One of the most anticipated releases from Marvel, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” came to the big screen this summer with a wave of excitement from fans and as a hopeful new breath of life for the superhero production company.
This film brought the classic character back to the big screen after fans questioned whether Marvel Studios would continue using the man in red since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox. An even more unprecedented return was Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and his entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Jackman’s Wolverine was a prominent character in the X-Men films produced by 20th Century Fox, which previously produced the Deadpool films as well.
When Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) is taken by the time-monitoring organization known as the Time Variance Authority (TVA,) he learns that his timeline will be destroyed. The TVA was introduced in the “LOKI” series on Disney+, showing multiversal travel and different versions of the same character (referred to as variants).
Deadpool then goes in search of a Wolverine variant to help him save his world and the people he loves — an unlikely and rocky partnership between the two iconic characters. However, before they are able to take down Matthew Macfadyen’s character, a TVA agent named Mr. Paradox, they are pruned and sent to the void, a place where items and people end up after their timelines have been broken. The two must work to escape the void by fighting Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin). In the void, they meet several familiar characters from 20th Century Fox’s X-Men and Fantastic Four films.
Reynolds is, once again, perfect as Deadpool. He has created a knack for breaking the fourth wall and engaging in playful, often vulgar, banter and it continues to be a strength of the character and movies, but only to an extent. The overwhelming amount of sarcastic wit with only a few moments of genuine emotion leaves the film feeling slightly empty from the side of Deadpool. This has been a problem in the previous Deadpool movies and is more of an issue with the writing than the acting. This unique relationship with the fourth wall and signature use of mature humor places the Deadpool series as one of the only R-rated Marvel projects, alongside the Wolverine films, and makes the Deadpool and Wolverine movies stand out among other Marvel movies.
Jackman’s Wolverine, on the other hand, provides a perfect counterbalance to Reynolds’ frenetic energy. Jackman brings a grounded, gritty presence to the character and plays it with the complexity and depth that fans have come to expect. Jackman’s emotional moments are quite strong and remind fans of his last performance as Wolverine in the dark R-rated film “LOGAN.” The juxtaposition between Wolverine’s brooding intensity and Deadpool’s carefree antics creates a delightful push-and-pull dynamic that drives the film’s humor and drama.
Corrin and Macfadyen play excellent villains who are fun to see on screen. While Corrin’s Cassandra Nova gets more time on screen and is far more powerful than Macfadyen’s Mr. Paradox, they both instill fear into audiences and assert their control.
The movie is a fun, bloody action-comedy that does a good job of interweaving humor, action and heartfelt sequences. While there are lulls in the film and the plot is predictable, the enjoyment and care put into the film is clear compared to some recent Marvel films that only contribute to the superhero fatigue many have come to experience. While some may be frustrated by the cameos and many references to classic 20th Century Fox characters, the cameos emphasize a love and appreciation for the films that paved the way for the MCU to reach the success it possesses today.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is worth the watch for both fans of the 20th Century Fox franchise and anyone looking to turn their mind off and laugh at Deadpool dancing to NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.”
While some may be frustrated by the cameos and many references to classic 20th Century Fox characters, these emphasize a love and appreciation for the films that paved the way.
