Pause.
You good? Still here? I thought I should give a few minutes for people to process and for the sounds of escaping subscribers to die down. Yes, I went to a rated R movie. And yes, I am covering that rated R movie for my faith based column. Why? Because I am all about pop culture and finding Biblical themes where you wouldn’t usually find them and let me tell you, there were plenty of those last night. I also think that there isn’t enough support and love out there for people of faith who love pop culture. More often, in the faith community, there’s a lot of judgement and shame about enjoying entertainment. That’s something I plan to explore deeper in a future column along with the deeper spiritual messages you can find in Deadpool & Wolverine. For now, let’s just focus on the film itself.
If you have ever read a Deadpool comic or watched one of his films, you already know the levels of violence and profanity to expect and this film does not deviate from that course. Anything I say about the film from now on must be viewed like a chimichanga. All the delicious good stuff in this film is wrapped in a tortilla of crude, disgusting language before being deep fried in a bubbling compound of violence and gore. And the result is a deeply layered movie with enough spicy ingredients to give even the pickiest palate something to enjoy.
IMDB official synopsis:
A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life with his days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. But when his home world faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctant Wolverine.
Watching a Deadpool movie is a little like going through a theme park with a highly irreverent tour guide. You never know where he is going to take you or what’s going to happen next, but you can be darned sure that along the way, you’ll be horrified, terrified, and completely entertained. This movie is no different and it ended up being my favorite of all the Deadpool films.
As the title suggests, the relationship between Deadpool & Wolverine is the backbone of this movie. (The opening credits set this precedent very clearly.) Even through the ugliest of fights, biggest action scenes, and most intricate of plot points, that piece never gets lost. Every time that these two are on the screen the chemistry between them just slides off the screen and covers everything. No matter whether they are fighting each other or back to back fighting other people, the two of them are the ultimate compadres. Through myriad plot twists, fight scenes, and incredible action sequences, this is what keeps the audience anchored to the story and the fates of these characters. They matter. Their stories and their burdens matter to the audience. That makes this so much more than a simple popcorn action film. If you only go into it looking for fight scenes, you are going to miss the beauty and depth of the emotional layers that resonate through this film.
Wolverine is a beautiful, strong but broken man. He struggles with a lot of topics that most people can understand. Carrying burdens of guilt and regret. The weight of one’s sins being overbearing to the point of utter despondency. How do you go on? Do you stop? Are your choices in life what defines you? Or is it your actions? And the biggest question that resonated with me: Is it possible to be fully redeemed and restored? As Christians we should honestly all say yes. That’s what the foundation of our faith is built upon. But all too often (especially in social media) Christians are those who remind people constantly of their failings and downfalls. I find it fascinating that a foul mouthed, crude (and sometimes just gross really) superhero can define hope, courage, and strength in the face of adversity.
This movie was everything that I expected and hoped for. The cameos were brilliant. You don’t want to blink, visit concessions, or need to go to the bathroom during this one. There was a lot of screaming, clapping, and shouting during the screening and let me assure you that every single utterance was a love letter back to Ryan and Hugh for the beautiful moments they built into this film. Far more than any other franchise I have ever loved, Deadpool is, at the very core of his being, a love letter to fans and fandoms. He expresses the same love for superheroes that his audience has. Ryan Reynolds is a living, breathing masterclass in understanding your audience and giving them what they want.
For movie lovers, this film is the reason why you go to theaters and watch with others. At its heart it’s emotional, beautiful, and deeply layered while also being stupid, crazy, and filled with over the top violence and irreverence.
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