Deadpool XXX: An Axel Braun Parody

Axel Braun has already proven his mastery of the porn spoof. With Deadpool XXX: An Axel Braun Parody, the challenge is, can he actually create a blue-movie takeoff that matches the considerable raunch and snark of its source material? Luckily, Braun deftly weaves all of the layers together with this effort, producing an artful caricature of Deadpool, with a few knowing digs at the adult industry thrown in for good measure—a particularly savvy touch, given that the Ryan Reynolds franchise this is based on persistently thumbs its nose at the superhero-blockbuster machine. As with all of Braun’s superhero parodies, the production values here are impressive. But Braun goes next-level this time around, impressively matching the relentless one-liners and fourth-wall-shattering cheekiness of the original films for a tonally spot-on offering. It can’t be an easy task to match the Merc With a Mouth’s barrage of wisecracks while artfully turning out a workable spank flick, but this hyperaware opus finds Braun functioning at wheels-within-wheels complexity. As for the sex, the tongue-in-cheek nature of the proceedings takes on an added dimension as a pair of chicks bury their faces in each other’s poop pillows in a girl-girl scene that, in addition to being hot, smartly plays on Deadpool character Domino’s unique skin pigmentation. Oddly enough, this video came down the pike just as the Deadpool franchise softened things up with the PG-13 Once Upon a Deadpool—yet another layer of irony for a video that truly rises to the occasion. —P.D.R.