Doesn’t straightwash queer characters! this was a big one. (marvel movies have a huge problem with straightwashing*)
Deadpool is canonically pansexual, and the movies reflect this! Reynolds doesn’t shy away at all from Deadpool’s sexual interest in men.
(head injuries bring out deadpool’s romantic sexy feelings it seems. in the first movie, knife to the head = romantic montage with vanessa. in the sequel, fencepost to the head = deadpool sensually trying to go down on Colossus.)
(semi-related, both movies have some cute references to deadpool enjoying being on the receiving end in the bedroom.)
(yeah, it’s canon, Deadpool enjoys being pegged)
Oh hey, a healthy romantic relationship based on mutual respect and love! and with a fully developed female character with personal agency! A love interest who doesn’t just function as a plot device.
POLAR OPPOSITE OF TOXIC MASCULINITY. This really shines through in their marketing
(yes that pillows says “FEMINIST”)
(yes that is deadpool in heels dancing to celine dion)
Diverse casting! Characters who are poc just because poc exist!
Hey look, a cute lesbian couple treated with respect and one of them’s asian!
Holy crap i don’t say this enough but i love Domino. What a badass. Sexy-but-not-sexualized black female action hero who is probably the coolest person in the movie.
Deadpool 2 took a run-of-the-mill white character design and made her interesting!
Her trademark eye patch is now vitiligo! She has awesome natural hair. And look, body hair exists! On a person who is a woman! Which shouldn’t be unusual, but here we are. Also, she’s fun
Portrayed by the talented Zazie Beetz. Did I mention how much i love this character?
Oh look, another much improved character design!
We’ve got your humdrum blondie cleft-chin stereotype replaced with a heavyset maori teen actor (Julian Dennison, who incidentally was in Taika Waititi’s indie movie Hunt for the Wilderpeople).
Overall themes: The movies have a lot of dirty humor and innuendo. But the overall takeaway is actually pretty sentimental. The Deadpool 2 themes in particular gets to me:
Not repeating the mistakes of the previous generation. “Kids give us a chance of being better than we used to be.”
The loss and recovery of family. Accepting friendship in the midst of tragedy. See also: Cable’s story arc.
Letting go of loss and bitterness to try to save a child who’s been abandoned by the world.
I’m honestly so excited about the choices the director & producers have been making for this franchise. They’re setting the narrative standard for modern superhero films. Can’t wait to see what the next movie has in store.
*see more on straightwashing in the mcu below
