Deadpool

Deadpool is an interesting experiment for comic book fans, Fox still has the rights to X-Men and hopes to never give it up. Having made 6 Team films and 2 Wolverine solo films in 16 years, they need to ensure audiences don’t get tired of the franchise.

Mainstream audiences loved the Bryan Singer films but hardcore fans complained that the films focused too much on Wolverine at the expense of other characters. With Deadpool, the studio finally agreed to make a comic book movie the way the fans want it to be. And a fan event it is. I attended a 10PM showing in IMAX and the theater was packed with “Deadheads” in their Deadpool t-shirts. Were they disappointed?

Not at all. I’ve never heard such raucous laughter at opening credits before. It was clear in the first 30 seconds that this movie aims to deconstruct the formula of superhero movies that came before it. There was a comic-con level energy in the room as fans were treated to in-jokes, extreme violence, tons of inappropriate humor and just about everything that has been missing from comic book movies to date.

Although it has plenty action, Deadpool has a much smaller budget than the PG-13 Superhero movies out there and as a result it’s a nice change of pace. My biggest complaint about movies like Man of Steel, Transformers and even Avengers 2 is that for all their special FX, it’s hard to follow the action. The action scenes are well shot and not edited too fast. The movie opens and closes with big action set pieced and the middle is grounded like Netflix’s Daredevil or Gotham. Think of it more like V for Vendetta if V was Jim Carrey in The Mask (1994).

Deadpool is one for the fans and needs to be seen in a packed theater.

3 out of 5 stars