We’ve been without Marvel for quite a while now and truthfully, the storied MCU has been feeling a bit… tired. There’s been so much talk of superhero fatigue. Is the bloom off the rose? Well, Deadpool is here to challenge that. The “Merc with a Mouth” is now living in the “House of Mouse.” Will the hotly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine be the shot in the arm the MCU desperately needs? Or will the Mouse simply tape his mouth shut? Read on.
Deadpool & Wolverine finds Wade (Ryan Reynolds) feeling a bit listless. Despite having all his friends very present in his life, something is missing. He needs to matter. Could he be an Avenger? How about an X-Man? Upon learning that his world is in jeopardy, he must team up with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to save the day.
Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams and Morena Baccarin co-star in the movie. Shawn Levy directs Deadpool & Wolverine from a script he co-wrote with Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Ryan Reynolds, and Zeb Wells.
Deadpool & Wolverine is a perfectly crafted love letter to Marvel comic book movies BEFORE the MCU was a thing. In other words, if you remember the late 1990s and early 2000s, there’s probably something (or someone) for you to enjoy here. While you will receive no spoilers here, let’s just say there are plenty of cameos and easter eggs to look out for.
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This critic was admittedly a little worried when Deadpool joined the MCU. While there’s been no shortage of jokes online, Disney is still pulling the notoriously rebellious series into their orderly production house. How would the proudly profane Deadpool fall into line?
Kids, feel free to breathe a sigh of relief. Deadpool & Wolverine isn’t trying to fit into their new home. This movie is as big, brash and violent as it ever was. In fact, director Shawn Levy seems to be having a blast finding new ways to up violence and the blood to over-the-top, almost comedic levels. It seems (thankfully!) there’s no bringing Deadpool into the Disney fold.
At the same time, while the movie offers the standard quippy and meta Deadpool tone, there is a lot of heart here. A lot of this falls on Hugh Jackman’s shoulders as a counterweight to Reynolds’ manic portrayal. It doesn’t need to be said that Jackman is a treasure and any opportunity to watch him act is a joy.
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In fact, it feels like Jackman’s hardly missed a beat as Logan. It should come as no surprise that he’s a perfect scene partner for Reynolds. The two match each other’s drastically different personas seamlessly. At the same time though, Jackman’s played Logan since 2000. After almost 25 years, he understands this character. He’s intimately acquainted with his heart and what makes him tick. He’s easily able to play everything from the lightest of comedy to the heaviest of drama and this is why we love Hugh Jackman.
Luckily, the whole cast looks to be having a blast. It barely needs to be said that Ryan Reynolds is born to play Deadpool and the supporting cast is thriving in this wacky, meta joy of a movie. Recurring players like Leslie Uggams and Rob Delaney shine with the comedy. While newcomers like Matthew Macfadyen are welcomed additions to the MCU.
Could it be said this is a superhero movie for us adults who haven’t quite grown up, yet? In all the wacky, wise-cracking, meta goodness, Levy works in some needle drops that had this critic grinning from ear to ear. From Grease‘s “You’re the One that I Want” to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” and even N*Sync’s “Bye, Bye, Bye” the movie integrates many music sequences into the action with its tongue planted firmly in cheek and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
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In the grand scheme of things, Deadpool & Wolverine does exactly what it needs to do. This fun, violent delight of a movie is exactly what we need from the MCU right now. I had the most fun I’ve had in a Marvel movie in a long time and I’m going to say it right here and now, this is my favorite MCU film since Thor: Ragnarok. It’s good to see Marvel having some fun again. Here’s to them doing more of the same.
Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters around the country on July 26, 2024.
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