The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMovie reviews

Deadpool

Deadpool | Movie review
8 February 2016
Natasha Furlong
Avatar
Natasha Furlong
8 February 2016

Movie and show review

Natasha Furlong

Deadpool

★★★★★

Release date

10th February 2016

Certificate

UPG121518 title=

Links

TwitterFacebookWebsite

It took almost ten years to make Deadpool – ten years of production hell and dithering – but it’s been well worth the wait. That much is obvious from the opening credits alone.

In the same vein as Guardians of the Galaxy (albeit a bloodier, more profanity-laden vein), Deadpool aims to turn the superhero genre on its head and while it’s not as subversive or off-the-wall as it could have been, it’s certainly a more than fitting romp for Marvel’s snarkiest anti-hero. Starring Ryan Reynolds, the film follows Deadpool’s attempts to track down the man who made him (Ed Skrein), and his romance with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin.) Plot-wise there’s nothing too mind-blowing, it’s the manner in which the story is told that makes the movie stand out.

True to Marvel form, Deadpool is a fourth-wall-breaking wise-cracker. Ryan Reynolds is certainly in his element here and, while the filmmakers may have played it safe with the narrative, they’ve definitely got no qualms about pushing the boundaries when it comes to the mercenary’s character. He may not be as outrageous as his comic book self but he’s getting there and, unsurprisingly, it’s from him that much of the comedy is drawn. The villains, and Deadpool’s rather reluctant band of allies, are dull in comparison. Skrein has enough swagger about him to be a fairly standard evil character, TJ Miller pulls off a few good one-liners as Weasel; only Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, Deadpool’s roommate, and the all-CGI Colossus are memorable. The relative flatness of the story, though, is offset by great fight scenes that, along with the run-of-the-mill blockbuster effects, feature some excellent slow-motion sequences.

There are certainly a few beats missed here and there in the comedic elements: there is a tendency to aim for the obvious laughs and the meta-commentary swings wildly from hilarious to annoying. It’s certainly not high-brow humour, but despite that it manages to be ridiculously entertaining. Deadpool is gleeful, charming, with an aptly zany soundtrack (ranging from Wham! to the eponymous hero’s very own rap), and while it may not be enough to completely revitalise the super-hero genre, this is a much-needed breath of fresh air after last year’s painfully bland offerings.

★★★★★

Natasha Furlong

Deadpool is released nationwide on 10th February 2016.

Watch the trailer for Deadpool here:

Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.

YouTube privacy policy

If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.

Related Itemsreview

More in Movie reviews

For the Sake of Vicious

★★★★★
Lilly Subbotin
Read More

I Blame Society

★★★★★
Lilly Subbotin
Read More

Why Did You Kill Me?

★★★★★
Emma Kiely
Read More

Me You Madness

★★★★★
Emma Kiely
Read More

Portal

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

Steelers: The World’s First Gay and Inclusive Rugby Club

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

The Year Earth Changed

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

Sensation

★★★★★
Francis Nash
Read More

Beast Beast

★★★★★
Ben Flanagan
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Natasha Furlong

Deadpool

★★★★★

Release date

10th February 2016

Certificate

UPG121518 title=

Links

TwitterFacebookWebsite

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • London’s best pizzas for takeaway and delivery
    Food & Drinks
  • The Year Earth Changed
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Steelers: The World’s First Gay and Inclusive Rugby Club
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • SYML – Dim | EP review
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • A Splinter of Ice at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • For the Sake of Vicious
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Mare of Easttown
    ★★★★★
    sky
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Mare of Easttown
    ★★★★★
    sky
  • Me You Madness
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • SYML – Dim | EP review
    ★★★★★
    Album review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Lari Pittman – Nocturnes at Thomas Dane Gallery | Exhibition review
Gabrielle Aplin at The Forum | Live review