Deadpool

It took almost ten years to make Deadpool – ten years of production hell and dithering – but it’s been well worth the wait. That much is obvious from the opening credits alone.

In the same vein as Guardians of the Galaxy (albeit a bloodier, more profanity-laden vein), Deadpool aims to turn the superhero genre on its head and while it’s not as subversive or off-the-wall as it could have been, it’s certainly a more than fitting romp for Marvel’s snarkiest anti-hero. Starring Ryan Reynolds, the film follows Deadpool’s attempts to track down the man who made him (Ed Skrein), and his romance with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin.) Plot-wise there’s nothing too mind-blowing, it’s the manner in which the story is told that makes the movie stand out.

True to Marvel form, Deadpool is a fourth-wall-breaking wise-cracker. Ryan Reynolds is certainly in his element here and, while the filmmakers may have played it safe with the narrative, they’ve definitely got no qualms about pushing the boundaries when it comes to the mercenary’s character. He may not be as outrageous as his comic book self but he’s getting there and, unsurprisingly, it’s from him that much of the comedy is drawn. The villains, and Deadpool’s rather reluctant band of allies, are dull in comparison. Skrein has enough swagger about him to be a fairly standard evil character, TJ Miller pulls off a few good one-liners as Weasel; only Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, Deadpool’s roommate, and the all-CGI Colossus are memorable. The relative flatness of the story, though, is offset by great fight scenes that, along with the run-of-the-mill blockbuster effects, feature some excellent slow-motion sequences.

There are certainly a few beats missed here and there in the comedic elements: there is a tendency to aim for the obvious laughs and the meta-commentary swings wildly from hilarious to annoying. It’s certainly not high-brow humour, but despite that it manages to be ridiculously entertaining. Deadpool is gleeful, charming, with an aptly zany soundtrack (ranging from Wham! to the eponymous hero’s very own rap), and while it may not be enough to completely revitalise the super-hero genre, this is a much-needed breath of fresh air after last year’s painfully bland offerings.

Natasha Furlong

Deadpool is released nationwide on 10^th February 2016.

Watch the trailer for Deadpool here: