Deadpool

We've seen so many goody toe-shoes superhero flicks over the years, and even though recently we've been treated to a bit more tongue-in-cheek humour, like we saw in 2015's Ant-Man for example, we'd argue that it's still not enough. Cue Deadpool, the fourth-wall breaking, foul-mouthed antihero who headlines this latest Marvel outing. If there's a character out there better suited to shaking up the status quo without drifting into the seriousness of Nolan's Batman movies, we can't think of one.

Deadpool has actually turned out to be one of the better Marvel movies, and it certainly helps that we instantly warmed to Ryan Reynolds' portrayal of the masked anti-hero. It's an inspired piece of casting, and the sarcastic delivery of many of the stinging one-liners is masterfully done. Of course, that'll make the movie an acquired taste, and if you don't like the actor, you won't like the movie, but we do and, as far as we're concerned, he's perfect for the role. Supporting Reynolds is an able supporting cast of friends and foes, and even a couple of lesser-known X-Men make an appearance.

In a nutshell, this is a revenge movie, with Deadpool horribly scarred by dastardly experiments that also make him practically invulnerable. Still, if you're going to be betrayed and horribly disfigured in the process, the ability to heal yourself in double-quick time is certainly going to prove helpful when its time to extract some much-needed reciprocity. His abilities prompt total hilarity at times, and throughout the narrative arc we were pleasantly surprised by some of the twists and turns. It's by no means an original story in most respects, but its delivery ensures that it stands out from the crowd where it matters.

It helps that Reynolds has been given the freedom to explore a well-constructed script, one that strikes a fine balance between parody and some of the more touching moments that the film has to offer. It was marketed very cleverly around Valentine's Day, and there's certainly a romantic element to the story thanks to the on-screen chemistry between Deadpool and Vanessa (played by Morena Baccarin), but at the end of the day, this is an action movie that's as ridiculous as it is entertaining.

Director Tim Williams pulls it all together with plenty of style, and from the excellent opening on the highway to the over-the-top climax, the audience is kept entertained. The blend of lewd humour and violence won't be to everyone's tastes, but we thoroughly enjoyed the two hours we spent in its company, and if you're looking for a wise-cracking superhero movie that walks with a confident swagger and does things a little differently, look no further than this.