You've possibly/probably seen this already, so yes this review does contain spoilers. 

I'm definitely late to this party, but I finally got round to seeing Deadpool this week. It's one of those parties where even making it to the last 5 minutes is worth it. If you can make it to all mind-bogglingly-crude-but-crafty 108 minutes, you'll be leaving the cinema with laughter smeared all over your face. 20th Century Fox's take on this Marvel anti-hero smashes through the fourth wall with so much (x) force - and then smashes loads of people's faces too. I will warn you now - it's that sort of film. You may be thinking, oh no another superhero movie, but Deadpool's makers are so well aware of that. Don't you worry.

Ryan Reynolds has received universal acclaim for his portrayal as the titular character aka Wade Wilson, and rightly so - it's been about10 years in the making too.  So what exactly does he do in the film? He's a mercenary, an anti-hero, a guy with a smart mouth...not your typical Marvel 'hero'. But there's the typical superpower catalyst although this one's much darker than being bitten by a radioactive spider, or otherwise. Terminal cancer is a terrible thing, with people reacting to it in different ways. In Wilson's case, he gets incredibly sketchy black market treatment that isn't actually cancer treatment, but mutant experimentation instead. Think Wolverine (which Reynolds's Deadpool has actually already starred alongside) but more sadistic. And just like that, he has accelerated healing powers...and a disfigured body. The plot is actually pretty simple, with poor Ryan just trying to fix his face to win back his girl, and making the bad guy pay.

The result is a pretty straightforward film, but told incredibly well. There's some time hopping but don't worry about getting lost because you get narration (yup). All that fourth wall stuff really does play a part. What makes Deadpool really standout, however, is the script and its oh-so-daring sense of humour. I was in hysterics from the very start, from the early unusual credits which include "a British villain", "a moody teenager" and the director is "an overpaid tool". The producers are "asshats", and the writers are the "real heroes here". Brilliant! I mean, that's like a benchmark in the first 5 minutes already. You know that this film can laugh at itself (gotta love those, I'm thinking Kick Ass, 22 Jump Street), will be brutally honest, and that will be hilarious.

I couldn't get enough of all the pop-culture gags and analogies and tongue-in-cheek referrals to our 'real world' - was that a People magazine with Ryan Reynolds as the World's Sexiest Man I spotted in the spectacular opening scene!? There are also constant mini digs at the Marvel Universe, and superhero in-jokes, and jokes so subtle I needed them explained to me afterwards (the Subway guy). Some might say they go too far, but I say what a refreshing and unexpected change.

A funny and witty script is one thing, but it's all in the execution, which Reynolds does perfectly. Also how well did they do his makeup? The supporting cast are also great, even if they don't get that much screen time and are frequently drowned out. Ed Skrein plays the baddie Francis aka Ajax, reminding me of a cross between Jason Statham and Vinnie Jones. He's a good baddie, but doesn't always come across as sinister as he could perhaps be. Morena Baccarin is Wilson's girlfriend, someone to match his crazy and does so brilliantly. What I love is that she's tough, not a damsel in distress (the latest Lois Lane could probably learn a thing or two..). You've also got funny memorable performances from T.J Miller (best friend at the bar, he's got a dead pool going on) and Leslie Uggams (Blind Al, what a wacky sidekick). There could have had some more development of the two featured X-Men mutants - they almost feel like comic relief backup in places, and definitely intentional low-budget (hey, they said it, not me).

Deadpool has been given a much lower budget than most superhero or action films ($7 million had to be slashed from the budget last minute, reportedly), but it makes really good use of it. There are only a few big all-guns-blazing type scenes, but it actually works here and we get more personal moments with Reynolds (some a little too personal, if you get my drift..).

The film tries to push the limits on so many levels, but the shock factor probably reached a peak pretty early on (127 Hours style). I'll admit I hid behind my scarf for a lot of the middle section. Blood and guts and gore aren't really my thing... It's also crude, rude, unnecessarily nude, - I'm not sure you'd get this type of thing from Disney.

There is a love story behind everything that's going on and although it's a tad predictable, it doesn't feel like the story that's been done a million times before. Like I say, the story is no rocket science; having said that, it does feel like they spent a lot of time on the origins, the backstory - only this time it wasn't a deliberate spoof. But I gained so much confidence in the rest of the film that I know it'll free up the (confirmed) sequel for the next chapter.

I don't think I remember laughing so hard in a cinema. Sure, it is a little all over the place, but surprisingly it really works. It's a film critics could nitpick at for hours but I think we just need to accept it for what it is (and accept Deadpool for who he is, ha). It's a lot of fun - and if you can even fit in a David Beckham joke in there, and a Hugh Jackman mask, you get my vote for sure.


Pssssst. PS. Is there a post-credits scene? Yeah. You'll be staying through all the credits simply for another conversation with Deadpool, and he really doesn't say much. But it's worth it.