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ReBirb: Deadpool

Deadpool
Starring: Ryan Reynolds and Morena Baccarin
Directed by Tim Miller
US Release Date: February 12th, 2016
Most Recent Viewing: May 17h, 2018
Image Credit: movieposter.com

Getting a much-needed redo after first appearing in the debacle X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds returns to the big screen as the Merc with the Mouth, Deadpool. 

Wade Wilson (Reynolds) is a mercenary by night and lover by later at night. Once he finds the girl of his dreams Vanessa (Baccarin), all seems right in the world. Until Wade receives a cancer diagnosis that renders him a dead man walking. One night he runs into a recruiter (Jed Rees) that tells him he can cure him of his cancer and make him superhuman if he joins their team. Relunctly he agrees, and in the process not only becomes an unrecognizable regenerating mutant, he comes face-to-face with his future arch-nemesis Ajax (aka Francis, Ed Skrein). 

Much more than your standard superhero origin story, this is an opportunity to give a different face to an antihero that fans have been clamoring to see done right on the big screen. Reynolds gives it his all as Deadpool, and you can tell that this is something that has been a passion project for him. After several failed appearances in the superhero genre (Blade: Trinity, Green Lantern, and the aforementioned Wolverine) this is an almost flawless revenge comedy that has a smart script and a great supporting cast lead by Baccarin and Skrein, as well as TJ Miller as Wilson's smartass bar owner friend, Gina Corano, and my personal favorite, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead. 

I say nearly flawless because if there were any quibbles I had it had to do with the second act seeming kind of sleepy compared to the opening half hour and the amazing fight sequence at the end of the film. This film operates so much at an eleven that when it tones down, it feels like a four even though it really isn't. Also, some of the jokes are definitely "of the moment" and won't have much of a shelf life (will people get the Adventuretime watch gag twenty years from now)?

That being said, this is the first major opportunity since the first Blade that shows you can do a commercially successful R-rated superhero film. With a shoestring budget compared to it's MCU brothers, you can see multiple sequels coming out of this if done right. This isn't for all ages, but if one of my favorite comic book movies to come out this decade. 

Deadpool is rated R for strong graphic violence, language, sexual content, and nudity. What are your thoughts? Follow me on twitter and facebook and leave your comments. 

-birb

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