DEADPOOL
US, 2016, 108 minutes, Colour.
Ryan Reynolds, Ed Skrein, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Leslie Uggams, Brianna Hildebrand, Gina Carano.
Directed by Tim Miller.
The worldwide success of Deadpool seems quite extraordinary. Within a week it had broken many records in the United States and, very quickly afterwards, made an impact right around the world.
While it is a film version of Marvel Comics, it is quite different from the usual presentation of superheroes, the mighty saviours of the world. Deadpool himself does have some extraordinary powers but they were not necessarily of his wanting – his transformation is something akin to that of Peter Palmer into Spiderman, and his costume is not dissimilar. But, in personality, definitely different!
The thing is that , Deadpool is really a spoof. Deadpool is actually Wade Wilson, who had a career, a tough career, in righting wrongs around the world, mercenary style. Not that we know this from the beginning. Rather, the film makers have decided to write a screenplay which is something of a jigsaw puzzle: initially showing us Deadpool in vigorous action, then going back to Wade’s story, and a bit of to and frowing between these two periods.
What emerges is that Wade is diagnosed with a terminal illness and, rather than imposing on his loving wife, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) their vigorous courtship we have also been privy to, accepts an invitation to undergo some kind of surgery which might save his life. However, a villain that we have already seen confronting Deadpool, ensures that Wade is so transformed that he becomes hideous, including an desperate fire fight, gets himself a costume which will conceal his burnt face, and off he goes on a quest, especially seeking the villain, Francis (Ed Skrein), especially when he takes Vanessa as a hostage.
This means there is a lot of tongue-in-cheek action as well as very straightforward stoushes, sometimes involving his friends, especially two mutants from the well-known school from the Ex-Men? films and some jokes about Hugh Jackman and Wolverine, one a mutant that resembles a Frankenstein monster in some ways and another is a teenager, who waits to go into action until she has finished tweeting, who becomes a speeding ball of fire.
But, what makes the difference, is the repartee in the dialogue, smart, jokey, quite a number of film references even to Ryan Reynolds commenting on his own acting abilities…
And this seems to have captured the imagination and emotional response of audiences in 2016, probably indicating that along with the very serious, big-budget action shows that are to come, there will be a lot more humour, deadpan humour and spoof – which the trailer of Suicide Squad seems to indicate is another in this trend this year.
1. The worldwide success of the film? Its appeal? action hero fans? Critical approval?
2. The traditional Marvel Comics, the films and the superheroes? Stan Lee and his influence – and his cameo as the DJ in the strip joint?
3. The dark side of world heroes, the spinoff, the satire, camp?
4. The tone, during the credits, the backgrounds, the jokes about the performing performers, and what was required, hero, hot chick, British villain, CGI creature…? The jokes, the movie in-jokes and references, even to Ryan Reynolds himself? Ryan Reynolds as Wade? His special services, mercenary, his job, the violence? The relationship with Vanessa, Francis as the villain, the many fights? The mutants? The effect of all these characters, parallel with X-Men? and the jokes concerning Wolverine and Hugh Jackman?
5. The film having its cake and eating it, having all the exploitation of the action? Yet the spirit of criticism?
6. The plot, the narration, the jigsaw pieces, the effect of the puzzle, audiences curious, understanding, suspense, building up to the finale?
7. The introduction of Wade, as Deadpool, look, awkwardness in the taxi, getting into the seat, discussions with the driver about his relationship (and the next taxi ride, and the crash and the driver not answering the phone and the body of his rival in the boot)?
8. The fights, the weapons, the acrobatics, Francis and his brute strength, his thugs, the two mutants, the iron man, the fiery teenager, the moralising of the mutant, violence and language, the teenager and her Twitter action? Their coming from the X- Men school? The first encounter, Deadpool talking with them on the bridge – and Francis escaping?
9. The bar, Weasel as his friend, the types in the bar, the drinks, setting up the fight, the bets? The discussion about his name, the list of the bets as the Dead Pool? The friend, continued support – but not wanting to come to the finale?
10. The bar, the strippers, Vanessa, the banter between the two, the time available for him to be with her, the relationship, the proposal and her expecting it, the effect on each of them? Marriage? Wade, going to the doctor, the diagnosis of cancer? Vanessa and her responses, the various possibilities? Wade and his deciding to leave, quietly?
11. Gerard and his approach, the promise of healing, the deception, the process? The mutant genes? The confrontation with Francis, the fight and the flames, the transformation to Dead pool? People in the street looking at him? His not wanting to let Vanessa see him and his disfigurement? The encounter with Al, her blindness, friendship, tough talking, boarding with her? The friendship? The details of his making the costume, Weasel and his advice?
12. Francis’ search of him, the thugs and their tricking Vanessa, abducting her? Wade seeing her in the club but not approaching her, discovering she was taken?
13. Wade, his mission, in the taxi, with the mutants, the vast site, the special effects, the fights, the weapons and lack of weapons? Deadpool hanging on the edge, putting Vanessa in the cocoon, her being saved? Vanessa cutting herself free? The confrontation with Francis, his death?
14. The happy ending, drawing audience attention to it – and the breaking of the fourth wall during the film? The post credits and Deadpool talking about the sequel and urging people to go home because the show was over?
