Deadpool and Wolverine is an action-adventure film directed by Shawn Levy and is the third installment in the Deadpool Franchise. The film follows Deadpool and Wolverine as they try to save their world from a multiversal threat.
“Marvel Jesus”
Deadpool and Wolverine takes place six years following the events of Deadpool 2. After going back in time and saving his loved ones, Wade Wilson, played by Ryan Reynolds, decides to hang up the suit to live a quiet life with his friends and family. This quickly takes a turn when the Time Variance Authority (TVA) kidnaps Wade and tells him that his universe is on the brink of collapse due to the death of Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman. To keep his timeline in check, Wade Wilson recruits a Wolverine from another Earth to help him save his world. In their adventure, they eventually end up in the void, a place at the end of time used as a multiverse dumpster. They soon encounter Cassandra Nova, played by Emma Corrin, and some familiar faces in their way of trying to save their world.
LFG
The core aspect that makes Deadpool and Wolverine worth watching is the amazing chemistry and acting of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. Their characters last teamed up in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine and they didn’t get the best treatment. Since then, Reynolds and Jackman have been friends for almost 15 years, which is shown in full display in this film. Their constant bickering and snaps at each other provide an electric theater experience while also showing the growth of these two characters throughout the film.
Following Disney’s acquisition of Fox, fans feared that Deadpool and Wolverine would be more tame and toned down compared to the previous Deadpool movies, but luckily that was not the case. Deadpool and Wolverine still provides the gore and out-of-pocket humor that made the first two Deadpool films unique and memorable compared to other comic book movies.
Like a Prayer
Along with the amount of humor the film provides, Deadpool and Wolverine matches it with the amount of cameos and references to other well-known films. Longtime Marvel fans are definitely going to appreciate the surprises that are shown on the big screen. Bringing back past characters and some characters audiences have not yet seen, Deadpool and Wolverine uses its cameos as a momentous tribute, rather than using them as a publicity stunt.
On top of the wild meta humor, fourth wall breaks, and gore, another aspect that makes this film memorable is the well-crafted soundtrack. The songs used in this soundtrack will be stuck in audiences’ heads, making the movie an unforgettable experience.
Bye Bye Bye
While there are many great aspects of the movie, Deadpool and Wolverine still suffers from the problem of having a generic plot and stereotypical villains. Both Deadpool and Wolverine have purposeful backstories and clearly established motivations. Still, the overall plot of this film revolves around the generic trope of villains who just want to destroy the world. Cassandra Nova, played by Emma Corrin, has great scenes with her acting and her unique use of her powers, but her motivation of destroying the multiverse for no reason, is a generic trope that makes the character easily forgotten at the end of the movie.
Another problem with this film was the amount of exposition used to establish character motivations and the plot’s high stakes. The motivations were purposeful but were established through monologues and speeches rather than showing the audience why these characters act the way they do. Because of this, the film was less emotional, especially compared to the previous Deadpool and Wolverine films. Although this film had high stakes due to Wade’s universe being on the brink of collapse, no point in the movie showed how important the heroes’ mission is apart from just telling the audience that the mission has significant importance. “Show, don’t tell” is an important phrase used for storytelling in movies, but unfortunately, Deadpool and Wolverine did not make much use of it.
Verdict
Deadpool and Wolverine is an enjoyable film that gives audiences a memorable theater experience. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman provided stellar performances, and it was evident how much they cared about making this film. This movie was easily one of the best Marvel projects Disney has put out in a while, but it does not quite live up to the “Marvel Savior” that most people were making out to be. The film still suffers from the problems common in most MCU projects, which include a generic plot and stereotypical villains. Because of that, it does not leave audiences with much anticipation for future projects because not every film can be carried by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
Deadpool and Wolverine is an entertaining film with its unique meta humor and over-the-top gore, and although it still suffers from the problems that most MCU films have, it’s hard to deny the fun atmosphere that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman provide.
