It was 15 years ago that Ryan Reynolds’ crude and chatty mercenary Deadpool debuted on the big screen. Despite this appearance in ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’, the (true) characters of Deadpool and Wolverine never got to share the screen in any meaningful capacity. Now, with the two mutants completely different, and under the umbrella of Disney’s Marvel brand, ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ seeks to finally unite the two comic icons on screen.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ opens with an explosive moment right smack in the middle of the story, mirroring the opening scenes from the prior Deadpool movies. This opening action sequence serves to remind viewers just how ridiculous and disgusting Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) really is, and also assures viewers that Disney is not sanitizing the Merc with a Mouth in any way. We meet Wade years after the events of Deadpool 2, where he now works as a car salesman with his friend Peter. Although he’s retained the friendships he gained over the years, he’s given up his life as a superhero, and is no longer with his girlfriend Vanessa. Wade’s birthday party is interrupted by members of the Time Variance Authority (first seen in Disney Plus’ ‘Loki’ as the police of the multiverse) who bring him in for a mission. Eager to save his timeline, Wade tracks down an reluctant, alcoholic alternate universe Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) for help, and together they attempt to make things right.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words (Except When They Don’t)
The film, directed by Shawn Levy, is simply fun. It’s obvious that everyone involved in the production was enjoying themselves, especially Reynolds and Jackman. Their chemistry is often what yields the most laughs throughout. Deadpool’s signature fourth-wall breaking personality doesn’t hold back as well, poking fun at the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the death of 20th Century Fox, and even yields a mention of Hugh Jackman’s divorce. Not every joke hits, but the ones that do are gutbusters. One joke about a character’s lack of a dialect coach had my critic screening howling with laughter.
Beyond the humor, the action sequences shine. From the jump, the fights are bloody, gruesome, and ridiculous, in classic Deadpool fashion. The choreography is top-notch, with fights that often contain dozens of stuntmen and stuntwomen all coordinated perfectly. The final fight of the film is the most impressive, culminating in a long one-take down a city street and even through a bus. It’s clear that the work the stunt team put in to perfect these moments is immense, and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is all the better for their work.
The Precarious Scale of Humour and Heart
When ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ works, it really really works. For a majority of the film, the careful balancing act of crude violent humor and emotional stakes is perfection. Unfortunately, there are a few moments in which a quip from Deadpool ruins what could’ve been a perfectly adequate scene of character growth and exploration (one in the third act especially feels misplaced and childish). Additionally, more exploration of Cassandra Nova’s villain character, and her motivations, would have benefited the story, as she ends up feeling somewhat like a villain-of-the-week despite the universe-impacting stakes.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ manages to introduce Deadpool into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, provide an emotional arc for Wolverine, and bid a heartwarming farewell to Fox’s X-Men franchise all within a tight 2 hour run-time, which is already an achievement itself. What’s impressive is that ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ never feels like it’s selling you the next Marvel movie or Disney Plus show a year from now. Although there are references and cameos galore from Marvel’s past, the film is purely a vehicle for Deadpool and Wolverine to go on a ridiculous adventure. Even the end-credits scene (which fans always expect will tease what’s next) is a cheeky conclusion to a joke earlier in the film. Although ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ isn’t perfect, it delivers the team-up that fans have been clamoring for for decades while respecting the trailblazers of superhero cinema that came before it.
Deadpool & Wolverine releases in theaters on July 26.
