The New Face of Marvel
February 22, 2016
Deadpool (2016).
D: Tim Miller. DP: Ken Seng. W: Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick. Starring: Ryan Reynolds/Morena Baccarin/T.J. Miller/Ed Skrein/Brianna Hildebrand/Stefan Kapicic/Gina Carano/Leslie Uggams/Karan Soni.
Deadpool has already become the sixth biggest R-rated box officer grocer of all time in just two weekends of release. Without going into statistics it’s safe to say that’s impressive for a February release and a film that would seemingly be targeted for a specific geek audience of a certain age. The comedy and violence definitely deserve the rating, but also allows Deadpool all the freedom it needs to hit the mark.
For first time director Tim Miller the plate and palate of this film was a big one. Previously on creative teams and the second unit director on Thor: The Dark World, Miller and his star, Ryan Reynolds, clearly understand the Marvel universe and the deft hand it takes to parody it. Parody is almost the wrong word because yes it finds humor in its mimicry, but it also unabashedly enjoys. Almost pastiche if you will. Reynolds had been attempting to make a Deadpool film for over a decade, with his character teased in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. 20th Century Fox was taciturn about the project until a teaser bit of footage of Reynolds hit the web and caused a frenzy.
The Deadpool character is not only officially anti-X-Men, whom appear in this movie, but also anti-hero in a uniquely modern narcissistic messed up way. 2010’s Kick-Ass clearly came from this world as well. In its graphics and marketing Deadpool blatantly riffs on the Marvel universe, which cloaks itself in pseudo seriousness. Yet underneath that it unearths plot points and rattles typical narrative structures to call its audience attention to what they enjoy and why. The film follows Reynolds’ Wade who is a hot hired meat head as he meets a girl named Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), has a lot of sex, falls in love, and then tragedy strikes. The tragedy leads him to becoming Deadpool and seeking revenge.
Deadpool is full level meta with Reynolds talking to the audience through direct address. He even wipes something off the camera lens at one point. He commentates on everything with Reynolds bringing delightful joy to a cynical character whose dark past is used as hot competition with Vanessa. Baccarin (HBO’s Homeland and Fox’s Gotham) is a good match for Reynolds and it is refreshing to see an age-appropriate couple on screen. A lots has been made of the violence and sex. However, the violence is nothing worse than in other films and to me the sex references merely match that level of violence. It works here, but that does not mean its a formula for all future films.
As I am not a comic book reader nor come from a pool of Deadpool knowledge (see what I did there) I cannot speak to its adaptation. Yet as a fan of the X-Men universe Deadpool is a fun and exciting counter point to the mutation argument. Reynolds previously played an imaginary superhero in the 2009 indie film, Paper Man, and his delivery as Deadpool is again the highlight of the project. Lastly, I must commend the use of music as a humor device as well as a narrative one. Much like the superb Guardians of the Galaxy its self-reflexive quality is well handled so even if the content is not for everyone you can at least admit the film knows what its doing.
Dino-Mania!
June 14, 2015
Jurassic World (2015).
D: Colin Trevorrow. DP: John Schwartzman. W: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Colin Trevorrow & Derek Connolly. Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Irrfan Khan, Ty Simpkins, Vincent D’Onofrio, Omar Sy, Nick Robinson, Jake Johnson, BD Wong, Lauren Lapkus, Judy Greer, Andy Buckley. (based on the characters created by Michael Crichton)
One of the most anticipated re-ignitions of a franchise is definitely that of Jurassic Park. Released in 1993 the original spawned two sequels and an inordinate amount of money at the box office and beyond. Over twenty years since the original, Jurassic World abandons original characters for the sake of the rebuilt park that is dealing with launching its newest attraction, the genetically created Indominus Rex.
Firstly, Jurassic World never skimps on spectacle. The film itself feels like one long amusement park ride, which I am sure has massive commercial appeal. The introduction of the park is even through two kids attending for the first time. Their discovery of the park while its inner workings are being hammered out by the adults is an easy enough structure that never gets interesting. Yet the spectacle is immense. The visual effects are the driving force of the film and for that it is enjoyable. Indominus Rex makes the originals look like play things. There are far too many nods to the original, you’ll get a bit fatigued by them all. But thankfully the kids played by Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson never get too schmaltzy, despite an “our parents are getting divorced” cry.
The ultimate, and most discussed about, drawback of Jurassic World is its old fashioned approach to gender dynamics between its two leads played by Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt. There was a clear opportunity here to do something different or even modern and unfortunately two writing teams still endorsed jokes about running in heels and man as action hero and woman as stiff who needs to let loose. Creatively next to Mad Max: Fury Road this is atrocious, but in the context of Hollywood corporate machine this is just shamefully boring. Trust me there is one epic shot of Howard running in heels from a dinosaur while holding a flare, in an all white ensemble. Could we be more retrograde?
Yet somehow Pratt’s Owen is able to stay likable, even despite some silly lines and lots of panic staring. His character is no where near as developed in Guardians of the Galaxy yet his raptor scenes, including a big chase, are excellent. But frankly no one is really developed, all the money is in the spectacle not the script. I am glad Jake Johnson was there to gives us much needed lift and genre commentary through his nerdlicious tech dude Lowery. Himself a cliche at least he was aware of it. The money is already raking in and the Terminator trailers have begun. We shall see if that one shapes up to be better.