Deadpool Kicks off Important Year for Superhero Movies

First off, if you haven't seen Deadpool yet, what the hell are you waiting for? Even if the superhero genre isn't your cup of tea, I have no doubt that you will enjoy this movie thoroughly. There wasn't a time throughout the movie when I wasn't wearing a giant grin. Deadpool is refreshing. After three Ironman movies, two Avengers, Captain America and Thor movies, all superhero movies began to look and sound the same. So much so that while I was excited for the first Avengers film, my interest in Marvel movies has tapered off... until I saw that Deadpool was being released.

It's the first of six superhero movies being released this year, which is A LOT, and Deadpool certainly set the bar quite high. The issue with six movies superhero movies being released in a calendar year is that it's possible fans and viewers could be overwhelmed and become tired of it all. But, if these films all follow a similar pattern to Deadpool, then it could be a pivotal year for superhero movies.

I have a difficult time calling Deadpool a superhero movie because Deadpool is not a superhero. That's his draw. He's foul-mouthed, raunchy, and violent, while lacking any moral sense whatsoever. It's fantastic. The world can only take so much of Captain America's preaching and heroism. They're sick of seeing these characters always doing the "right" thing, despite spending at least two hours fighting villains who are trying to kill them. Fans want to see something different, and Deadpool delivers that from the opening credits to the ending after credits scene.

I'm not just speaking in generalities either. Last weekend's box office take of close to $150 million in the United States shattered the expectation by more than doubling its initial projection. Why, you ask? Well, the movie is simple. Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and after being presented with an opportunity for treatment to eradicate the disease, while reluctant at first, he ultimately decides to undergo the treatment for the sake of his fiancee Vanessa (Morena Baccarin).

It turns out that the "treatment" was weeks upon weeks of torture by Ajax (Ed Skrein). Ajax physically destroyed Wilson, turning his entire body into one giant scar. Naturally, Wilson wanted to track Ajax down and kill him. I mean, who wouldn't when you look like this?

At its core, Deadpool is a love story. A sick and twisted love story, but a love story no less. Combine that with Wilson's quest for revenge, along with his insatiable appetite for violence, then you have a movie that audiences will love. It's a simple plot that the audience can easily relate to and understand. Ajax hurt this man, kidnapped the love of his life, and now this man sets out to rescue her and serve justice. The world isn't ending, New York City isn't under attack, and there are no aliens. It's Deadpool setting out to do a job and accomplishing it.

Just like when Christopher Nolan changed the tone with superhero movies with the "Dark Knight Trilogy," Deadpool can do the same here. People go to the movies to be entertained. They go to have fun. I, for one, can't really take much more dark, depressing superhero movies. I've phased them out. It's one of the reasons why I'm not that excited for Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice or Captain American: Civil War. If I want to be depressed after watching a movie, I'll go watch The Revenant, not a superhero movie.

It's a huge year for superhero movies. Along with those I've already mentioned, X-Men: Apocalypse, Suicide Squad, and Dr. Strange are also being released. It's going to be interesting to see how the traditional superhero movies compare to Deadpool. And by traditional, I mean X-Men, Batman vs. Superman and Captain America. Just from the trailers alone, these three movies are bound to be grim and despondent, which is what we've come to expect from superhero movies nowadays. Suicide Squad will be massive because it's different. Judging from the trailer, it looks like a blast. Dr. Strange, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, has the potential to be incredible, but I'm curious to see how the plot will develop. Too bad it releases in November.

If by the time December rolls around, and Deadpool is widely considered a better viewing option than the other Marvel and DC movies, then how will the studios react? Obviously, future superhero movies don't need be full of sex, "fucks," and killing at an incredibly high rate, but they can be fun, humorous, and action-packed, while achieving the same result. Just look at the Guardians of the Galaxy or Ant-Man as examples.

We will see how 2016 treats the superhero genre, but if it goes how I think it's going to go, it would be prudent of the studios to follow Deadpool's lead into the future. Because if not, then I feel the genre will become stale, boring, and eventually fall out of favor with fans across the world.