Breaking the previous opening weekend record for R-rated movies, “Deadpool” brought in an astonishing $152.2 million breaking the previous record held by “The Matrix Reloaded” by $60.4 million. This also was the biggest opening box office in the month of February beating “Fifty Shades of Gray” which made $85.2 million its opening weekend.  This opening weekend is mostly due to “Deadpool” opening in the age of Superhero movies making over $1 billion worldwide for their total box office is the norm. 20th Century Fox, who produce the X-Men movies, took a huge risk with this bad-mouthed “Superhero.”

“Deadpool” does the best job I have ever seen of understanding what it is and not shying away from the bad-mouthed, joke-cracking Deadpool that is beloved in the comics. From start to finish, it is nothing but dirty jokes, nudity and gruesome action-packed fight scenes.  The beauty of Deadpool is that his character breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience which makes for some of the funniest jokes in the movie.  A few times when Deadpool talks to the audience he nods to the fact that the budget isn’t as much as a normal superhero movie and the work it took to convince Fox to produce it because this is no ordinary heroic tale.

While this movie lives up to its well-deserved R-rating, at the end of the day it is a love story. The movie does a great job of using flashback sequences to introduce the audience to the protagonist, Wade Wilson (Deadpool).  In these flashbacks we learn about Wade before he becomes the “merc with a mouth” and is primarily based around his relationship with Vanessa Carlyle.  Director Tim Miller does a great job convincing the audience to buy in to their relationship and not make it feel forced like in a lot of superhero films. Believing they could be a real couple makes you feel all of the wild range of emotion Wade goes through throughout the movie.

The villain, Ajax, was probably the most vanilla character in the film. He is a prototypical British baddie with a little backstory and a convenient set of skills that fit well with his cold demeanor. The best part of Ajax is the constant hilarious jokes and insults Wade/Deadpool throws his way, especially about his name but I don’t want to spoil anything. Like I said earlier this is a love story at its roots but in a close second it’s a revenge movie. From the opening to the final scene “Deadpool” is dead set on getting his revenge on the man who tortured him and tore his life apart. Let’s just say you will leave the theater very satisfied with the ending.

There is a whole pool of supporting characters including X-Men, bartenders, and a blind and elderly roommate.  Two X-Men make an appearance  in “Deadpool” to supply support with the muscle and with morals.  Colossus is a veteran mutant who has  a sometimes too level head on his adamantium shoulders. He is partnered with his protegee Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Take a guess why they chose that particular mutant) character had who adds comedic elements that can relate to teenagers alike but also definitely packs a punch. Wade’s friend/bartender Weasel, who is played by actor T.J. Miller contributes plenty of funny scenes, in particular a scene near the end of the movie between Weasel, Deadpool and ‘Blind Al’ — Wade’s elderly roommate — is especially hysterical.

Deadpool is a character built for the big screen and this movie does nothing but prove it. I can’t imagine a way Fox could have better handled this beloved property by comic readers and superhero movie fans alike. It hits all of the beats that it needs to, getting Deadpool’s character perfectly portrayed by leading man Ryan Reynolds.  The supporting cast does a great job of playing off Reynolds’ quick one-liners and it shows how much Fox let the writers and director go and make the movie they wanted without restricting any of their creativity. “Deadpool” is definitely a movie you should check out if you’re 17 years old or above. I give ‘Deadpool’ 4.5 paws out of 5 and make sure to stay around for a post-credit scene that is both comedic and hints at the next installment.