by Josh Sewell
(Note: I consider this review spoiler-free, but everyone’s definition of that term is different. Those wanting to go into Deadpool & Wolverine totally blind should watch it before reading. Also, stay off the internet.)
It’s tough to overstate the hype surrounding Marvel’s new action-comedy Deadpool & Wolverine. First, it’s tasked with (sort of) resurrecting one of the all-time great superheroes after Hugh Jackman gave the character a heartbreaking sendoff in 2017’s Logan. But the movie is also the first major step in absorbing recently acquired titles into the MCU proper.
When Disney bought 20th Century Fox back in 2019, it meant Marvel could once again use properties like X-Men and Fantastic Four, which they licensed to Fox before the MCU existed. But they had to figure out how to incorporate them into their already complex mythology that stretched across multiple franchises. To make matters worse, the purchase happened around the same time Marvel hit its painful post-Endgame slump, when lots of people decided they were done trying to keep up with years of homework just to watch a new movie.
If those paragraphs read like gibberish, Deadpool & Wolverine probably isn’t for you. But if you love comic book movies and follow entertainment news like fantasy football, then you’re probably well-versed enough to understand how much Disney has riding on the success of this flick.
The question is: did the studio make the right call by staking their comeback on a comedy that requires a PhD in pop culture references to get all the jokes? I’m not sure how much general audiences will embrace the nonstop breaking of the fourth wall; meta commentary on franchise struggles; and surprisingly sharp jabs at the actors’ real lives.
However, I’m guessing Ryan Reynolds factored that into his plans. Through sheer force of will, the actor/writer/producer helped nurture this franchise from a pipe dream into a juggernaut that will probably cross the $2 billion mark this weekend (when you count all three installments). Even if average joes don’t buy a ticket, Marvel can probably count on repeat viewings from die-hards.
For all the convoluted lore and backstory, the premise of Deadpool & Wolverine is pretty basic. Following his time-hopping adventures in Deadpool 2, former mercenary Wade Wilson (Reynolds) has settled into a boring civilian life. However, when he learns his corner of the multiverse is about to be obliterated, he must reluctantly suit up again and track down a version of Wolverine (Jackman) from a different timeline.
I don’t think anyone was expecting the pathos and devastation we got from Logan – the Deadpool movies are basically violent, foulmouthed Bugs Bunny cartoons – but for all its joking around, this installment understands the importance of the character’s sacrifice in that film. I was worried when the (admittedly hilarious) opening sequence seemed to desecrate Wolverine’s memory, but Deadpool – both the character and the franchise – always reveals a bit more heart than it seems to have at first. Credit to Reynolds and his four(!) co-writers for remembering the humanity in a character who can often be insufferable in large doses.
Speaking of the guy with the claws: even though it has been almost a decade, Jackman brings the same level of commitment to his iconic character. He could’ve easily sleepwalked through the role just to cash a big Marvel check and fans still would’ve cheered. But he’s genuinely adding layers to the role here, even though he’s technically not playing the same guy.
Of course, MCU fans have come to expect big cameos from these films and Deadpool & Wolverine is no exception. That’s why trailers have only been showing a couple of scenes from the film. Almost every other moment of the movie is a giant spoiler. I won’t ruin them here, but I was mostly pleased with how director Shawn Levy utilizes them.
The cameos also aren’t jammed in as awkwardly as they’ve been in recent films – looking at you, Eternals, Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels. They aren’t totally about fan service either, although that’s certainly a huge part of it. Most of the recognizable characters who appear actually have tiny story arcs that serve as Deadpool & Wolverine paying tribute to its predecessors. (If nothing else, the movie is a giant love letter to the studio’s pre-MCU days.)
Another pleasant surprise? The film’s soundtrack is phenomenal, full of needle-drops that could’ve been stolen directly from my Apple Music playlists. It’s tough to hate a movie that features Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” and Huey Lewis’ “The Power of Love” in pivotal scenes.
Granted, the usual superhero flick caveats still apply. The movie’s about 30 minutes too long, the action isn’t staged very well, and the graphic violence is undercut by the obviously fake CGI blood. But those who go into the theater expecting a goofy diversion rather than “an epic, game-changing moment in the history of the MCU” (or some other tagline designed to increase already unrealistic expectations) will probably have a good time.
