Ryan Reynolds returned to the X-Men film series in the role that he first starred in the much maligned superhero film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. After years of development with New Line Cinema and putting the film in a turnaround before 20th Century Fox picked up the anti-hero flick, bringing it back to the X-men Universe. Wade Wilson (Reynolds) is a former special forces operative who works as a mercenary in New York City, jokingly taking jobs when he is hired. When he is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he is recruited by a secret program that offers an experimental cure for his cancer. Deciding to leave his girlfriend, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), Wilson joins the experiment, meeting Ajax (Ed Skrein) and Angel Dust (Gina Carano), instantly disliking them. A long range of torturing experiments caused Wilson to trigger his regenerative mutation, but with physically disfiguring him in the process. After escaping the facility, Wilson plans his revenge on those who wronged him.
Now, Wilson does talk to the audience throughout the film, hilariously narrating the road that led him to his current situation, wearing a tight red spandex suit and leaving a path of carnage on a busy city bridge. Breaking of the fourth wall made it even more funny, poking fun at other superhero films, especially previous X-Men films. Bascially, Ryan Reynolds is Deadpool. The actor has now been fully identified and attached with the Merc with a Mouth. His performance and humor was definitely worth high praise. The violence is also worth praise because it reminded me of a better version of Kick-Ass. While previous superhero movies now have greatly choreographed fight scenes with a PG-13 rating, Deadpool honors the violence of his comics and origin story.
The only problem that I had with this film was the formulaic plot. First of all, yes, this anti-hero film is a love story. Wilson's girlfriend is taken by Ajax (you'll learn his real name during the film), giving Wilson more motivation to take him and Angel Dust out. Beyond that, this film is a great installment in the X-Men film series. Speaking of the mutant team, it wouldn't be an installment without a role from two members of the team: Colossus and newcomer Negasonic Teenage Warhead. Before, it was reported that this film fits into the overall plan of the X-Men universe. How it will ultimately fit in the universe, especially being so different from the previous films, First Class and Days of Future Past, remains to be seen.
Overall, a fun time seeing a dude in red spandex cause some mayhem for about an hour and a half.
