The latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Deadpool," debuted this weekend. Many hardcore comic-book fans have been anticipating this film for months. Deadpool, as a character, has had a huge fanbase in the comic book world for years, but he has finally exploded (I’m not being hyperbolic here) into the mainstream media. You will doubtlessly be seeing Deadpool’s iconic red mask in quite a few places over the coming weeks, which should indicate the movie’s success and quality.
I will admit that I knew very little about the character going into the theater. I got most of my prior knowledge about Deadpool from the spirited debates and rantings of my local comic-book-guy. I was vaguely aware that Deadpool was an anti-hero and that he was known for his sarcastic sense of humor. The handful of trailers had indicated that it would be equal parts action and comedy and the film delivered on that front. However, it's the manner in which that blend of action and comedy was achieved that is why this film was so enjoyable.
"Deadpool" is a film that is incredibly self-aware. This is abundantly clear when the opening credits begin poking-fun at the numerous tropes (or clichés, depending on how you look at them) that have become typical of super hero films.
For example, the credits promise both a British villain and a CGI character, both of whom are very obviously introduced in the first fifteen minutes of the film. The foibles of superhero blockbusters are constantly pointed-out in the film. Deadpool himself, played by Ryan Reynolds, forces the audience to acknowledge a pose that has appeared in every recent hero-flick to date. It's the one where the ridiculously strong person jumps from a tall-building and punches the ground.
This irreverent sense of humor continues throughout the film in its entirety. It felt like there was a joke every two minutes, yet "Deadpool" does not suffer from Family-guy syndrome. The film does not sacrifice the quality of its humor for the quantity that it delivers. The jokes are meticulously thought-out and placed perfectly within the scene.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the film’s humor was the sheer variety of jokes. They range from blatant pop-culture references ("Ferris Bueller’s Day Off") to more subtly obscure ones ("127 hours"). Some jokes were beautifully ironic, while others were simply sophomoric or slapstick. At one point, Deadpool blurts out, “What the ass?” in the middle of a battle. It was random and juvenile, but it was possibly the funniest moment in the film.
With that being said, the action sequences are still very entertaining. As I stated previously, Deadpool is an anti-hero and he does not follow the rules of the typical superhero. To put it simply, Deadpool wreaks as much havoc as he wants with little regard towards the consequences. Shooting or decapitating an adversary is an everyday occurrence in this character’s life and the film makes it clear that this is something that he enjoys immensely.
The stunt coordination and the cinematography in the film continue to distance themselves from the formulaic nature of superhero films. Not only does it feel like the character is having fun while kicking-ass, but one almost gets the sense that Reynolds and everyone who was involved got the same sense of enjoyment while they were making the film.