Deadpool & Wolverine is rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references. Opens in theaters on July 26.
Grade: B
It’s tough to overstate the hype surrounding Marvel’s new action-comedy Deadpool & Wolverine. First, it’s tasked with (sort of) resurrecting one of the all-time great superheroes after Hugh Jackman gave the character a heartbreaking sendoff in 2017’s Logan. But the movie is also the first major step in absorbing recently acquired titles into the MCU proper.
When Disney bought 20th Century Fox back in 2019, it meant Marvel could once again use properties like X-Men and Fantastic Four, which they licensed to Fox before the MCU existed. But they had to figure out how to incorporate them into their already complex mythology that stretched across multiple franchises. To make matters worse, the purchase happened around the same time Marvel hit its painful post-Endgame slump, when lots of people decided they were done trying to keep up with years of homework just to watch a new movie.
If those paragraphs read like gibberish, Deadpool & Wolverine probably isn’t for you. But if you love comic book movies and follow entertainment news like fantasy football, then you’re probably well-versed enough to understand how much Disney has riding on the success of this flick.
The question is: did the studio make the right call by staking their comeback on a comedy that requires a PhD in pop culture references to get all the jokes? I’m not sure how much general audiences will embrace the nonstop breaking of the fourth wall; meta commentary on franchise struggles; and surprisingly sharp jabs at the actors’ real lives.
However, I’m guessing Ryan Reynolds factored that into his plans. Through sheer force of will, the actor/writer/producer helped nurture this franchise from a pipe dream into a juggernaut that will probably cross the $2 billion mark this weekend (when you count all three installments). Even if average joes don’t buy a ticket, Marvel can probably count on repeat viewings from die-hards.
For all the convoluted lore and backstory, the premise of Deadpool & Wolverine is pretty basic. Following his time-hopping adventures in Deadpool 2, former mercenary Wade Wilson (Reynolds) has settled into a boring civilian life. However, when he learns his corner of the multiverse is about to be obliterated, he must reluctantly suit up again and track down a version of Wolverine (Jackman) from a different timeline.
I don’t think anyone was expecting the pathos and devastation we got from Logan – the Deadpool movies are basically violent, foulmouthed Bugs Bunny cartoons – but for all its joking around, this installment understands the importance of the character’s sacrifice in that film. I was worried when the (admittedly hilarious) opening sequence seemed to desecrate Wolverine’s memory, but Deadpool – both the character and the franchise – always reveals a bit more heart than it seems to have at first. Credit to Reynolds and his four(!) co-writers for remembering the humanity in a character who can often be insufferable in large doses.
Speaking of the guy with the claws: even though it has been almost a decade, Jackman brings the same level of commitment to his iconic character. He could’ve easily sleepwalked through the role just to cash a big Marvel check and fans still would’ve cheered. But he’s genuinely adding layers to the role here, even though he’s technically not playing the same guy.
Of course, MCU fans have come to expect big cameos from these films and Deadpool & Wolverine is no exception. That’s why trailers have only been showing a couple of scenes from the film. Almost every other moment of the movie is a giant spoiler. I won’t ruin them here, but I was mostly pleased with how director Shawn Levy utilizes them.
The cameos also aren’t jammed in as awkwardly as they’ve been in recent films – looking at you, Eternals, Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels. They aren’t totally about fan service either, although that’s certainly a huge part of it. Most of the recognizable characters who appear actually have tiny story arcs that serve as Deadpool & Wolverine paying tribute to its predecessors. (If nothing else, the movie is a giant love letter to the studio’s pre-MCU days.)
Another pleasant surprise? The film’s soundtrack is phenomenal, full of needle-drops that could’ve been stolen directly from my Apple Music playlists. It’s tough to hate a movie that features Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” and Huey Lewis’ “The Power of Love” in pivotal scenes.
Granted, the usual superhero flick caveats still apply. The movie’s about 30 minutes too long, the action isn’t staged very well, and the graphic violence is undercut by the obviously fake CGI blood. But those who go into the theater expecting a goofy diversion rather than “an epic, game-changing moment in the history of the MCU” (or some other tagline designed to increase already unrealistic expectations) will probably have a good time.
Deadpool & Wolverine is rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references. Opens in theaters on July 26.
Grade: B
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com
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