The Pull of Deadpool

I was curious about why the movie, Deadpool, needed to be R-rated. The comic book was originally written for 12 and up.  I've now seen the movie, loved it, and still don't know why it needed to be the hard R it is.  Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of reasons it is R-rated, I just don't get why it "had" to be this hard of R for it to work.  I am also like James Gunn and worried that Hollywood will take the wrong lesson from the success of Deadpool which is generally clever in its unique way.  Hollywood has already started to look for other comic book movies to turn into R-rated franchises. That's the wrong reason.  So the real question becomes would Deadpool remain R-rated if it cut all the swearing and nudity? The answer is that if it did, it would be a much softer R.

What makes Deadpool work is not the ability of the characters to go to strip clubs or drop F-bombs at any time the script writer deems it necessary.  It is the gritty humor and bent point of view that makes the movie and the comic work.  Deadpool, the character, is a killing machine and it is this violence that would probably keep the movie out of the PG-13 range because there is a huge difference between a comic book drawing and a live action flick.  Deadpool, the merc with the mouth, has in both movie and comic something unique.  Deadpool is aware that he is in a comic book.  Unlike his first movie appearance in Wolverine Origins, the movie often is more of a true origin story.  Deadpool, being aware of his fictional status, in fact, takes aim at that movie as well as Ryan Reynold's other super-hero failure, Green Lantern. Them movie actually works because it has so much fun with other Marvel franchises especially the X-Men series.  It is this moment to moment humor that makes Deadpool so much fun.  There are also plenty of more adolescent gags that would be ripe for a PG-13 version of the film, but at times were a bit out of place for the more adult themes of the hard R.

No, Deadpool doesn't need to be the swear fest it is. It is clever and original, and that is what makes it work and succeed.  The characters, like most comic book movies, are not particularly multi-dimensional, but it is the awareness of his fictional status by Deadpool that makes the comic book and the movie work.  Is it my favorite, no.  It's a fun one in the same tradition of Guardians of the Galaxy.  Deadpool was not the first R-rated comic book movie, and it will not be the last.  It is, though, currently the most successful.  I look forward to its sequel, but if you go see it, leave the kids at home.   You have been fairly warned. Oh, and be sure to read the opening credits.




 I liked it and will probably buy the DVD.