The first time I watched Deadpool I was away with the goaly on marijuana cigarettes and Tennent’s Lager. Maybe my initial criticism of it was a little harsh, after all, a lot of people - whose sweet, hot takes that usually mirror mine - had been tooting its horn. I thought it was time for a re-watch because maybe they were right, maybe my judgement was clouded. It wasn’t.
The dialogue is lifted straight from pre-Instagram era subreddits, when Ryan Reynolds started this passion project, and amidst all the incredibly fun ultra violence and chaos there's a tonally jarring cancer plot. The most frustrating thing about Deadpool, however, was that it persisted in missing the mark when attempting to spoof the tropes of superhero films by simply pointing at them them; all that ends up happening is the film slips into the same pitfalls.
It’s a shame that it didn’t succeed in subverting the superhero genre because I’ve been battered senseless with it and I think it’s time for a change. The MCU blueprint has been photocopied so many times it’s now just a giant black blob; with the majority of films in its ubiquitous property practically indistinguishable from one another. I’m not even getting into DC, who pedal nothing but joyless Nolanised dross.
It’s a shame that it didn’t succeed in subverting the superhero genre because I’ve been battered senseless with it and I think it’s time for a change. The MCU blueprint has been photocopied so many times it’s now just a giant black blob; with the majority of films in its ubiquitous property practically indistinguishable from one another. I’m not even getting into DC, who pedal nothing but joyless Nolanised dross.
At least Zack's having a good time
Superhero films should be engaging and fun, but it’s tough to get excited about a pudding when you’ve been given a selection box for dinner. I read a few Marvel comics when I was younger so I have a vested interest, the Civil War comic was a pretty big deal at one point in my life so a live action version is a guaranteed pinger, ay? Sadly, no. When I paired the torrent of MCU mediocrity with Civil War’s running time I was left with an incredibly small and flaccid willy. That running time, Jesus H Christ, proof that sedation is the only thing that makes a long root canal fun.
Anyway, enough of this moaning pish, there are some absolute CORKERS in the
MCU that are worth talking about and learning from. Avengers Assemble, Ant Man, Iron Man 3 and the Big Bhuna, the one that got me thinking about what could rejuvenate the superhero genre – Guardians of the Galaxy.
James Gunn is a very interesting filmmaker with an even more interesting history. His roots are in schlock horror and he cut his teeth at Troma Entertainment. If you don’t know much about Troma I’ll give you a brief introduction. Troma is an independent film studio that was founded by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, they operate outside the film industry and ever since the 80’s they filled Roger Corman’s shoes by introducing us to some of the trashiest punkiest films going. They also provided a platform for brilliant talent like Matt Stone & Trey Parker and some stupidly big Hollywood names like JJ Abrams.
MCU that are worth talking about and learning from. Avengers Assemble, Ant Man, Iron Man 3 and the Big Bhuna, the one that got me thinking about what could rejuvenate the superhero genre – Guardians of the Galaxy.
James Gunn is a very interesting filmmaker with an even more interesting history. His roots are in schlock horror and he cut his teeth at Troma Entertainment. If you don’t know much about Troma I’ll give you a brief introduction. Troma is an independent film studio that was founded by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, they operate outside the film industry and ever since the 80’s they filled Roger Corman’s shoes by introducing us to some of the trashiest punkiest films going. They also provided a platform for brilliant talent like Matt Stone & Trey Parker and some stupidly big Hollywood names like JJ Abrams.
James Gunn being A Good Lad
The Toxic Avenger is Troma’s tent pole, and its main star Toxie is their mascot. Toxie, Troma’s poster boy who pureed a villain’s face with weights, was so popular he even spawned a cartoon and a huge toy range, Toxic Crusaders. It was a different time.
A different time.
Toxic Crusaders subverted the superhero genre, sent a positive environmental message and was bright, fun and colourful. Toxie’s the hero we need. That said, it would defy Troma’s anarchic DIY ethos if they made a mainstream film, but a Toxic Crusaders film? Now you’re whistling Dixie.
Reboots, particularly of superhero films, are lucrative but predictable, so the first step of breaking that tradition is choosing something from the leftfield. Get punters talking. Toxic Crusaders is an absolute anomaly, it was a cartoon that stemmed from very grotty, very adult z-movies, it’d be very in keeping with the spirit and origin of Toxic Crusaders to resurrect this aberration as a live action film.
All the lads all lined up.
Toxic Crusaders is about climate change and political corruption, issues that have never been more relevant, so the plot practically writes itself. Toxic Crusaders is deeply rooted in satire, so the script should be handed over to folk familiar with the territory, Matt Stone & Trey Parker would be perfect. It’d also be nice to hand a project of this scale back to Troma veterans, keeping this in the family and perpetuating Troma's self-referential nature. The action needs to be kinetic but the comedy should floor you, the boy behind Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates (the biggest surprise of the year so far for me) is more than capable of both, and based on that film’s commercial appeal and success, I’m guessing that would keep the suits happy.
A live action Toxic Crusaders would work sooooooo well, all the components are there for it to –at the very least- rise out the black blob and dross and give superhero films the kick up the arse it needs. Besides it’d just be nice to see a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength save the day again.
~ Danny
that's hot
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