Directed by Shawn Levy, the hotly anticipated “Deadpool and Wolverine” slashes into theaters as THE summer blockbuster of 2024. As of this writing, D&W remains at the top of the box office and is the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time surpassing “The Passion of Christ.”
D&W delivers no shortage of laughs, gore, wit, heart, and of course, an unyielding amount of cameos and easter eggs. If you enjoyed the last two Deadpool films, you will feel right at home with this one. While still edgy and crude, I couldn’t help but notice in comparison to the other Deadpool films it has less bite, possibly having to do with Disney’s acquisition of the character.
Seeing Deadpool and Wolverine on screen together certainly was a treat, as was their dynamic which was the very backbone of the film. Had their relationship been at all underdeveloped, the film would’ve faltered. D&W knows what the audience bought the tickets for and delivers on the premise of a Deadpool and Wolverine adventure.
If you are still one of the few who haven’t seen this movie, I recommend you do.
Back of the DVD Summary: Years after “Deadpool 2,” Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) struggles to find his purpose in the world and has all but given up on being Deadpool. The opportunity to prove his worth when an agent of the Time Variance Authority, Mobius (Matthew McFayden), recruits Wilson to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The catch? In order to make such a merger occur, Wilson would have to sacrifice everyone he’s ever cared about. Discontent with the idea, Wilson dawns his Deadpool persona and enlists a derelict variant of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to help save his universe.
D&W comes six years after “Deadpool 2”, seven years after Hugh Jackman’s swansong as Wolverine and arguably a low point for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It’s complicated to review this film because it is not a stand alone venture and it relies not on an audience member’s knowledge of the previous Deadpool films, but almost the entire canon of Marvel films from Fox to Disney.
As a result, D&W is strapped with a lot of unnecessary baggage: Deadpool’s entry into the MCU, the surprising return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, the behind the scene corporate acquisition of Fox by Disney and being a sequel to the other Deadpool films.
Even with these hurdlers, D&W still is a highly entertaining film that is bound to please long time fans of each franchise that’s represented. I enjoyed what the film was selling and felt engaged in the cameos and fourth-wall-breaking antics D&W deftly navigated. Deadpool has never looked better from action, to cinematography and effects. As I mentioned earlier, D&Ws dynamic felt organic, and understandably combative given how much these characters contrast each other.
The novelty of seeing Hugh Jackman back on the big screen was certainly exciting and Jackman did not skip a beat in his portrayal of the character: still gruff, still stoic and as savage as he ever was before. That said, I couldn’t help but shake the feeling Jackman being back didn’t feel right. Jackman’s last time with the character in “Logan” offered a definite and satisfying conclusion to his 17-year stint as the character, so while it was fun to have him back, it rang a little hollow. Mileage may vary on that issue.
Ryan Reynolds is not my favorite actor, yet even so I cannot deny how picture-perfect he is as Deadpool. He consistently delivers a funny, joyous performance. Deadpool remains the same sassy, snarky merc with a mouth, who always maintains a level of pathos too.
The multiverse aspect of the films creates an obvious avenue for Deadpool to make fun of all eras of Marvel, but the multiverse at this point in the MCU feels tired and overdone. The creatives at Marvel can’t seem to get a firm grip on what exactly the rules are or even what the overarching story of the current MCU is, which in turn makes the stories told in that context flat. Unfortunately, D&Ws plot ends up falling a little flat.
Taken as a package, D&W is an absolutely great time at the theaters brimming with memorable moments, cameos, and an excellent soundtrack, however, the film feels a little empty. It does have heart and tries to be emotional, but given the context in which the film exists I struggled to get invested in the plights of the character. I enjoyed this film in the same way one would a rollercoaster.
