Deadpool (2016)
directed by Tim Miller
★★★★☆
ADMIN’S NOTE: This review is of an R-rated movie. Although it is distributed by the Walt Disney Company, is it intended for mature audiences only.
Going into this movie, Deadpool was known to me from various media depictions over the years for four things: bad language, brutally graphic violence, a regenerative ability that rivals a certain animalistic former co-star, and a complete disregard for the fourth wall. (Oh, and an embarrassingly bad depiction in arguably the single worst film in the X-Men franchise.) Based on those standards, this film succeeds. Based on the emotional background this film gave its title character, it even X-ceeds. (Sorry.)
Ryan Reynolds has clearly been preparing for this role since the studio botched it in 2009. The inclusion of a handful of X-Men helps ground it in Fox’s unique Marvel universe, separate from Disney’s more family-friendly pictures. All the raunch, gore, flippancy, and pop-culture references are here, along with a sweet love story that seems oddly appropriate.
Unfortunately, the other mutants who appear are the typical grab-bag of mixed-and-matched powers and abilities Fox has been notorious for, and a fourth version of Colossus for the franchise is a continuity nightmare. But since the film is clearly trying to stand on its own as the antithesis of a superhero movie, it’s forgivable.
Also, did Tom Holkenborg (aka Junkie XL) borrow one of Michael Jackson’s old synthesizers for the score? I swear I heard some of those sounds in Beat It.
