Movie Review: ‘Deadpool’

Ryan Reynolds and first time director Tim Miller free themselves from regular comic book conventions and reinvent the formula of superhero movies in “Deadpool.” Time Warner Cable News film critic Neil Rosen filed the following review.

If you are tired of those typical, run-of-the-mill superhero movies that have flooded movie theatres over the last few years and follow an all-too-familiar pattern, here is something different. It is called “Deadpool.”

Ryan Reynolds is Wade Wilson, a thug for hire who falls in love with Vanessa, a hooker with a heart of gold, played by Moreena Baccarin. When Wade is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he is offered to participate in a dangerous experiment that just might save him.

Wade is turned over to Ajax, a sadistic mad scientist who experiments on him with nonstop torturous procedures. His cancer is cured and he is left with super powers, but his face is badly disfigured. Ajax wants to make Wade his slave, but Wade manages to escape. Now, adopting the superhero name Deadpool, he is out for revenge.

What makes this superhero movie radically different is that it is not family-friendly at all. Do not bring your kids to this film that is filled with lots of graphic sex jokes, nudity and profanity.

By going the R-rated route, Marvel, along with first time director, Tim Miller, free themselves from regular comic book conventions and sort of reinvent the formula. Reynolds often breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience. He's full of sarcastic one-liners, some of which miss the mark, some of which hit.

Reynolds, who is quite good here, seems to be having a ball making fun of the entire superhero genre. He teams up with some minor X-Men characters and even jokes to the audience that this movie could not afford the more A-list stars that populate that franchise.

There are dozens of entertaining pop culture references, and even the opening credits have a self-mocking tone. It starts off flat, but then, about 20 minutes in, takes off. The end result is surprising and a lot of fun.