Deadpool (2016)

2 1/2 Nuts!

Well it is(was) Valentine's Day weekend and this year you once again are pretty limited in terms of quality date night movies.  But if you want to hint to your girlfriend that you don't really care what she thinks then maybe go take her to see Deadpool.  She probably wont like it, but you will.  Also what's the other option, talk? hard pass.

Deadpool is one of the few Marvel "R" rated heroes.  He's more of an anti-hero in that he kills in quite devastating ways with no remorse.  He is also an ass. This is not what most are used to getting out of a Marvel film.  With the abundance of anti-heroes in film today, the concept isn't exactly earth shattering either, we are just not used to seeing it in our superheroes.

This anti-hero notion is juxtaposed in the film through the introduction of two X-men characters (Colossus and some super/fire girl) who come to the aid of Deadpool during the film.  They encompass all the traits that make a hero heroic and show how far off Deadpool's set of beliefs are from the norm.

 Ryan Reynolds plays Deadpool to perfection.  He is bold, disrespectful, and will say just about anything that pops into his childish mind. In many ways, Reynolds plays the role with the same wit and gall he displays in most film roles he is cast in.  Here this persona works perfectly. Reynolds is able to encompass the essence of the Deadpool character so well that it feels as though he was born to play this role.

Yes, the film is violent for the sheer sake of gratuitous violence; that's how we like it.  Most moviegoers who are hoping to see Deadpool shoot and cut people up will not be disappointed.

This isn't a perfect movie but honestly who thought it would be? It suffers from some pacing issues and a love story that is simply there to move the plot along (when is that not the case?).  It is also told in flashbacks that I'm sure were done to seem clever but really only serves to break up the action.  The ending tries to send a message. Something along the lines of, beautiful people are not always superficial and that looks don't matter once you have true love. It sounds like a lot of bs but the films needs to have a happy ending, I guess.

An aside: Can these films find a plot devise that doesn't circle around a love interest? Most of the guys seeing it probably don't have girlfriends, so give them a break.

There are few times that the film pokes fun at Hugh Jackman and one of the Wolverine movies.  If you get the references,  they make for some of the funnier moments in the film.  If you don't get the references, then I'm surprised you want to see this movie in the first place.

In a nut shell: If you're looking for a movie that you can turn your mind pretty much off and just go and have an enjoyable time, this is it. With the multitude of superhero movies released in the past 10 years, Deadpool certainly separates itself from the pack.  It's audacious, outrageous, and crass.  Don't watch it with your parents or do. (2.5 out of 4 nuts)