Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Deadpool
2016
**½
Director: Tim Miller
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, Leslie Uggams, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapičić

Wade Wilson, a wisecracking soldier-turned-thug, is about to get married when he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. A mysterious organisation puts him through experimental treatment, which gives him healing powers but leaves him disfigured. Wade hides himself behind a mask and becomes Deadpool. The titular hero is a Marvel comic book character who ties in with the X-Men franchise (Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson made a brief appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine). However, unlike most of Marvel's output, this one is not for kids. Deadpool is a crude and flippant brute who is aware that he is a fictional character. He appears cold and emotionless on the outside, but has a soft spot for his girl, so deep down he's not that different from all the other superheroes. The movie is fast-paced and it offers a steady stream of dick jokes, graphic violence, and flashy speed up/slow down action scenes. 15-year-old me would have loved it. However, the movie covers the same ground as Kick-Ass and I find the protagonist exhausting. When the main villain manages to shut up this motormouth for a few minutes, I felt like cheering. Followed by Deadpool 2.