Deadpool (2016)

Quick take

Ryan Reynolds was born to play this role, and the studio finally let him.

The good

• Reynolds' comedic timing carries the whole film
• The fourth-wall breaking never overstays its welcome
• Refreshingly brutal for a superhero film — earns its R rating
• The love story actually works, which is a surprise

The bad

• Ajax is a forgettable villain
• The third act is standard superhero fare after a genuinely inventive first two acts
• The budget constraints show in the final battle

Verdict

Deadpool proved the superhero genre could do something genuinely different. It's not just a good superhero film — it's a good film, period. The irreverence is earned, not forced, and Reynolds makes it look effortless.