My parents tried to satisfy our bloodlust with the classic ultra-violent cowboy flick, The Wild Bunch, to no avail. A head being vaporized by a cannonball at the battle of Antietam in the film Glory was as good as it got. Ultimately, nobody ever really showed enough blood or reckless disregard for human life. Jess and I were always left wanting more.
And then came Deadpool. Sure, it has been 23 years since Jess and I graduated high school and caught a movie together, but Deadpool was worth the wait for EVERYTHING he and I wanted in a perfect action flick.
From the delightfully glib and irreverent opening credits to a swimming-pool’s worth of blood splashed and spattered all over the screen in the first action sequence, my inner teenager was reawakened and delighted as never before.
As far as comic book movies go, it is stunning that Marvel gave its wickedly messy and cheeky star the green light.
At its core is the story about a mercenary with terminal cancer who uses a special medical treatment to tap into his mutant powers…conveniently, healing. Yet, vicious treatment from a malevolent doctor and a critical accident that leaves him disfigured set him on a path for revenge against the doctor.
Deadpool also happens to be in love with a beautiful assassin named Vanessa who is every bit as sadistic and sarcastic as he is. She is everything a teenage boy could want, and she doesn’t leave much to such an imagination, as nudity is another reason this film has earned an R rating. How it dodged an NC-17 or X is beyond me.
Ryan Reynolds (or at least his id) plays the title star Deadpool to perfection. Nothing is sacred as he riffs on everything and everyone…including his real-life self. There is no “4th wall” in this film. He is a surprisingly nimble action star at 39, and his extremely dark comic timing is impeccable.
Vanessa is played with as much mirth and passion by Morena Baccarin. She holds her own with Reynolds, as her character is as tough and irreverent as they get. She’s not the typical wilting flower most comic book heroes go for, even though she does find herself at the end in a more typical damsel-in-distress position.
The editing is a little jumpy, kind of like the editors drank caffeine all night while watching Pulp Fiction on and endless loop, but it still works.
The most surprising element of this film for me wasn’t a fantastic kill shot, a horribly disfigured corpse or the exposure of flesh in select scenes. Nope. It was the fact the film’s producers found a way to talk Leslie Uggams into playing a character named Blind Al. She is Deadpool’s put-upon elderly blind roommate.
For those who don’t remember The Leslie Uggams’ Show, Uggams hosted her own network talent show in 1969 with more effervescent charm and cheer than any three people combined. She seemed to be the living definition of the innocent , wholesome girl next door…the type of girl who would never, ever go to—let alone star in—Deadpool. Especially not in her 70s. It just goes to further prove you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Fortunately, for those seeking out Deadpool for its blood-soaked cover, you will not be disappointed by this fast-paced comic gorefest.
Nathaniel Cerf saw Glory 8 times in the movie theater, primarily for the Antietam battle sequence. You can reach him at Nathaniel.Cerf@aent.com.