The Reviews Are In — Is 'Deadpool' Good?
Ryan Reynolds' highly-anticipated turn as the wise-cracking, red-spandexed, ultraviolent superhero Deadpool arrives on Friday. Here's what the reviews have to say.
[Watch the Very, Very NSFW trailer]
It's A Breath Of Fresh Air
If you loved the way "Guardians of the Galaxy" turned the standard superhero formula on its spandex-covered ear — and you're old enough to handle some very R-rated language and violence — "Deadpool" delivers a similarly delightful surprise.
[The Wrap]
Compared to the market-dominating blockbusters of Disney's Avengers franchise, the Batman and Superman-led flicks hot on their heels at Warner Bros., Sony's Spider-Man reboots, and Fox's own X-Men films, it's wildly subversive, if slight when it comes to story.
At this point, a movie studio would have to torch its headquarters, donate its merchandising revenues to charity, and produce a seven-hour art film performed in Ukrainian sign language to do something that truly qualified as a subversive gesture. Until then, viewers should gladly submit to the gleefully self-skewering pleasures of "Deadpool," a scabrously funny big-screen showcase for the snarkiest of Marvel's comic-book creations — a disfigured and disreputable mercenary who likes to crack wise, bust heads and generally lay waste to the idea that he's anyone's hero.
[Variety]
But It's A Bit Lacking In The Plot Department
By the time the film reaches its big-battle climax… no number of lopped-off limbs, four-letter words, or in-joke sops to the faithful can oppress the stench of formula. "Deadpool" wants it both ways: The character is at once a sociopathic, narrative-bending imp and potential team material, in the same way that his starring vehicle thumbs its nose at the same hero's arc to which it's basically adhering.
[AV Club]
Even though it takes plenty of risks with its central character, "Deadpool" plays it safe when it comes to its choice of plot and villains. It's a relatively straightforward origin story which evolves into an equally straightforward tale of revenge.
[IGN]
And The Meta-Commentary Can Be A Bit Much
That commentary does wear thin. It's juvenile and pushing hard for shock value, and there's so much of it that the shock can't help but feel strained and redundant
"Deadpool" might even stand as one of the strongest and most inventive films of the high-early-late superhero baroque — if we could just turn off its built-in commentary track.
But, Overall, It's A Fun Ride
"[U]nexpectedly joyful viewing." [The Verge]
"[T]he sweet spot of entertaining violence." [The Wrap]
"And as long as [Deadpool is] around, you'll have a ball." [Variety]
"Better-than-usual superhero stuff." [Village Voice]
"[A] large dose of unwholesome fun." [IGN]
"Deadpool is neurotic and needy – and very entertaining. An innocent pleasure." [The Guardian]
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