Bolstered by its clever, character-driven marketing campaign, "Deadpool" is a refreshing antidote to most big-studio action movies. Yes, it's based on a comic book, but I hesitate to call it a superhero movie simply because Deadpool is just a guy with powers who tries to do the right thing -- often in the worst way possible. After a brilliant opening credits sequence, what's left of the fourth wall is regularly punctured by Deadpool's snarky, self-aware meta-commentary. Played with the perfect level of charismatic candor by Ryan Reynolds, "Deadpool" takes us on a crash-course through his origin story and fellow characters to firmly cement his place among the rest of the tamer Marvel Comics universe.
Much has been made of the film's R-rating, but despite the presence of language, sex, and violence, it's not a license for gratuitous exploitation. Instead, the film is true to the sharper edges of the character and the source material without resorting to the gross, immature giggles that have been dumbing down Hollywood action movies for years. The inevitable sequel appears to be setting up further, more obscure reaches of the Marvel mythology, but now we have proof that these are smart filmmakers who are in tune with fans and the audience at large. I'm sure Deadpool will hold up just fine on his own.
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