At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, Deadpool has a chance to be a comic book superhero movie unlike any we’ve ever seen. Not necessarily because of anything shown on screen or a different take on such a story, but rather a mindset and sensibility that creates a distinct take on the genre.
Ryan Reynolds, writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and director Tim Miller are poking fun at comic book superhero tropes — especially those involving the X-Men — and demonstrating that this stuff doesn’t have to be so deadly serious, yet everyone involved is being extremely faithful to the character and tone established by the Marvel Comics. As trailers and promos for the film have shown, this isn’t going to be watered down for a wider audience.
The latest example of this is a video showing Deadpool hanging out with a group of kids for Halloween. He’s recruiting some superhero mutants for his team (“How many of you have taken a human life?”), but may be dealing with a tougher crowd than he anticipated.
Making fun of mutant superpowers like shooting laser beams out of the eyes and controlling the weather is funny enough. But the fact that Reynolds continually ridicules his role (and especially the ill-conceived CGI costume) in Green Lantern, which was supposed to be his big superhero franchise breakout, is glorious.
Also targeted is the first on-screen portrayal of Deadpool/Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, in which the character was inexplicably altered and perverted. (Is that too over the top? Maybe a bit.) Thankfully, Reynolds isn’t getting his mouth sewn shut in this one.
Dear Fox, stop changing the timelines. It’s confusing the audience. #xmenassemble #happyhalloween pic.twitter.com/XkhejBLRWS
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) November 1, 2015
Deadpool opens in theaters on Feb. 12, 2016.
