DEADPOOL (2016) Movie Reaction & Commentary! | Ryan Reynolds | Morena Baccarin | Ed Skrein
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The film's opening credits immediately set a unique, R-rated tone, signaling a departure from traditional superhero movies.
- ❖Ryan Reynolds' portrayal of Deadpool is considered perfect, leveraging his natural comedic style and dedication to the character.
- ❖The success of 'Deadpool' and 'Logan' demonstrated a market for R-rated superhero films, catering to an audience that had grown up with the genre.
- ❖The leaked test footage of Deadpool was instrumental in convincing the studio to greenlight the film, showcasing its potential.
- ❖The movie masterfully balances intense action and gore with emotional depth and rapid-fire comedic dialogue.
- ❖Effective 'mask acting' requires exaggerated movements and post-production enhancements to convey emotion, a technique well-executed in Deadpool.
Insights
1Deadpool's R-Rating and Genre Maturity
The hosts assert that 'Deadpool' (and 'Logan') marked a turning point for the superhero genre, proving that audiences had matured and were ready for R-rated content. This allowed for more explicit humor, gore, and serious storytelling, moving beyond the PG-13 limitations of earlier Marvel films.
Michael notes that 'Iron Man' came out in 2008, and 'Deadpool' in 2016, indicating an 8-year gap where fans grew up, making them receptive to the R-rated content. Brandon adds that the R-rating was essential for the character's success and allowed for 'proper comic book levels of seriousness and jokes and potential gore.'
2Ryan Reynolds' Dedication and the 'Leaked Footage' Catalyst
Ryan Reynolds' long-standing commitment to the Deadpool character was crucial, culminating in the film's production. The hosts recall that leaked test footage played a pivotal role in demonstrating the film's potential and securing studio approval.
Brandon states, 'Ryan Reynolds pushed for a long time to get this made.' He then describes seeing the leaked test footage of the opening action sequence, which he believes 'really pushed it forward as far as making the film was the reaction to that piece.' Michael confirms the story, noting the studio's initial hesitation and subsequent greenlight due to public reaction.
3The Art of Mask Acting in Superhero Films
The hosts discuss the unique challenges of 'mask acting,' where performers must exaggerate facial and head movements to convey emotion through a mask. Ryan Reynolds' performance as Deadpool is cited as an excellent example of this technique, enhanced by post-production effects.
Michael recounts Tom Holland's interview about over-exaggerating movements as Spider-Man to convey emotion through the mask. He applies this to Deadpool, stating, 'Ryan Reynolds does a really really good job of finding that as Deadpool too. I mean you can see the kind of over overexaggerated head movements.' He also mentions how Deadpool's moving eyes and mouth are accentuated in post-production.
4Casting Chemistry and Comedic Delivery
The film's casting, particularly Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin (Vanessa), and T.J. Miller (Weasel), is praised for its strong chemistry and ability to deliver rapid-fire, dry humor, which is central to Deadpool's character.
Michael praises Morena Baccarin's first exchange with Ryan Reynolds, noting their 'amazing' on-camera chemistry and ability to 'straight face say all these jokes.' Brandon adds that T.J. Miller is 'good with this type of comedy' and 'does a great job of like matching Ryan Reynolds's energy.'
Lessons
- Revisit 'Deadpool' with a fresh perspective, paying attention to the subtle comedic timing and meta-references that might have been missed previously.
- Observe how Ryan Reynolds' 'mask acting' conveys emotion through exaggerated movements, a technique crucial for masked characters.
- Consider the film's impact on the superhero genre's evolution, especially regarding R-ratings and mature storytelling, and how it compares to other films like 'Logan'.
- Look up behind-the-scenes trivia about 'Deadpool,' particularly the story of the leaked test footage and its role in the film's greenlight.
- Appreciate the casting choices and the chemistry between actors, noting how their performances elevate the film's unique humor.
Quotes
"It never fails to disappoint, or it never, it never disappoints ever. God, I love this movie. It's just like between this and Logan, it really was like, hey y'all, like the superhero fans have grown up."
"I really appreciate Ryan Reynolds ability to just be like, you know what? I'm going to make fun of literally every aspect of this and my career. That's why this character is perfect for him."
"The opening credits crawl really sets the tone for the whole thing in like an amazing way."
"I like the amount of times I've watched people in Captain America movies get domed by a flying shield that's made out of metal. Like that person's dead. That is a massive contusion to the skull. He's done."
Q&A
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