1. What is it?
Part origin story, part comedy show, Deadpool is the story of the “merc with the mouth,” a mercenary who has gained accelerated healing and amazing physical abilities, thanks to a genetic research project. This is not your average Marvel adventure. It is a MATURE movie, intended for MATURE audiences.
2. Will I like it?
If you don’t, I feel sorry for you. Deadpool is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I know that I will have to go see it again next week, just to catch all the lines I missed because the entire audience was laughing so loud. From beginning to end, the laughter in our theater was almost nonstop. The action was great, but better than the fights and violence, Ryan Reynolds is so incredibly perfect in his lines, it was fantastic. The humor is base and raunchy; still, Reynolds’ softened delivery makes each horrible offense seem sugary sweet. On top of that, the movie is nicely (but not overly) self-referential and, as you can tell from the trailers, the breaking of the fourth wall is fun. (You can almost see the typewriter font.) Thankfully, it’s not overdone. It all fits with Deadpool’s breaking of the fourth wall (panel?) in comic books.
3. Will my kids like it?
Your kids aren’t going to see it because you’re a good parent, right? Look, I’m not going to tell you what to do with your kids, but this is a very hard “R”-rated movie. There is violence, nudity, and language — all in very strong quantity. There are a lot of amputations, crotch shots (punches), crotch shots (full frontal), and an almost constant stream of sexual innuendo and outright vulgarities. To top it off, you’d get carpal tunnel trying to count the profanities. I went with another dad to preview it before taking our kids — which we really wanted to do. We came to the conclusion that we couldn’t justify taking our 14-year-olds. It was just too much. You? You make your own choice. But don’t take younger kids. You’ll be ridiculed.
4. Are there unicorns in the movie?
Oh God. Yes.
5. We went out for drinks before the movie. When can we safely hit the bathroom without missing much?
That’s a bold strategy and one that might help you enjoy the movie even more. But remember, Uber or drive responsibly. The movie clocks in at an hour and 48 and a break may be necessary. I am not exaggerating when I say that the banter and funny lines are almost nonstop during the entire movie. However, there’s a scene of Wade beginning to mutate, about an hour in. Go then. But move quickly!
6. Were there any good previews before the movie?
There were quite a few previews, including Eddie the Eagle (with Wolverine!), Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, X-Men Apocalypse, Captain America: Civil War, Gods of Egypt (which looks like it might be a bust of Ishtar proportions), 10 Cloverfield Lane, and The Witch, which I hadn’t heard about before but looks suitably creepy.
7. Do I need to stay after the credits?
Of course you do, it’s a Marvel movie. And Deadpool has an extra scene that is my favorite Marvel end scene so far. Like the rest of the movie, it’s hilarious. It’s at the very end and, it takes a split second to get, but, oh boy, is it ever good.
Appreciate this. My daughter REALLY wants to see it. I would risk side-eye for side-boob here and there, and she gets most of the dick-jokes (she’s an internet kid after all), but maybe we rent this one and hide our bad parenting…
Way more than just side boob. Full on nudity in this movie. It just isn’t a movie for kids.
Heather, the movie will be available for your daughter to see it when she is the right age. It’s not like it won’t be available online or through a library. It isn’t hard to find a more appropriate movie. Do yourself a favor and be her parent, not her best bud.
Ugh… Did you even read what Heather said?
A few examples might help
1) he gets sodomized by his girlfriend
2) full frontal male nudity
3) masterbates with a stuffed unicorn
As the great Quintein Tarantino said “the cool parents will take their kids.” Look your daughter is 14, I’m sure she is exposed to foul language regularly and the nudity is not a big deal. im not going to tell you how to parent but if she wants to see it I think you should let her.
My husband and I were discussing this earlier. He said no, not a kid-friendly flick. I said that I agreed and thought a friend had brought their kid(s) in error. Thanks for the confirmation!
Thank you for this! Looks like I will have to officially break my son’s heart, but I’d rather do that than explain all the items in this movie or have him scarred for life.
Smart idea
Yeah I mean he will be devastated but I am sure he will understand
Thank you for the post! Was going to preview it before I took my kids. I’ll still see it but already told them it’s a no-go!
