Peps' Movie Wrap-up: Deadpool

http://screenrant.com/deadpool-movie-poster-kinberg-radical/I had to wait patiently for the home media release of Deadpool, because... well, it's actually hard to remember the last film I watched in a theater. Then, because I refused to watch the film with the little one running around (he is the Merc with a Mouth after all and she's 19 months old), I had to find pockets of time to enjoy it. Which led to three days of staggered viewing. And to sum it up... It was worth all the damn waiting and effort.

Finally, Twentieth Century Fox. Finally, you did something right by Marvel. Now, try to figure out how you can follow Columbia Pictures' footsteps so that the superhero titles under your belt can be incorporated in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is foul-mouthed and probably enjoys wreaking violence a bit much, but that doesn't mean he isn't deserving of love. The former special forces operative turned mercenary bit the love bug when he meets escort Vanessa Carlysle (Morena Baccarin). But their romance, and engagement plans, are put on hold when they find out that Wade has cancer. Unwilling to witness Vanessa suffering when he is dying, he leaves her and accepts a proposal to undergo an experimental treatment in hopes of curing his cancer. Unfortunately, research head Ajax (Ed Skrein) is up to no good. Instead of curing cancer, he is injecting the patients with a serum that could potentially awaken latent mutant genes... with a generous helping of torture to move things along. Also, he isn't really out to cure them after their mutant genes activate, but instead plans to sell them as slaves to willing buyers with dastardly plans. When Ajax leaves him with dangerously low levels of oxygen for an entire weekend, his mutant powers finally manifest, killing all the cancer cells but leaving him disfigured. Unable to show his face to Vanessa, he hunts down Ajax to cure his disfigurement so he can finally pursue his... err, R-rated happy ending.

Up front I can honestly say, and agree with many other viewers, that this is the Deadpool that we deserve. Even if you're not a comic book fan, this is the film adaptation of Deadpool that we all needed to watch. Not a watered down version to ease the minds of those who have a weak stomach for violence or generous servings of swearing. And definitely not the version that they thought they could get away with in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Deadpool worked on so many levels. Staying true to the character's comic book roots is definitely a sign of good things to come. Wade is definitely not a saint, but the violence he is capable of is tempered by a surprisingly sweet core when the right reasons come to play. Even when he's at his meanest to his friends, you still can't help but like him, because he doesn't really do or say things out of spite. He's just really an unapologetic jerk who doesn't know how else to verbalize his thoughts or edit out all the curse words. And Ryan Reynolds just ran away with the character, probably for the sheer relief at finally doing the character justice. Also, I can't imagine a different voice for Deadpool.

http://www.idigitaltimes.com/deadpool-movie-stefan-kapicic-talks-bringing-perfect-colossus-big-screen-511560
And with Deadpool given a handful of great supporting characters to interact with, the film is transformed into an excellent ensemble piece... even if one of those characters is in CGI form every second he's on screen. I've always enjoyed watching T.J. Miller, so it was fun watching Wade interact with his character Weasel. Wade / Deadpool isn't really the easiest person to be friends with, but you can't really describe his relationship with Blind Al (Leslie Uggams) and Colossus (voiced by Stefan Kapičić) as anything other than friendship... albeit friendships laced with a lot of sarcasm and dirty jokes. And then there's Morena Baccarin, whose chemistry as Vanessa with Reynold's Wade is just spot on, making it hard for me to imagine that the role was originally offered to Olivia Munn.

But Deadpool isn't just a character known for his quick wit and dirty mouth. His newfound mutant powers of regeneration just turned him into an even deadlier force than he already was. And going on a rampage just to catch Francis (or he who wishes to be called Ajax) just solidified how dangerous he can be to those he considers his enemies. Especially when those enemies are the reason why he's not getting any nooky from the love of his life, making him turn to an otherwise innocent stuffed unicorn for release. Really.... the bad guys deserve all the bad things Wade wants to do to them. The action sequences in Deadpool are adrenaline-inducing and messy, sprinkled heavily with Deadpool's constant chattering and fourth-wall breaking moments, just the way Deadpool fans like it. I'm not much for gore, but it's hard not to enjoy the bloody mess that Deadpool leaves behind.

Deadpool makes for the best kind of popcorn film viewing, and one that you wouldn't say no to watching again just for the sheer fun of it. Your horrified expression at the sight of a debauched stuffed unicorn be damned.

Happy viewing!!

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