The funniest and most badass link in a chain of superhero movies recently released, "Deadpool" is much more than Ryan Reynolds in spandex: it shows that the story of a male main character can be really refreshingly feminist, and it doesn't necessarily have to pass the Bechdel Test, either. Even though the film was equal-opportunity crude and offensive, there were a couple times it went a bit too far, with a transphobic line and a rape joke. Overall, though, "Deadpool" shows you can follow the story of a male character and still include strong women who are central to the plot and men who directly or indirectly treat them that way.
1. Teenage girls are cool.
On multiple occasions, Wade throws the cliches at Negasonic Teenage Warhead (who proves to be critical to the good guys winning the big fight at the end) that virtually every teenage girl hears: making fun of her for being sulky, too quiet, or having an attitude. In return, though, she puts him in his place with a snarky comment, glaring silence, or straight-up laughing at him. The stereotypes about teenage girls are too familiar to ignore but come off as completely sarcastic to the audience, considering that Negasonic almost always gets the upper hand, or helps to win the battle. She's so obviously more than the punchlines - and she, Colossus, and Wade know it. Plus, Wade gleefully tells her she has the "coolest name EVER."
2. Women are a part of the team.
Not only is Angel Dust the other half of Ajax's evil schemes, but Negasonic is her own full third of the X-Men/Deadpool trio. Not only does Colossus discuss their plans to get involved with Wade (even if she doesn't have the same influence an adult would because, hey, she's still a teenager), Wade overtly relies on her several times (she's the first to incapacitate Angel Dust) and she acts on her own multiple times, causing her to save the good guys and kill some bad ones. At the end of the last battle, Vanessa slices her hands open in order to free herself and deliver a fatal blow to Ajax, temporarily incapacitating him and saving Wade.
3. Wade and Vanessa give what they get.
The hilarious montage of celebrating various holidays with sex (including International Women's Day!) shows to the audience a happy, healthy, reciprocal relationship between the characters. Maybe not everybody needs to be as out there as Wade and Vanessa, but everyone deserves a fulfilling and empowering sex life. Seeing this in "Deadpool" was important because Wade is badass, funny, smart, and stereotypically macho in a lot of ways - so the moral of the story is that being a great partner (and celebrating International Women's Day!) doesn't compromise one's manhood.
4. Sex positivity all around.
In addition to Wade and Vanessa's
5. Everyone gets hit.
While there is always going to be some discomfort in watching women get hit onscreen as long as violence against women is so globally prevalent, there's also something refreshing and liberating about watching women and men engage in battle scenes where they are on level playing fields. When Colossus pounds Angel Dust, it's not because she's unable to defend herself -- it's because she's an enemy who did the same thing to him three minutes ago.
6. It makes fun of people who freak out over nip-slips.
During their brutal fight, Angel Dust suffers a nip slip (which is super realistic, actually), and Colossus stops fighting her so she can cover up (as if any sane woman in Angel Dust's position would care about a nip slip in that scenario). Angel Dust responds appropriately by making fun of him and punching him several back. It's just a nipple, y'all.
7. Blind Al was the bomb.
The movie's biggest weakness might have been its lack of diverse main characters, but Blind Al' played no small role in the plot. The former cocaine addict is sassy, smart, and hilarious. Not only does she outwit Wade several times, but even blind, she's the one to house and briefly care for Wade. Moreover, the fact that she, as a woman, develops a strong, completely platonic relationship with Wade, adds to the dimensions women "Deadpool" get.
