One of the main reasons for Deadpool's success was that the film veered from traditional PG-13 dialogue and action sequences. However, Utah movie theater Brewvies was sued by the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Controlafter it screened Deadpool while serving alcoholic beverages.
The theater has received support from Deadpool fans, even from the movie's star Ryan Reynolds himself. Now, Brewvies has decided to fight back in an unprecedented approach.
According to Fox 13, Brewvies lawyer Rocky Anderson has filed a temporary restraining order against Utah's alcohol control authority, and the station has acquired the documents showing this.
The restraining order will keep the Utah department's hands tied, meaning they cannot enforce any action against the Utah theater while the lawsuit is still pending.
According to Anderson, via the document he filed, the fine was "unconstitutional" and the restraining order will shield Brewvies from punishment for "showing films protected under the First Amendment and the Utah Constitution."
He adds that the law against Brewvies is vague in its version of nudity and that it doesn't distinguish between nudity in a live action film and a strip club. The lawyer also argued that the law would "prohibit Brewvies from showing works of art like Michaelangelo's "David" or Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus." There is also no elaboration on getting physical with genitals or just over the clothes. This means the law would also logically ban watching sport matches such as baseball or soccer since the two have butt smacking involved.
In lieu of the restraining order, the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control stated that it "would not be taking any enforcement action against Brewvies during the litigation -- making a restraining order unnecessary."
The Utah lawsuit has been going on for the past few weeks and Brewvies may have to pay a fine of $1000 up to $25,000. The theater has been fined in the past for releasing R-rated films like The Hangover Part II, Mike XXL, and Ted 2 while serving alcohol, but this is the first time that the theater has gained much support due to the popularity of Deadpool.
With Brewvies gaining backing from fans and even Reynolds, it's likely that the theater will be able to pay the fine despite not winning the lawsuit.
Personally, I'm with Brewvies on this one. I don't see anything wrong with allowing presumably mature, consenting adults to watch an R-rated film with alcohol. It's why the film received an R-rating in the first place, right?
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