'Deadpool And Wolverine' Review: Dinner And Dessert For Comic Book Fans
The merc with the mouth is finally joining the mcu in the long-awaited deadpool and wolverine, a comic book film that not only expertly brings him into the fold, but delivers the team-up fans have been dreaming of and then some.
‘Deadpool And Wolverine’ catches audiences up with Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) who, after the events the previous Deadpool films, is unfulfilled and at rock bottom, working a dead-end job with no meaningful prospects on the horizon. However, this all changes when the TVA, heavily featured in Marvel’s Loki series, snatches him up in order to recruit him for a new cause, one that will give him purpose but lead to the destruction of his world and everyone he cares about. In order to stop this from happening, he reluctantly teams up with The Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) in order to save his world from annihilation.
Fans can rest assured knowing that the long-awaited team-up of Wolverine and Deadpool isn’t even remotely disappointing. The friction, banter, and gruff chemistry between the two is electric, Reynolds and Jackman playing off of one another perfectly, bringing out the best in each other. Reynolds has never had a better time or embraced the character as whole-heartedly as he does here, relishing every second. Jackman is also terrific, showcasing shades of the Logan audiences have seen before, but differentiating this version effectively, still delivering the gravitas and prickly charm that is always synonymous with the character. The duo are never boring to watch, continuously adding new, hilarious, and tender wrinkles to their budding friendship as their situation gets progressively more dire.
This third installment is helmed by director Shawn Levy, a filmmaker with an eclectic filmography to say the least, having been behind the camera for the Night at the Museum films, Real Steel with Jackman and the more recent Free Guy with Reynolds. His history with both leads, coupled with his assured confidence behind the camera, not only delivers the some of the best action sequences the MCU has seen to date, but provides ample character moments to get audiences emotionally invested in the two lovable anti-heroes. The action sequences are visceral, frenetic, propulsive, and most importantly grounded in character, elevating them beyond typical comic book fare, sure to make even the most hard to please comic book fan gleeful. Make no mistake, this is a hard-R film, one that makes full use of its rating and not just for gimmicks or shock value.
The film is also consistently hilarious, Wade not only poking fun at himself and other comic book characters, but the MCU and 20th Century Fox extended universes as well, all with biting wit and blunt, potent impact. This is not only the funniest Deadpool film, but easily the funniest Marvel film up to this point. Sure, some jokes don’t hit the mark, but the majority do and hit the bullseye with shocking precision. There are plenty of surprises and cameos fans are going to salivate over, but they’re never there to just be a gimmick or to distract from subpar storytelling. These surprises are naturally woven into the story and in fact help propel it into far more interesting, emotionally satisfying territory with plenty of laughs to spare.
This is a comic book film that also isn’t afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve and it’s far better for it. This easily could’ve been a hollow exercise in blockbuster filmmaking with gratuitous gore and fan service, but Reynolds, Levy and company ensure that it’s anything but. The exploration of both Wade and Logan is extremely compelling, both men feeling at their lowest, feeling lost and purposeless, forging a friendship over their collective failures slowly and apprehensively. Reynolds and Jackman sell these emotional beats with clarity and warmth, never letting the humor overpower the emotional through-line of the film or their central relationship. The blend of the humor and heart is not only what makes this a breath of fresh air for the MCU, but one of the best comic book films to come around the bend in quite some time.
However, the film isn’t perfect, a few minor flaws holding it back from being true blockbuster perfection. First and foremost, the villain of the film, Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), is barely fleshed out, her motivations ringing hollow and cliché. Corrin is fantastic in the role, bringing the menace and slimy charm in good supply, but she’s unfortunately saddled with poor material to work with, leaving so much potential for the character on the table. Also, the film’s multiverse elements that are crucial to the central story are muddled and confusing at best, exposition flippantly dished out where it feels as if none of the new mythology will matter outside of the film in the grander MCU. If anything, this film cements the fact that opening up the multiverse was one of the worst decisions Marvel made, never fulfilling the potential it clearly had.
Deadpool And Wolverine is simply a comic book fan’s dream come true. The pairing of the two iconic characters and winning blend of humor and heart is a dynamite cocktail, providing a much-needed shot of adrenaline to the MCU, not only delivering one of the most wholly satisfying blockbuster meals of the summer, but kicking the doors open to a new, far more exciting future for Marvel. He may have meant it as a throwaway joke, but Deadpool is looking more and more like he is in fact Marvel Jesus.