Deadpool comes from FOX's own cinematic Marvel Universe (the one that has the X-Men in it.) Much like the run of the comic book that made it popular, it's funny, it breaks the fourth wall repeatedly, it's self referential, it's crude, and it gives no fucks. On the other hand, its attempt at an origin story kinda slows things down, and the non-origin story scenes tended to be the better parts of the film. I'd have preferred something more imaginative and off the wall. Instead the origin story is more or less a traditional one, probably made to ease newbies into the new franchise.
For all the action, the movie is about one guy's love for a lady and how he wants to get back together with her. In a sense, it's the perfect Valentine's Day film. There are also some great action scenes (including one very imaginative use of slow motion in the opening sequence) between Deadpool, his X-Men sorta-allies, and the villains.
Ryan Reynolds really learned the lessons of superhero-ing after his failed stint with DC's Green Lantern; Deadpool's the antithesis of that role he played. And the end effect is damn funny.
I might have been with the wrong crowd, but I found that a lot of the audience members during the screening I attended weren't getting all of the jokes. I don't know if it was a cultural thing or the last full show made the audience sleepy.
There are a lot of shoutouts to X-Men and the Deadpool comic that the film is based on. Vanessa, Deadpool's girlfriend, is the mutant superhero Copycat in the comics. There are also references to the creators of Deadpool, (in)famous artist Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza (in the form of a Starbucks coffee cup and a road sign, respectively.) Of course the requisite Stan Lee cameo is in there too (as an announcer at a strip club, no less.)
So it's a fun film. It's definitely different than any comic book movie that's been out for the past decade. I have high hopes for the sequel, since that film won't be constrained by the narrative limitations of being an introductory film.
(If you've been watching the Marvel stuff, I recommend Jessica Jones which just finished its run recently. I might write something about that in the future.)
And here we have yet another Wattpad adaptation. Girlfriend for Hire stays true to a formula that has progressively gotten stale for the past few years. But dead horses need to be beaten, so here we are.
Our Heroine is 17 year old Shania Nami San Jose (or Nami Shania San Jose, the film can't make up its mind and interchanges the two), a spunky college student. She runs afoul of rich kid Bryle Stanford (who the hell makes up these names?) and they form a weird relationship that could only exist in a bad Koreanovela or a Shoujo Manga.
The main characters seem to be written haphazardly. Bryle is either a jerk or a jerk with a heart of gold. Andre Paras tries to evoke his dad's signature mannerisms into his character and succeeds, but it's something I don't think was necessary and it makes it seem like he was miscast for the role. Nami is spunky, but she gives in to everything Bryle says... for the sake of money? She isn't even 100% into the guy until the last half, since she has a crush on a hunky chef from next door. And yet a relationship is formed, complete with implied sexy time on the beach. You may remember that our heroine is 17. Have fun with that thought.
The film inserts conflict (tm) in the last half, and the strange thing about it is, she does all the work for both characters. Bryle doesn't even fight for his woman, he kinda just stands there in the last scene and doesn't say anything. Nami goes into a slapping match, but its not for Bryle's sake, it's more for her own, and that's really all we get out of it (and if we are to believe her, she'd rather forget the relationship in the first place.)
Wattpad stories have always been stories of fantasy wish fulfillment to me, presenting the most unlikely relationships through idealized, rose tinted glasses. On closer scrutiny there really is no reason to get into a relationship with a bad boy with lots of money and endure abuse and unfair treatment, other than for the sake of that money. And relationships like this seldom work out in real life. But tell that to the makers of schlock like 50 Shades of Gray, who are currently rolling in beds of money. I don't know. Women have cooties.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of interesting stories on Wattpad. Like I said way back in December '14, some stories are better written than others, and it's to the benefit of all if the filmmakers involved innovate or improve on the stories presented. The dead horse doesn't have to be dead. It could be prancing around in the sky like an alicorn farting rainbows.
And with that nonsensical statement, I will end here.
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