A Reel Review: DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

For many years and for complicated reasons, 20^th Century Fox Studios once held the rights to several Marvel characters, including X-Men, Wolverine, Fantastic Four, and others. In 2019, Disney acquired the studio, and brought those characters home into their massive and ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). One of the most anticipated homecomings was Deadpool, and for his third solo film and first in the MCU, he brings it all together. 

 

Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), is taken from his quiet life by the Time Variance Authority (TVA), which informs him that his universe as he knows it is ending, due to the death of Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). Deadpool begins skipping across the Multiverse, looking for a new Wolverine that can help him save his universe. 

 

Directed by Shawn Levy, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE is a romp that combines the old Fox continuity with the MCU. The two characters, ever at each other’s throats, end up in The Void, a desolate, no-where area where heroes and villains from other discontinued universes have been sent to die. There, they encounter Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), a powerful mutant with telekinetic and telepathic powers. 

 

Does it work? Emphatically, yes. What could be a confusing ball of twine is laid out nicely. The in-joke of discontinued universes keeps winking at us, and the self-awareness of the film never lets up. All this serves as a backdrop for Deadpool and Wolverine, who are each going through their own issues; the former is looking for purpose in life while the latter is brooding (and drinking), over his tragic past. 

 

Director Shawn Levy keeps the pacing tight, the humor hilarious, and the action tremendous. The bloody fights between the two main characters are a blast, and the F-word loaded banter between the two equally funny. The many characters from old universes that show up are put to great use (they get an ending!), and each cameo is justified within the story. There are many surprises here, to the point that it feels like a miracle they pulled this off. For long-time fans of the old Fox films and the MCU…there is a lot to love. 

 

Acting is excellent. Ryan Reynolds is a hoot in and out of the mask, and Hugh Jackman seriously brings the drama. Emma Corrin is flat-out amazing. Matthew Macfadyen plays a TVA agent who brings Deadpool into this story, and is very good. To say any more about the large cast would dip into spoiler territory. 

 

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE has many boxes to check: it looks to give a proper sendoff and tribute to the Fox films while giving Deadpool his start in the MCU. This is a tough balance, but it is handled perfectly. From start to finish, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE is a bloody great time. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it