I saw Deadpool earlier today at the nearby Alamo Draft House. I must say, there is nothing quite like watching an enjoyable movie with a hot meal in front of you and a delicious cocktail in one hand.
Now that I got that free plug for the Draft House out of the way, let’s get to the main point of this post.
To be more specific, the seven reasons why Deadpool is a must-see movie are:
- Ryan Reynolds. Yes, the much-maligned pretty boy of comic book movie failures’ past, finally hit a home run with this one. It is always impressive to see hard work (the movie took nearly a decade to conceive and complete) and dedication (Reynolds put much of his own money and time, especially via social media) to push this film, rewarded.
- Irreverence. This movie is definitely not safe for kids. In fact, it may not be safe for some adults depending on their squeamish level (if you are anti-decapitations, you may wanna sit this one out) or appetite for sexual innuendo (there are more here than in a Seth Rogen movie). But it all works.
- Self-Deprecation. From the opening credits and throughout the movie, it’s clear that this film does not take itself seriously-which makes it so fun. From the ongoing stream of jokes that take shots at all aspects of the genre, you will find out that no movie, studio or superhero (Deadpool included) is safe from the Merc with a Mouth’s disses, taunts or shout-outs.
- Action. You have the standard fare car chase scenes, superhero duels with nary a civilian in sight, and of course, CGI-aided fight scenes where the impossible is made possible. However, none quite like this. What really takes the action up a notch is not the action itself, but the absolutely hilarious voice-over and narration by Deadpool during the sequences. Although the language is often lewder than a lyrically-limited rap track, it’s mainly humorous and witty. Deadpool proves that words can speak louder than actions.
- Plot. Deadpool had your typical superhero/comic book movie elements, like a man made extraordinary by a failed scientific experiment (think Hulk) or the hero trying to save a loved one (think the recent Ant-Man) but the very adult language, over-the-top violence, voice-over narration, and pseudo-flashback elements definitely add something new to this genre.
- Colossus. I am not a comic book geek who obsesses over film adaptations’ strict adherence to the letter of the law on how its superheroes are depicted on screen. However, I do find it refreshing when certain elements like the character’s true size or accent are kept in tact. Colossus’s depiction was definitely closer to his comic book roots than how he was depicted in previous X-Men films.
- Music. From Wham’s Careless Whisper to DMX’s X Is Gon’ Give to Ya to Salt ‘N’ Pepa’s Shoop, the movie’s theme songs fit perfectly with their accompanying scenes. I can’t lie, I found myself nodding along more than usual in my theater seat.
As you can see, I really enjoyed the movie, and I am not alone in my affection for Deadpool. Go see it and let me know what you think by commenting here on responding to me via Twitter.
#GeekOn
