Movie Review: ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
After a six-year absence, Deadpool has returned. And this time, he’s brought a friend.
Their relationship is like most. They yell and swear at each other constantly. Sometimes, there’s even a bit of stabbing involved.
Deadpool & Wolverine is trending towards a massive opening. Photo: Marvel
Yes, the viscera go flying in the latest Deadpool movie, which will force you to wonder. Are you really watching a Disney film?
The answer is yes, but it sure doesn’t seem that way.
Photo: Marvel
Nobody would expect Disney to make one of the hardest-R movies ever, but here we are.
Folks, no matter what you expect from Deadpool & Wolverine, I can assure you that the film is full of surprises.
Photo: Marvel
Here’s a spoiler-free review of Deadpool’s formal introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
About Deadpool
Writer and illustrator Rob Liefield unleashed the character of Deadpool on an unsuspecting world in December 1990.
I’m not saying the collapse of modern civilization is directly attributable to this event, but it couldn’t have helped.
Photo: Marvel
Over the years, Deadpool evolved into a character who gleefully broke the fourth wall and became the messiest of all Marvel heroes.
When Fox introduced the character of Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, some nitwit studio executive took away his strength.
Photo: Fox
The first Deadpool film appearance neutered the character by not letting him speak, thereby missing the point.
Liefield briefly watched his hope for a Deadpool franchise erode, but all good things come to those who wait.
Photo: Fox
In 2016, Fox ceded to public demand and gave the character a standalone film, and the results instantly spoke for themselves.
Deadpool became an instant blockbuster, with Deadpool 2 following soon afterward and proving similarly successful.
Photo: Marvel
Audiences spent nearly $1.6 billion lavishing their praise on Ryan Reynolds, ideally cast as the merc with a mouth.
Alas, the franchise temporarily lost momentum when The Walt Disney Company acquired the assets of 20th Century Fox.
Photo: Variety
At that point, the family-friendly Disney owned the decidedly adult Deadpool and showed little interest in making another film.
Then, fate interviewed during the pandemic, as Disney gained faith in Reynolds thanks to his tireless promotional efforts for Free Guy.
Image: Disney
Suddenly, a third Deadpool film no longer seemed implausible.
Later, Reynolds’ close friend, Hugh Jackman, decided to return for another Wolverine outing…if he could do it in a Deadpool movie.
Photo: Ryan Reynolds on X
That was the moment when Deadpool 3 became a certainty, and here we are.
About Deadpool & Wolverine
Let’s start with the obvious statement that Marvel has a much-needed blockbuster on its hands.
I couldn’t even buy popcorn at the theater because the line was longer than Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Rise of the Resistance line
During the film, I’m pretty sure I heard each and every one of those people laugh at least 50 times.
By this point, Ryan Reynolds knows where to find the funny in every Deadpool moment.
Photo: Marvel
Meanwhile, Disney was so worried about the state of Marvel that it agreed to every demand.
You’ll hear an entire soundtrack of expensive licensed music to punctuate every scene, including the one AC/DC song Iron Man never used and one of Madonna’s biggest hits.
Photo: People
Similarly, the special effects on display show that after 2023’s unpleasantness, Marvel made sure that all the visuals were on point.
So, you’ll get the look and feel of classic MCU films plus the wit of Reynolds and fire of Jackman. It’s an intoxicating mix.
Photo: Hugh Jackman on Instagram
Even better, some familiar faces appear throughout the film.
Their presence is so shocking at times that jokes are made about the production budget. Many of the people here don’t work cheap.
Photo: Marvel
Still, I should stress that not every punch lands. In truth, some miss quite badly.
This movie is a glorious mess, with a plot so ridiculous that it’s almost better not to think about the story.
Photo: Marvel
Instead, you should calibrate your expectations for Deadpool & Wolverine for what it really is.
The film is a family reunion for members of the now-defunct Fox version of Marvel, the place where Kevin Feige made his bones.
Photo: Marvel
Since everyone loves him, they weren’t about to disrespect his career and significance by phoning anything in.
Just Go with It
Conversely, nobody feels responsible for explaining all the MCU intricacies.
Deadpool & Wolverine doesn’t demonstrate any need to describe the Time Variance Authority.
Photo: Marvel
The film presumes that you watched Loki (both seasons!) and if you didn’t, the plot’s not deep enough to matter anyway.
Reynolds will quip his way enough that you can follow the trail of breadcrumbs toward some semblance of a plot.
Photo: Marvel
Basically, Deadpool needs to save all his people. To do that, he needs Wolverine, but the best one died in the Fox film, Logan.
Unintentionally, Deadpool uses the *ahem* reluctant TVA to find another Wolverine, who proves to be the worst of them all.
Photo: Marvel
The premise allows Jackman to return to the early days of his character, when he just grunted and growled a lot.
Mainly, Wolverine instantly despises Deadpool, and that lasts for virtually the entire film. So, they fight. A LOT!
Photo: Marvel
Along the way, they encounter faces unfamiliar to them but ones the viewer will know.
There are also twin villains in the film, one of whom is exceptional, while the other is…well, I hated that character.
Photo: Marvel
I know that you’re supposed to hate them, but I felt that the actor – the dude who won Succession – just wasn’t right for this role.
Conversely, the other villain portrayed by Emma Corin is *chef’s kiss* perfect.
Photo: Marvel
They’re a talent, and I hope they become integral to the MCU.
As for the rest of the appearances, some are truly delightful, while the others are just there for an audience cheer or two.
Photo: Marvel
What becomes clear is that most of the Fox-Marvel actors aren’t as right for their roles as the MCU ones.
Sometimes, change is good, with Deadpool 3 underscoring how much better the Disney side of Marvel is.
My Thoughts on Deadpool & Wolverine
Let me be crystal clear on this point. Deadpool & Wolverine is a fan service movie.
Remember that moment in Avengers: Endgame when Captain America held Mjolnir, and the crowd lost its mind?
Photo: Marvel
Well, there’s nothing quite like that here, but like eight mini-versions of that crowd surge occur during the movie.
The people in my theater were more engaged than they’ve been at any Marvel movie since Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Photo: Marvel
Reynolds, Jackman, and director Shawn Levy were outsiders to the MCU when they joined.
So, they collaboratively sketched out the problem with the MCU as they saw it, and those fresh eyes made all the difference.
Photo: Marvel
You don’t really need to know what happened in Loki or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 or Moon Knight to follow this story.
Instead, Deadpool will tell you all you need to think in a given moment.
Photo: marvel
The MCU had zoomed in on micro-stories in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame.
Deadpool 3 is diametrically opposed as a movie made for mass consumption. There’s nothing fancy here.
Photo: Marvel
If you want to watch Jackman and Reynolds swear at and stab one another, this story will feel like the mother ship calling you home.
In that regard, Deadpool & Wolverine represents the rare movie that delivers precisely what it promises.
Photo: Marvel
This is an action buddy comedy starring two people you love.
They just happen to be wearing Marvel costumes the whole time.
Photo: Marvel
All I needed was for Marvel to make a good popcorn movie, and they did.
I’d give Deadpool & Wolverine a sloppy eight out of ten and highly recommend it as a stress reliever.
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