknamed the merc with the mouth by those who know him but to troubled nymph Vanessa (Maccarin) he's the love of her life. That is until he is diagnosed with stage four cancer and has mere months to live. Sniffing out an opportunity, a shadowy organization headed by Ajax (Skrein) decides to recruit him to go through an experimental procedure that just might save his life and turn him into an unstoppable assassin. Problem is the procedure produces unintended consequences resulting in Deadpool angrily tracking down those who almost killed him.
The secret to Deadpool's comic book appeal is his dark sense of humor, liberating amorality and unique abilities as a fourth-wall breaker. Throughout his various team-ups (largely with Wolverine and Spider-Man), he lampoons and undercuts any attempts at drama or seriousness with a few zingers and a lot of borderline cartoony mayhem. In that respect Deadpool became part of the early 90's jaded take on comic books only with a longevity that surpassed "The Mask" or "The Tick."
The movie attempts to transcribe some of Deadpool's wackiness to the big screen and it largely succeeds thanks to X-Men side characters Colossus (Kapicic) and new Xavier School cadet Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Hildebrand). They play the straight man to Deadpool's shtick and the movie would be at a disadvantage if they were left out. Teenage Warhead in particular does such a good job stonewalling every single one of Wade's mugging and gleeful 80's references that she should get her own movie. Seriously get Diablo Cody on it right now!
The other thing Deadpool has going for it is the relationship between Wade and Vanessa. Their chemistry is undeniable and composes the creamy gooey center that makes the occasionally foul Deadpool easy to digest. Unlike everything else in the film there's no irony or mean-spirited jokes at her expense. I am a little disappointed the film gave Vanessa so little to do. At the beginning Wade confesses "this isn't your average superhero movie" yet by the end there he is saving the girl.
And what of the foul bits? Deadpool has gratuitous nudity, naughty language and a heck of a lot of violence. It's ironic that a movie very much geared towards the sensibilities of young teenage boys should have a hard R-rating but one can't help but admire such an auspicious choice. In fact as a former teenage boy myself I hardily enjoyed all the insanity. It never quite reaches the level of sustained, awe-inspiring, showstopping extremes I would have liked, but not every shoot'em up can be Shoot'Em Up (2007).
In case you were curious, there are fourth-wall breaks; a lot of them. Many of them are geared towards Reynolds's other attempts at superhero glory Wolverine: Origins (2009) and the very poorly received Green Lantern (2011) movie. That in congress with Deadpool comparing Xavier's School for Gifted Youth to a boy band cranks the post-modern hipster dial to eleven.
Reynolds has said before that Deadpool has been a labor of love for him. No doubt his entire career has been leading up to this film ever since his Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (1998-2001) days. Finally after years of teasing, the Deadpool film has been brought to the big screen. It's violent, dirty, childish and loose with the mentioning of rival franchises; and god love him for it.