OPINION:
Explicit content in “Deadpool & Wolverine” just can’t be ignored. “Those About to Die” focuses on the bloody, morally bereft games of ancient Rome. And the show follows suit.
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Deadpool & Wolverine – In Theaters
In terms of Easter eggs, cultural tie-ins, and just general breaking of the fourth wall, I’m not sure there’s a Marvel movie in existence that includes more of those nods than “Deadpool & Wolverine.” At times, these winks at MCU lore can be genuinely funny. Deadpool himself mocks the direction the MCU has taken since “Avengers: Endgame.” And then there’s the sheer number of cameos, which we won’t spoil here.
Unfortunately, though the film’s stars have no problem taking their own kids to see the movie, it’s an absolute nightmare for most other parents.
Fans of the previous flicks in the “Deadpool” franchise won’t find this surprising. The first two movies were chock-full of profanities and gory violence, not to mention nudity and raunchy sexual references. But if you were hoping that the acquisition of 20th Century Fox (which previously helmed the “Deadpool” projects) by Disney would soften the content a bit, you’ll be as disappointed as fans were when Hugh Jackman didn’t wear the yellow jumpsuit in 2000’s “X-Men.”
In terms of storyline, “Deadpool & Wolverine” has its merits. Deadpool especially has always been a bit of an antihero (and Wolverine has had his moments too, for that matter). However, this film sees him developing into an actual hero.
He finally learns that being a hero isn’t a self-serving gig. Rather, it’s about self-sacrifice. You don’t save people because it benefits you; you save people because it benefits them.
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And if I wasn’t concerned about the content that I consume, I probably could have enjoyed those elements of the film a lot more. But oof! The explicit content here just cannot be ignored.
Deadpool is called the “merc with a mouth” for a reason. F-bombs number well over a hundred, and that doesn’t include a slew of other profanities as well, including the c-word and multiple abuses of God’s name. But crudities also take the form of raunchy humor. It’s like someone took all of the sexually immoral acts listed in Leviticus and tallied up as many jokes about it as they could — including references to predators.
And speaking of biblical ills, Deadpool decides to dub himself “Marvel Jesus.” He even quips, “He hath risen!” after eluding death — referencing, perhaps, hopes that the character will revitalize the MCU. (And it should be noted that Marvel shares this hope since “Deadpool & Wolverine” is the lone MCU film of 2024.)
Let’s not forget the blood and gore either. The film’s first scene involves the desecration of a corpse in which Deadpool uses the bones of a fallen comrade as weapons. Heads explode. Limbs fly. A man’s skin is ripped from his body via telekinesis, his innards collapsing in a steaming pile of goo.
And then, because their mutant powers allow them to regenerate, Deadpool and Wolverine slice each other up, just for kicks.
Over and over and over and over again.
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here. [Warning: This content contains strong language that may be offensive or inappropriate for some audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.]
Those About to Die – Streaming on Peacock
Peacock’s “Those About to Die,” directed by action-film impresario Roland Emmerich, presents itself as a sweeping sword-and-sandal epic that explores the underbelly of Imperial Rome near its zenith.
But the show gives us TV that’s near its worst.
For all its pretensions and obvious expense, “Those About to Die” feels like a shallow affair — not unlike the “games” it dramatizes and, in many respects, glamorizes. The presence of Sir Anthony Hopkins (as Emperor Vespasian) cannot paper over the wooden dialogue or paint-by-numbers plot.
But even if the show was good, you’d still have so very many issues to deal with. The violence, as you might expect, is gleefully bloody. When people aren’t watching the games, they’re engaged in various forms of sex — and those scenes include plenty of nudity and some explicit movements. (Same-sex pairings are not unusual; Domitian himself has a male lover who seems widely known around town.) Rape and murder become fulcrums for the show’s plot.
And while the show’s makers could argue that both the sex and the violence would be quite at home in ancient Rome, it’s unlikely that the rich and poor alike used the f-word quite so often.
Then there’s the inescapable irony of the series itself.
“Those About to Die” is meant, of course, to show us how hollow, cynical, and morally bereft these “circuses” were — a Roman staple that explicitly underlines (according to Tenax himself) this “cesspool of corruption and decay.” Imagine the state of Rome that would allow such games to take place. Imagine the populace that would flock to the Circus or Flavian amphitheater to see all that blood.
So what does that say about “Those About to Die?” A show that expressly brings us that same entertainment? And what, might I venture to ask, does it say about us?
No, the animals who are killed in these arenas are most certainly CGI. The men who are “killed” spurt their fake blood. I’m sure that Peacock would say that no animals, or humans, were harmed in its making.
And yet the thrill of the show — what miniscule attraction it might have — is in the knowledge that these atrocities happened. And we want to see it happen, in all its crimson force.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com (or contact us via Facebook or Instagram), and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
Read the rest of the review here. Watch the trailer here.
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Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
Reviews written by Paul Asay and Emily Tsaio.
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