Starring Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool has been one of the huge hits so far this year with it’s Meta-Comic-Hero movie. Directed by Tim Miller (previously involved with Thor / Thor : The Dark World), its screenplay is by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.

Reynolds plays Wade Wilson, a former special forces operative, now turned mercenary with a quick wit and lack of any desire to be ‘the good guy’. Having fallen in love with Vanessa (Morena Baccarat from Homeland), he finds himself diagnosed with terminal cancer and his world rapidly slipping away. In desperation he turns to a mysterious individual offering the opportunity to go through treatment that will cure him, and give him ‘super powers’.

The treatment leaves him disfigured, however his mutated body, not only cured of the cancer but also with new strength, and ability to heal itself from almost anything. However he finds himself seeking a cure to his disfigurement and drawn into conflict with those who offered him the treatment.

To their credit, when people have described Deadpool as unlike any other comic book movie, they’re not kidding. It is highly self aware, breaks a number of traditional ‘rules’ in the genre and bounces around genres throughout.

Reynolds is perfectly cast in this role and has clearly put everything into it. There are no stones left unturned as references to his panned The Green Lantern film, and own acting ability are both referenced in the 3rd person.  He is credited as a producer of the film and was involved in lobbying the studio in the past to have the film made.

It finds a balance of being very funny, with some huge action set pieces, whilst still being a story that is emotionally engaging  which has proven to be a very challenging thing to do in the past.  No doubt the studio will be ecstatic with the film’s performance with it having grossed $756M on a budget of $56m. For comparison, that gross puts it above the majority of MCU films, with a budget far less than any of them. It’s also now the highest rated R movie of all time.