Just Been Watching…(76)

~ beetleypete

Deadpool (2016)

***Spoilers. But you’ve all seen it, haven’t you?***

Regular readers may need a sedative, when they see me reviewing a Marvel Franchise film. As anyone knows by now, I generally detest any of the films made from the comics I enjoyed as a child. I find them repetitive, over-reliant on CGI, and more or less an easy option, instead of doing something fresh and inventive.

But there’s a BUT.

Everyone told me to watch this film. They said I would love it, that it was funny, and that I would appreciate the deliberate irony. So when I saw it arrive on TV, I thought ‘Why not?’

The story, such as it is, revolves around a former special forces man now working as a mercenary and fixer. He is played by Ryan Reynolds, who in my experience is a hit and miss actor at best. He is diagnosed with cancer, and decides to leave his girlfriend, rather than let her see him fade away and die. Then he is approached by a shady organisation that offers to cure his disease, warning of possible life-changing side effects. Of course, the side effects are terrible, and the people responsible become the villains. That’s about it for plot, except he spends most of the film taking his revenge on those responsible, in a spectacular fashion.

Much of the film is told in flashback sections, narrated by Deadpool with a lot of swearing. He constantly breaks the ‘fourth wall’ by directly addressing the audience, even moving the camera in one scene. He has some very funny lines, and there are references to films, music, and even Sinead O’Connor. Violence is extreme throughout, helped by the fact that most of the characters in the film are virtually indestructible. There are some sexy scenes too, and lots more swearing. All the time. Later in the film, Deadpool enlists the help of two mutants, who I think are from the ‘X-Men’ films. But I got lost a bit there, as I haven’t watched those films all the way through. (‘Wolverine’ was enough, believe me) One is a huge man made from metal, who acts a lot like Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the other a crop-haired young woman who can turn herself into a fireball of some sort.

The set pieces are well done, as you might expect from a modern film like this. The action is pretty much non-stop, and Deadpool himself is a self-deprecating, wisecracking, anti hero. The villain is an English actor I have never seen nor heard of, but most of the cast are very good, even those with small roles.

Another BUT.

But this film is at its best when it is also at its silliest. The talking to camera is witty, not at all irritating, and often downright funny. The film laughs at itself, and that saved me laughing at it, instead of with it, which I found myself doing a lot. We are aware that it is laughably over the top and overblown, but so is the cast. And they play their parts accordingly. Eye candy is on offer in abundance. Deadpool’s girlfriend (Morena Baccaran) is gorgeous, and even the super-strong villainess (Gina Carrano) is hot stuff. Not to be outdone by the older ladies, the young mutant (Brianna Hildebrand) rocks her cropped hair, and is incredibly pretty. Female viewers are well-served by the muscle-rippling torsos of both Ryan, and the villain.

Pointless, silly, but ultimately irresistible, it seems that everyone was right. I am never one to be a bad loser, so I confess I liked it. Not only that, I enjoyed it. But would I watch it again, or bother with the sequel?

Hmm…I’ll have to get back to you on that.

41 thoughts on “Just Been Watching…(76)”

  1. That’s one small step Pete, one giant leap for his fan base. Holy crap! I’d like to think I had a small part in directing you to this film and so will take my slice of credit pie but seriously I’m glad you liked it and enjoyed your review. But I’m not recommending the sequel.

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  2. I am definitely a fan of Marvel movies and in general find them really well done. Usually something like Deadpool isn’t exactly my style…but I have to admit that I enjoyed it a lot more than I was initially anticipating. Love your take on it.

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    1. Thanks for reading and commenting. I generally cannot stand the Marvel films. I was a fan of the comics in my youth, and never thought they transferred well to screen. But this was an exception, as it involved self-mockery, and so was a lot of fun. šŸ™‚
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  4. Ha! I liked it, too. I was expecting to hate it. I do not care for DC/Marvel stuff, it’s all boring to me, same old story, over and over. So the parody had me laughing with it, not at it, like you. NOW if they would leave it to go at that, but I suspect there will be many Deadpools and then it won’t be clever or funny anymore. I’ll wait to hear what you say about the second one before I rent it.

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  5. I resisted watching it. My son was always quoting lines and trying to get me to see it. I finally gave in and watched it. I think it is one of the best witty one liner movies I have seen in years. Really enjoyed your review.

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    1. Thanks, Ron. I liked the funny lines too. My favourite was “What do mean looks don’t matter, have you heard David Beckham speak?”
      (Even in England, we laugh at Beckham’s voice)
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. Your review was great – it’s the kind of movie you just sit back and enjoy – don’t think too much, have a few laughs and watch some really well done action sequences…nothing more, nothing less!

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  13. It really was a seriously funny film and completely different from the usual comic hero moviesšŸ˜‰ I have read a lot of the comics and in those he is even crazier than in this film (tge fourth wall breaking is done even more in the comicsšŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚). Did you see the after credits scene by the way?? As for the sequel: it’s fun too. I think I liked this one slightly more: but if you enjoyed this: it’s safe to see that you will like the second part toošŸ˜‰šŸ˜Š

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  15. Great film, although I have yet to see the sequel which is ‘waiting to be watched’. I think I probably preferred Kick-Ass which set the tone for this type of comedy, worth a watch if you haven’t seen it.

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    1. I did see that, (just the first one) after a recommendation from one of my step-kids. It was suitably ‘adult’, despite appearing to be aimed at a an 11-16 year-old audience. The girl in it was very good šŸ™‚
      Best wishes, Pete.

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