The Merc with a Mouth is back on the big screen with his latest outing Deadpool & Wolverine as he teams up with Logan from X-Men in probably one of the best team-ups from Marvel. Deadpool has been a staple of the X-Men franchise with its unprecedented success in the character’s first two films. After Deadpool and the X-Men were bought into the MCU after DiDisney acquired 20th Century FOX, it was only a matter of time before audiences would get to see Ryan Reynolds putting on the red suit for a third round. What no one expected was seeing Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine after hanging up the claws once Logan was released. Now everyone gets to see these two back on screen and together for the first time since X-Men Origins: Wolverine. With Shawn Levy behind the camera, Deadpool & Wolverine delivers exactly what fans want and maybe more to give perhaps one of the better films to come out of this phase of the MCU.
The film begins with an impressive opening that jumps right into the action as Deadpool already is making things messy with the Time Variance Authority from Loki. The audience gets to see what Deadpool’s alter ego Wade Wilson has been up to since the last time they saw him, and Reynolds wastes no expense making fun of the MCU at every corner. His jokes at them are unpredictable and self-inflicting as he points out the ups and downs that this franchise has gone through. Being that Deadpool & Wolverine is an R-rated movie, lots of profanity is said throughout its little over 2-hour runtime that keeps on giving with its dark humor. It is something that the MCU hasn’t attempted before, but the movie mostly delivers on giving everyone what they want from a Deadpool feature.
Wolverine’s introduction to the MCU also came as a challenge as his story concluded in Logan, but the multiverse has its ways of bringing characters back. This version of the mutant is perhaps one of the worst of the lot as he has apt his whole world down as a hero. It brings the perfect opportunity for both Deadpool and Wolverine to come together and help one another when they are on the run from the TVA. The film is a redemption arc for both of these characters as they right the wrongs they have made in their respective universes. However, they have to deal with each other as they are constantly at each other’s necks and willing to kill one another. Their journey across the multiverse also has them come face-to-face with Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), a powerful mutant who has ties to both of them.
Deadpool & Wolverine is a love letter to a bygone era of Marvel characters that were once part of 20th Century FOX. There are lots of references and cameos from different properties that should feel nostalgic to audiences who are familiar with these characters across many Marvel films. Most of the cameos are given a chance to shine and serve the plot in hilarious ways. It is in some ways fan service when they appear on screen, but it doesn’t feel like these characters get wasted. Each of them interacts with Wolverine and Deadpool, giving some very interesting and fun scenes that fans will enjoy seeing. Despite having all of them in the movie, these beloved Marvel characters get some major developments that weren’t given to them in their prior films.
Levy has put some balance with the humor and action when it comes to the different contrasting personalities of Reynolds and Jackman’s characters. The buddy-cop dynamic between the two is undeniably amazing in all the scenes they share. The director captures the essence of these characters well and never forgets where they came from. The action sequences are all fun to watch, with a few big ones between them that are huge set pieces that often feel like seeing two wrestlers battling it out in a ring. The costumes are also well done, giving Deadpool his classic hero suit as well as Wolverine who finally gets the yellow suit that fans know and love. The costumes are enough to not make it too silly but also respect the source material to make it grounded in reality.
Having both Reynolds and Jackman back as their respective characters is what truly helps bring the movie to life. The Canadian actor hasn’t lost a step when it comes to playing Deadpool because his personality and humor are what make the antihero the perfect character for him to be. It has been three movies and Reynolds proves that he has the gravitas to put on the suit and be one of the best characters to ever make the jump from page to screen. Jackman also continues to impress with his portrayal of Logan, reminding audiences why he is the best at playing him after all these years. Having Jackman play an alternate version of the character was a smart move to give the actor a whole new layer of Wolverine without tarnishing the legacy he has made throughout his 20-year journey.
The MCU continues its trend with villains where they get a great introduction, but not enough to make them compelling. In this case, Corrin gives it their all as the powerful and frightening Cassandra Nova, who in the comics is known to be the twin of Charles Xavier. Once the telepathic mutant goes into one’s mind, they go deep into that person’s psyche which Emma does well in displaying with their sinister performance. Matthew Macfayden also serves up his dues as the villainous Mr. Paradox of the TVA. More like a disgruntled office employee, Paradox often comes off as a man with his own agenda, putting him at odds with Deadpool. It would’ve been great to see these two characters get more screen time to help develop more of their backstories, especially with Cassandra.
What Deadpool & Wolverine does well is bring a lot of nostalgia and entertainment when it comes to a comic book movie, but the film does falter due to its weak script. The plot isn’t always straightforward due to Deadpool’s use of the fourth wall, which causes him to be an unreliable narrator. The film also relies heavily on its jokes and they can feel repetitive at times. The story has its highs and lows, but it hasn’t lost its just with the Deadpool humor. It is the chemistry between Reynolds and Jackman that ultimately carries the movie thanks to their quick wit and banter towards each other.
Deadpool & Wolverine works exceptionally well as a film that integrates these two characters into the MCU. The film hits those emotional beats when it needs to, but the chemistry of both Jackman and Reynolds is what helps lift the film its potential. Audiences will enjoy the references from a different era as it closes the chapter that started with X-Men in the early 2000s. The film is the most outlandish that the MCU has ever been, which is mostly a good thing as the Multiverse Saga continues to explore these different universes.
Deadpool & Wolverine is now playing in theaters.
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