Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now) has taken several shots at superhero/comic book movies in the past, and more recently singled out the rise in superhero "prototype" cinema as a major factor in studios being hesitant to take a risk on lesser-known or non IP-based features.
“There used to be studio films. Now there are Marvel pictures. And what is a Marvel picture? A Marvel picture is one prototype movie that is made over and over and over and over and over again to look different,” said the filmmaker during an interview with GQ earlier this year.
Despite Coppola's clear disdain for "despicable" superhero films, it seems he is a fan of a certain Merc With a Mouth! "I liked Deadpool, I thought that was amazing," the director told Variety.
Wade Wilson actor Ryan Reynolds responded with the following Tweet.
Although Deadpool does fall back on formula to some extent (particularly in its final act), the Merc With a Mouth's first big-screen outing cleverly subverts a lot of the tropes associated with the genre, which may be why Coppola found it more appealing.
Francis Ford Coppola is (finally) set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today, almost 50 years to the day The Godfather hit theaters.
About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.