Forbes Frets ‘Deadpool’ Means More Movies for White Teens
Liberal film scribe frames argument in ways that smack of pure bigotry
“Deadpool” isn’t your average superhero romp. Nor is it meant for young viewers.
The R-rated superhero smash features circus-like sex, limb-splitting action and jokes so raw they’d make Lisa Lampanelli blush.
None of that bothers Forbes.com film industry contributor Scott Mendelson. He fears Hollywood will try to copy the film’s outreach to white teens.
The columnist confesses the film’s box office prowess “terrifies” him, at least according to the dramatic headline.
Why?
It’ll set back the industry’s diversity push.
Hollywood may take the worst possible lesson from it and ditch its efforts at demographic diversity because it arguably reinforces the most conventional of conventional wisdom….It is (a pretty successful) bawdy and hyper-violent action comedy aimed at the Id of the stereotypical fifteen-year-old Caucasian male, be it literal or an older male indulging in a teenage mentality.
For what it’s worth this reporter spoke to two middle-aged women recently who raved about “Deadpool.” And any film raking in “Deadpool”-like cash isn’t hitting just one demographic. Plus, why wouldn’t a teen of any racial background not enjoy the film’s cutting humor and crisp action beats?
RELATED: How ‘Deadpool’ Crushed Social Media
Mendelson isn’t done. He’s got some begging to do.
If I am being overly paranoid or melodramatic, then consider this a preemptive plea to Hollywood at-large to not use the success of Deadpool as an excuse to walk back from the (admittedly token) progress they’ve made in terms of making movies about more than just young white males and their hero’s journeys.
“Deadpool” features a strong female co-star (Morena Baccarin), a powerful superheroine (Brianna Hildebrand) and a female supervillain.(Gina Carano). The action comedy showcases an Indian character, played by Karan Soni, whose reaction shots steal several scenes.
That isn’t enough. The film targets a large, loyal demographic known for seeing movies again … and again.
Mendelson’s comments are part of a larger thread happening in liberal film circles. Consider this attack on the film “Vice” by two different reporters who weaponized the director’s race against the movie.
Yes, the director in question is white as is the source of the film – former Vice President Dick Cheney.
And, as it turns out, it’s Mendelson, again, playing the race card. He was joined by TheWrap.com’s Candice Frederick.
Note: This is from her review’s first paragraph:
If there’s one thing writer-director Adam McKay’s “Vice” does well, it’s highlight how white mediocrity has thrived in American politics and pop culture. But McKay also does this by way of making a mediocre movie about mediocre politician Dick Cheney played by a surprisingly mediocre Christian Bale. At some point, and at some level, you wish the white mediocrity could be reined in, but it never is.
Worse yet, it assumes all white male teenagers like or exclusively like movies like DEADPOOL. When I was a teenager, I was already into classic Hollywood, foreign films and silent movies, and continually reading and re-reading Danny Peary’s Cult Movies books and Donald Lyons’ Independent Visions.
What an insult to minorities to assume that they wouldn’t enjoy this film. Liberals and their elitist whitesplaining.
White people buy lots of movie tickets. Sorry.