Deadpool

Inspired by Bugs Bunny, Dark House Comics’ The Mask, Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry films & DC Comics supervillain Slade Wilson/Deathstroke, comic book writer/artist Rob Liefield, created a character named Wade Wilson, A.K.A. “Deadpool.” The character made his first appearance in 1991 in an issue called “The New Mutants” number 98. His debut is about him as a mercenary (much like Deathstroke) hired to assassinate a group of Mutants led by Cyclops & Jean Grey’s son Cable.

Deadpool’s origin story all started when Wade Wilson is diagnosed with incurable cancer. He decided to volunteer as a guinea pig related to Wolverine’s ability to heal instantly. Scientists injected Wolverine’s DNA into Wade in the hopes to put Wade’s cancer to remission. The treatment was a success, however, the experiment permanently disfigured Wade’s facial appearance, causing him to hunt the man who gave him a remarkable but cursed gift he can no longer turn back.

Over the years, Deadpool became an icon, known for his sense of dark humor, “Breaking The Fourth Wall,” (means a character is aware he/she’s in a film, television series, video game or cartoon) crossover appearances with Spider-Man, Wolverine & Cable and countless merchandise consisting of action figures, t-shirts, costumes, collectibles, bobble-heads, video games etc. He even has a large cult following with people who dress up as him.

Deadpool finally made his big screen debut in the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine with Ryan Reynolds portraying him. The film was complete misfire due to a controversial scene with Deadpool’s mouth literally sowed shut with stitches, removing his trademark costume & worst of all, he doesn’t Break The Fourth Wall.

A Few Years Later, producer Simon Kinberg reunites with Ryan Reynolds to work on proper solo film after X-Men: Days Of Future Past resets the franchise’s timeline, allowing them to use creative control as an elixir to reinvent Deadpool as The Merc With A Mouth we all now in love.

Deadpool was released in 2016. (around the same year X-Men: Apocalypse came out) It became an unexpected critical and commercial hit worldwide earning positive praise from critics, viewers & fans alike. Rob Liefield himself, enjoyed the picture as much as we did.

Now that Deadpool 2 is earning positive reviews from critics, I want to spread positive word of mouth on one of my favorite Marvel superheroes to prepare for the sequel.

The following review contains no massive SPOILERS! Feel free to read this article if you haven’t seen this film yet.

Stable & Unstable Elements

Stable: Ryan Reynolds did a hilarious job for his performance as The Merc With A Mouth. He also co-produced the film. Don’t forget that he ad-libbed his lines.

Other Cast Members including T.J. Miller, Ed Skrein, Morena Baccarin, Gina Carano, Stefan Kapičić, Brianna Hildebrand, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni & Jed Rees all did a good job for their respective performances.

Action Sequences contain a bunch of hardcore gore with crimson blood flying all over the place. If you feel queasy over the sight of excessive amount of Hard R fight scenes, bring yourself a barf bag and don’t let your kids, grandkids, nephews or nieces to see this film! Much like Wolverine, Deadpool is suppose to be portrayed as an unapologetic one man army who takes no for an answer. Unlike Wolverine, Deadpool constantly jokes about a particular subject while on a mission.

Comedy retains elements from the comics including elements of Dark Humor, Fourth Wall Breaking & Inside Jokes related to Ryan’s career.

Deadpool Breaks The Fourth Wall in certain scenes.

My favorite line is, “Fourth Wall Break inside a Fourth Wall, that’s like Sixteen Walls!”

Deadpool’s costume is made from a 3D Printer as a form-fitting outfit for Ryan. Plus, the mask’s “eyes” was computer generated to bring the facial expressions to life.

Without giving anything away, Wade makes a few jokes about an iconic member of the X-Men. I’ll give you a hint, he’s an Australian Oscar nominated broadway actor/singer.

Wade mentioned that he doesn’t want his suit green or animated. A reference to the critically panned Green Lantern film. There’s also a self-deprecated joke involving Deadpool’s mouth-sowed appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I guess Ryan & Fox used these jokes as a form of apology that they’ll never screw a beloved comic book character that fans adored.

Cinematography felt normal without suffering technical problems.

Visual Effects were used to bring certain elements to life such as Colossus, Deadpool’s facial expressions with his mask on & an epic battle between Deadpool & The Villain.

“Opening Credits” sets up The Tone for the film, indicating that what you’re about to see is gonna make you accidentally pee your pants.

A Fart Scene managed to give me a chuckle.

DMX’s “X Gon’ Give It To Ya” is played was featured in the trailer an it’s actually used in the film. I bet Ryan Reynolds & Simon Kinberg we’re watching Rick & Morty. You know the episode “Something Ricked This Way Comes” with Rick & his granddaughter Summer were beating up her boss after he fired her. I will assume that Rick & Morty showrunners Justin Roiland (also voices both of Rick Sanchez & Morty Smith) & Dan Harmon were flattered to see Deadpool used DMX’s song. Rick Sanchez is also a Fourth Wall Breaker as well! As a fan of Rick & Morty, I’ll give this movie an Extra Point for making me smirk. I would love to see Deadpool crossover in a Rick & Morty episode. Please Mr. Reynolds & Adult Swim, make this happen!

In almost every Marvel related movie tradition, Stan Lee makes a cameo appearance. I’m giving him an Extra Point for his role that made me laugh hysterically as perhaps one of his best cameos ever!

A Post-Credits Scene spoofs an iconic film from The 80’s and sets up a sequel.

Unstable: Guys if you’re fans of Colossus, his attitude is similar to “Boy Scout” characters like Captain America & Cyclops. To be honest, I didn’t mind seeing him as a nice guy, it’s pretty tame than Anna Paquin’s performance as Rouge. Seriously Anna, you need to take a heavy dose of Prozac to get into the role as Gambit’s free spirited southern belle girlfriend! You hear that Fox? Make Gambit & Rogue an actual couple from the comics!

I couldn’t find anything else wrong with the picture, so I’ll give this film an Extra Point!

The Final Verdict:  A, FOR APEX!

Deadpool’s first solo movie is a masterpiece, Fox finally got the character right along with the source material. Ryan Reynolds did an excellent job as the title character. Other Cast Members did a good job on their performances. Humor made me laugh uncontrollably throughout the whole picture. So many meta-jokes were like the icing on the cake for longtime fans. I have to give Special Praise for the screenwriters as “The Real Heroes” just as the movie stated.

Deadpool is one of my favorite Marvel films by Fox, besides X-Men, X2, X-Men: First Class, The Wolverine, X-Men: Days Of Future Past & Logan as my personal favorite.

If I were you, I strongly recommend this movie as both a fan and movie goer who appreciates superheroes. Bravo Ryan & Fox, I accept your apology. Someday in the future, I hope the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU for short) will finally cross paths with Deadpool now that Disney made a deal with Fox to allow their X-Men characters to become a part of the MCU.