Culture

Alternative Valentine’s Day Film: Deadpool

February 9, 2016
Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) doesn’t really see eye-to-eye with Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand).

Dead pool (Ryan Reynolds) doesn’t really see eye-to-eye with Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand). TM & © 2015 Marvel & Subs. TM and © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Accessed via EPK.TV

Every year over Valentine’s weekend a slushy, romantic love-epic is released in the cinemas. In 2014 it was Endless Love, in 2015 it was Fifty Shades of Grey and now, in 2016, it’s Deadpool.

Not your traditional Valentine’s Day film, Deadpool is a Marvel comics origin story. After undergoing experimental treatment, Wade Wilson (played by Ryan Reynolds) is left with the ability to heal faster than the speed of light. The film follows this antihero as he uses his superhuman powers to get revenge and team up with other, rather quirky, individuals along the way.

Deadpool’s antihero status allows him to be brilliantly sarcastic, wonderfully facetious and thrillingly violent. Both a goodie and baddie in one, Deadpool is an oddly endearing character and when we find out about his past we can understand why. Yes, while this is an alternative to the usual Valentine’s Day film, the witty Deadpool does suffer heartbreak. Before his transformation Wade Wilson was in love with the beautiful Vanessa (played by Morena Baccarin). However, after he is changed forever into a self-healing superhuman everything in his life falls apart, including any future he could have had with Vanessa. Such heartbreak reveals the human side of this super character, transforming him from a straightforward villain, into a hurt and lonely man.

Just as with most of the Marvel films, we can expect cameos from other iconic Marvel characters, particularly those of the X-Men films in which Deadpool made his first onscreen appearance. Yet, Deadpool is refreshingly different from other films of the Marvel franchise as much of the comedy comes from the fact that this film is meta. Part of Deapool’s sarcasm comes from his repeated acknowledgement that his life is a superhero film.

Having enjoyed a leisurely cab drive, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) is ready for battle, joined by Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand).

Deadpool is ready for battle, joined by Negasonic Teenage Warhead. TM & © 2015 Marvel & Subs. TM and © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Accessed Via EPK.TV

Full of action, comedy, love and lycra suits – Deadpool looks set to be one of Marvel’s best films. Yet, surprisingly, Deadpool was almost never made. In an interview with Graham Norton for The Graham Norton Show, Reynolds explains that when the concept of the film was first brought to Fox it was rejected, however, after test footage of the film was leaked in 2014, everything changed. Reynolds tells Norton that almost immediately after the footage was leaked Fox was faced with numerous messages from fans begging them to make the film. And, within 24 hours, Deadpool was given the go ahead.

So, if you’re looking for something a little bit different this Valentine’s Day, Deadpool is the film for you. Released in the UK on Wednesday 10 February, get yourself down to the cinema and let us know what you think @MilkBathSpa

 

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