Dave , you’re an amazing writer! We will definitely leave the kiddos at home for this one.
Took my 11 year old he loved it… He was a little worried about seeing a dong but i just told him doesnt he see see a dong everyday when he pees…. As for the boobs who cares … The violence isnt much more than any other super hero movie just more graphic….. And deadpools humor really softens the brutality of it all… If you ask me the scence in in captain america the first avenger where captain america throws a guy in propeller blades and turns the hydra agent into red mist is alot more horrid… As for the cursing and context…. He hears alot worse from me, his mother , and tv …. I consider myself a good parent and i have a good son (he is respectful ,polite , courteous and thoughtful of others) i guess it all depends on where your childs maturity level is at also if he is a true fan of the sorce matrial… As for my boy both me and his mother are avid comic readers and growing up in the 80s i was seeing R movies with my dad and it was never look down upon and i turned out alright…..
Huh, that happened again in Winter Soldier, although it was the Winter Soldier slaughtering the good guys (he kicked a guy into the rotors of one of the Quinjets) who were trying to help Cap, so it was probably worse.
Fyi….you ARE a bad parent if your son heard vulgarity and crude sexual innuendos in your own home that were worse than in the movie. Believe me, you aren’t doing your son any favors! Teach him to be a man of character and respect! The rest of the world will thank you!
That was rude! Don’t be so judgemental! My son hears cussing all the time, yet he is a straight A student in advanced placement classes, he’s polite, caring, sensitive to others, and I get constant praise about how well behaved he is and how I’m doing such a great job parenting him! There are actually studies which show that people who cuss actually have higher intelligence and can better manage their emotions than those who dont! So suck on that!
So did the unibomber, Jen and any other future terrorist or bully you silly, ignorant, over-priveledged, twitter-humping, texting on your cell phone in a movie, milk-toast, double-parking in a handicapped spot at Starbucks because you’re in a hurry, no accountability, stack luggage I’m the overhead compartment, waste of time and space and three letters Jen.
Jen. … I like that. I’ll use that as my new cuss word for stupid people. Look at that, Jen! You’re not a waste after all! High five and a unicorn for you!
Lol. It’s “milquetoast.”
Kathy, this is a ridiculous comment. You are not very intelligent, sorry to say. YOU can choose not to have your kids learn bad language and crude sexual innuendos, but the truth is, what does it REALLY hurt?
Bad language is just words. The understanding of using the words is what is important. Just hearing them means nothing. Your words that you used, judging this guy, are actually MUCH WORSE than if you just had a post full of 4 letter F bombs! Do you realize that? Of course not.
So, I suggest to learn to better yourself, maybe you should realize that swearing or sexual discussion in itself isn’t bad. As a matter of fact, I’d prefer to teach my child all the words in the world, and all the sexual jokes in the world, so that he may grow up to understand them, and it won’t be a big deal. Keeping your kid hidden from those things only makes it worse when they do find out!!
DUH!!
Personally, what I think it is a shame is that Marvel heroes are, in my opinion, aimed at kids. I think it’s also a fact that adults, but dint of knowing the heroes from their childhool, are also fans. I think Marvel are doing themselves and their young fans a huge dis-service by not allowing a core group of their fans the ability to see what they have been looking forward to for a long time. In saying that, of course, my younger child won’t be going to see it as she is only 13 and the film has been rated 15 in the UK.
Unfortunately Marvel has no real say in this. FOX owns the rights to all the X-MEN related characters. If this was a Marvel Studios/Disney release, it would be toned down. Which i think would still work. Deadpool is censored in the comics they could still do that on film. I actually think it would work in his favor to be PG-13, it could create funny 4th wall stuff. FOX could release a PG-13 if the wanted easily. Just change the voice overs and trim down the unnecessary nudity and your good. Long run, it will make more money as a PG-13. It is morally weird as there are so many kids dressed as Deadpool at halloween and stuff.
People should know what they’re going in for and their kids. For the vast majority of people, Deadpool should be a no go.
