David Leitch Archives - Cinematic Insights

Rampant Rise of Meta Humor

There is a scene during The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part in which a new character by the name of Rex Dangervest (voiced by Chris Pratt) enters the scene and singlehandedly saves our lead protagonist, Emmet, through the use of a device that teleports the two away from the perilous “Duplo” toys. In the midst of this last-minute escape, Rex comically refers to this convenient tool as his trusty “plot device.”

This line is just one of many instances in The Lego Movie 2 in which the film points out its own fictional nature, as the character of Rex, an obvious amalgamation of Pratt’s most iconic action roles, serves as a wink to the audience regarding the actor’s shift in trajectory from genial comedies to blockbuster action adventures. The collective layers of the film being aware of its presence in the real world, as well as consciously pointing out its own shortcomings, are a prime example of the growing trend of meta-humor in stories.

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(2.5 / 4)

With solid additions to the cast and exhilarating action sequences, Deadpool 2 is an improvement to its predecessor, even if the relentless meta-humor grows tiresome.

The Deadpool franchise has become the alternative for fans of the superhero genre who prefer their action spectacle to be paired with crude and profanity-laced humor instead of the family friendly quipping variant of the MCU. Upon seeing the original Deadpool film in 2016 I recall being extremely impressed by the film’s willingness to embrace its R-rating and the revolutionary self-awareness of the film’s place in the real world. After watching Deadpool a second time at home, I found that much of the novelty had worn off and it was apparent that the film’s ceaseless emphasis on being as R-rated as possible made the story feel monotonous over time and dampened my enjoyment. While Deadpool 2 manages to improve upon the formula of the original that will no doubt provide an enjoyable experience for fans of its predecessor, the same issues of the first cause the film to falter as it progresses.

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