After several years of development hell, the official Deadpool movie is finally released. Ryan Reynolds previously played Wade Wilson/Deadpool in the 2009 film “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. Reynolds was one of the few good things of that particular movie (spoiler alert: it was awful). It seems that Ryan Reynolds is given full creative control this time around and it is awesome. Ryan Reynolds fits the character so well, I can’t imagine anybody else in the same role.

“Deadpool” is the best written comic book adaptation since 2014’s “Guardians of Galaxy”. Like “Guardians”, “Deadpool” proves that you can have an intelligent screenplay and still be hilarious. This film parodies the current oversaturation of superhero movies by playing around with its tropes. Not only that, the film takes liberties with the traditional superhero movie narrative.

The film is also well-made on a technical level considering the fact it’s the directorial debut by visual effects artist Tim Miller. Although the fight scenes tend to be ultraviolent and gory, they are still well-choreographed. The visual effects have a sense of humor to them as evident in the opening credits.

My only criticism of the movie is that it might alienate certain audience members. Deadpool is an R-rated antihero that constantly breaks the fourth wall, curses like a sailor and kills villains without any hesitation. He doesn’t fit the mold of a typical “superhero”. In fact, he insists over and over again in the movie that he isn’t a superhero. That’s why his comics have a devoted cult following. It’s a film made by fans for fans.

Overall, “Deadpool” is the first great movie of 2016. The film shows that not all comic book adaptations have to be ultra-serious and edgy (e.g. “Man of Steel”) in order to have a well-written script.

SCORE: 4.5/5