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Deadpool

8/10

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano, Leslie Uggams, Brianna Hildebrand, Karan Soni, Jed Rees, Stefan Kapicic, Randal Reeder, Isaac C. Singleton Jr.

Director: Tim Miller

For once even the inevitable appearance by never-shy Marvel Comics character creator Stan Lee doesn’t derail this splendidly scabrous, bitterly black comic superhero show that finds Ryan Reynolds in hilarious filthy form and more than compensating for his unfortunate previous superhero outing as Green Lantern).

Here Reynolds (“You may be wondering why the red suit. Well, that's so bad guys don't see me bleed”) is glorious as Wade Wilson who, transformed by unsanctioned cancer treatment from contract killer to foul-mouthed red-costumed cinema superhero creates escalating chaos, cruel comedy and wild action as he goes after British villain Ed Skrein, the cause of his calamitous mutation.

Like Reynolds, first time feature film director Tim Miller scores strongly, staging plenty of adrenaline-surging action (lucky Mr Reynolds – presumably he gets to dub the stuntmen rather than risking broken limbs and painful retakes) and vivid spectacle and making the most of the splendidly cynical, frequently filthy and even more frequently funny screenplay and excellent special effects when needed.

Alan Frank

USA 2016. UK Distributor: 20th Century Fox. Colour by deluxe.
103 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 2, Drugs 1, Swearing 2.

Review date: 13 Jun 2016

DVD review