We are one of Those Parents that actually did take our daughter. Which we’ve gotten no end of shit for. Difference with us is that we totally knew what we were in for. She didn’t understand the dick jokes (thank god) and whenever anything involving skin or romance or boinking came around, she hid under her own jacket of her own accord because, in her words, “Mating is gross.” As far as language goes, she hears worse from me on a regular basis. And violence? She’s the kid of gamers and action movie afficianados and a horror buff herself. She’s seen worse, amazingly enough.
I said to my son aged 13… “Son we need to talk about sex.”
He replied…
“What do you want to know dad”
You get me here right?
My 2 sons are 16 & 15. I took them to see it. It was great & they loved it. It was no words they haven’t heard before & no nudity they haven’t seen already. I respect ur decision on if u do or dont…call me wht u want..
I believe your boys are on the edge of the age range but I believe they were easily both old enough unless they’ve been sheltered their entire lives, the shaming is the parents taking their 7-12 year olds to go see it
Wow, what a bunch of prudes. If I ever have a kid the first double bill I am gonna show them is Eyes Wide Shut/The Exorcist. Why? Because I want them to get art.
It seems like they could have released a version for the kids. My son loves superheroes and his devastated he can’t see this. They’d of made a lot more money by also releasing the made for tv version in theatres. They have to edit them before they air on tv, so what would it have hurt to have that version in theatres for kids? They’d of made a lot more money.
If your parents don’t let you, ask a friend and just say you are going to see a cartoon or something. That’s what I am doing.
You know, I keep seeing people say stuff like “If it had been PG-13, it would have made so much more money.” in comments about this, and I don’t know why people think that. Let’s look at the numbers:
Right now, Deadpool didn’t just break the record as the highest R-Rated opening weekend ever, it’s also number 7 on the highest domestic opening weekends ever, beaten only by:
1) Avengers
2) Avengers: AOU
3) Iron Man 3
4) The Dark Knight Rises
5) The Dark Knight
6) Spider-Man 3
7) Deadpool
Note that Deadpool is the only: 1) Rated R, and 2) Non-Sequel (I’m counting Avengers as a sequel since it had 5 movies directly lead into it).
Deadpool also had the lowest production budget of any of those movies, meaning its opening weekend was almost 3 times more than its budget. Which is *insanely* successful.
Also note that Deadpool had a higher opening weekend than ANY of the other PG-13 X-Men movies–which had way more popular characters and actors than Deadpool. It beat the next PG-13 X-Movie by more than $30million, and that was X-3, which is widely considered the worst in the entire franchise. The most current PG-13 X-movie, considered to be the best, was Days of Future Past, which only made $90.8 million its opening weekend. And at this point, Deadpool is already poised to beat both of their domestic box office runs.
I like following the box office of comic book movies, because I’m a huge nerd. And I just want to put that theory to rest that, somehow, this movie lost a bucket of money by going “R” rather than “PG-13”.
Sorry I was typing too fast, that “top 7” opening weekends is for comic book adaptations, not movies in general.
To be fair it is a 14A movie in Canada. I would take a 14 yr old to see it without qualms. I have a hard time justifying taking my eldest though at 11 😉
Hi my names Trevor I’m 17 and I really want to see Deadpool what do you think I’m almost an adult which is 18 so would it be ok for me to see I don’t really care about the nudity neither does my stepbrothers dad
You just have to be 17 to go see a rated R movie, so go enjoy it.
Interesting post!
I just can’t with this! From what it sounds like, this movie would not be appropriate for ME let alone my kids! Why exactly are would anyone put thinks in their kids’ faces that they wouldn’t want them to mimic in their own lives (in front of you, or otherwise)? And yes, kids are hearing and seeing this stuff at school, because your kids are bringing it into their environments from what you’re exposing them to. And as for the the affect you think it’s NOt having, I know (from doing counseling) tons of “intelligent” porn-addict, woman abusing, vulgar men, who can ACT respectful in front of people when they need to, but privately dedtroy the people in their lives. If this is what’s being put into kids, but expected to not come out of them, we have the makings of a secret psychopath. Yep, it’s THaT serious! When will we learn as parents, to BE parents, and stop getting our own needs for affirmation be fulfilled by whether or not our kids ‘like’ us all the time.