When it is finally decided for a movie to take the R-rating, many producers worry about a smaller number of viewers coming to see the movie because of the rating. However, the most recent superhero movie is having the opposite effect, but with a new problem.
“Deadpool,” one of the most successful rated R movies in history, has been a success not only in the U.S., but also worldwide. As of Feb. 28, the movie about the “merc with a mouth” has surpassed $600 million and has the potential to become the highest grossing R-rated movie in history by eclipsing the $742 million record set by “The Matrix Reloaded.” And yet, despite this fascinating statistic, there are complaints being filed by distraught parents who have taken their children to see the surging movie.
Many parents are taking their children to see the latest film from 20th Century Fox believing that it is simply another superhero movie similar to the immensely popular “Avengers,” only to find out that they are horribly mistaken. Rather than do a little research about the movie before bringing their kids to see it, they are complaining afterward that the film wasn’t suitable for children. Had these parents taken time out of their apparently hectic schedule to simply Google the film, they would know that the movie isn’t suitable for younger kids. Had a parent simply typed “Should I bring my kid to see Deadpool,” a flurry of search results saying “no” would have popped up. Sites such as moviepilot.com express why parents should not be taking their kid to see this film.
As a matter of fact, they shouldn’t have even had to Google the movie. There are plenty of red flags for parents who do not want to subject their young ones to movies such as “Deadpool.”
To start, the movie is rated R. Most Rated R movies are have that rating for a reason. According to the Motion Picture Association of America, the movie has this rating because of “strong violence and language throughout, sexual content and graphic nudity.” I’m not a parent, but all four of those things do not sound like things I would want my 12-year-old being subjected to. Sure, many younger teenagers probably aren’t bothered by the f-bomb being dropped, but if that same word gets dropped seven times in one thought, among about five other swear words, it’s a tad excessive for younger teens. And that’s practically what the entire script is like.
Even the poster for the movie displayed how deserving the film was of the R-rating. In the poster, Deadpool is shown holding a gun over the region where his genitals are.
Other than the rating, there are other red flags that parents should have noticed beforehand, including the name of the superhero/movie itself. What other superhero has the name “dead” in it? If there are any, they are few and far between and probably aren’t the nicest of heroes, much like the star of this film.
Red flags aren’t always picked up on and that is sometimes understandable. In this case, it isn’t. But even if the red flags fly right over a parent’s head, the fact that some are still taking their children to this movie without doing research first is unacceptable, especially considering the fact that they’re complaining afterwards when they only have themselves to blame.
“Deadpool” is rude, crude, ridiculously violent, obscene and for a specific target audience. Not all movies are for everyone, hence the ratings of movies. Parents especially should be able to comprehend that fact. Between the rating, the poster and the countless articles and reviews all over the Internet, parents should be consciously aware of what they are walking into with this movie. If they aren’t, then their child is about to have a lot of questions and the parents have no one to blame but themselves.
