When Marvel proposed the possibility of a film based on one of its most profane and violent creations, Deadpool, most fans (including myself) reacted with a mixture of elation and weariness. Questions arose from fans and critics alike: Would the studio actually pull through with the film, or would its lack of interest cause the film to die, just as it had nearly a decade before? Would the cast and crew actually deliver a true interpretation of the foul-mouthed mercenary, or would fans be stuck with the disappointment that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine’s Deadpool? Would Ryan Reynolds (cast to play the Merc with a Mouth) finally redeem himself and clear his name of all the shame it has received with his previous comic-book-turned-film roles in Green Lantern and Origins?

The answers came with the release of 20th Century Fox and Marvel Entertainment’s Deadpool. Die-hard fans of the comic book character were treated to all they had dreamed of and more: obscene profanity, violent explosions, bloody fights, and a love story unlike any other.

The film follows the story of Wade Wilson (Reynolds) as he falls in love, learns he has terminal cancer, and becomes the Deadpool we’ve all come to know and care for. For the sake of those who have not yet seen the film, I won’t go into too much detail, but I will say this: Deadpool, though having a few recurring jokes that tend to grow a little old after a time, is a masterpiece. We are introduced to the titular antihero as he hunts down one of his mortal enemies, and nearly simultaneously, we are given the story of how he was created, why he was created, and how that has impacted his life from that moment until the present. We are treated to a story within a story, and eventually, both connect in the timeline of life. The result? An action-packed, crazy, hilarious ending that brings the movie to a close and yet leaves the audience drooling for more.

Reynolds (who had been fighting to create this film for years on end) expertly portrays the character fans have been begging for. Full of snarky comments, hilarious (if crude) gags, and language that would make a truck driver blush, Reynolds delivers a Deadpool that makes the idea of an R-rated film about an immature comic book character a little less absurd and a bit more strangely enjoyable.

It cannot go without saying that Reynolds was joined by a stellar supporting cast. Ed Skrein and Gina Carano impress as villains Ajax and Angel Dust, T.J. Miller and Leslie Uggams induce major laughs as Deadpool’s best friend Weasel and roommate Blind Al, Morena Baccarin stuns as Deadpool’s love interest Vanessa, and Stefan Kapičić and newcomer Brianna Hildebrand are perfectly cast as Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead, respectively. All make for impressionable characters who stick out and remain ever-present throughout the film.

In short, Deadpool delivers a film unlike any Marvel audiences have witnessed before. Full of explosive action, repetitive gags, and a story that cannot be beat, the audience will be left cracking up throughout the entirety of the film, and will leave the theatre in a state of satisfaction and gratitude. The plotline would not work in any other movie, and those who have not yet seen it are missing out on something extremely different, yet incredibly entertaining.