“Deadpool & Wolverine,” Marvel Studios’ latest that bridges the gap between itself and Fox’s Marvel superhero IPs, is the multiverse film we’ve all been waiting for. To say that it’s one of the most anticipated superhero films of the year would be an understatement, especially since it’s been 15 years since Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman shared the screen as the titular heroes in “Wolverine: X-Men Origins.” Blending together irreverent fan service with a buddy road trip energy, director Shawn Levy delivers a love letter laced with one-line zingers, Easter eggs, and in-house jokes that pay tribute to the 20th Century Fox X-Men movies that came before it while also acknowledging studio rights and IP ownership. Though the novelty of what Deadpool has to offer started to wane, the film provides the opportunity for the Merc with the Mouth to cut loose and justifies Wolverine’s resurrection to the joy of the MCU community, who has been waiting for this.
Set after the events of “Deadpool 2,” “Deadpool & Wolverine” sees Wade Wilson (Reynolds) at an uncertain place in his life. Though some would call what he’s experiencing a mid-life crisis, the Merc with the Mouth moves through life without a sense of identity. He’s put down the guns and swords, works as a used car salesman, and he’s broken up with his girlfriend Vanessa (Monica Baccarin). As Wade wastes away, the TVA’s Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) plucks him from Earth-10005 to offer him to leave his timeline and be the greatest superhero in the greatest universe of all time.
A jubilant Deadpool is excited about the offer and proclaims to be Marvel Jesus. Although the potential new gig comes with a new costume and several shiny weaponry, there are a few caveats. First, he can’t return to his new home. Second, his timeline is about to be erased because there is no anchor being—a being of such vital importance that when they die, their whole world slowly withers out of existence. Third, Deadpool isn’t the anchor being; Wolverine (Jackman) is.
Though the vaporization of a timeline process is quite extensive – it can take up to a couple thousand years to happen, Mr. Paradox wants to expedite the process so that he can move up the TVA ladder. Seeing himself as a Mercy killer, Mr. Paradox has a Time Ripper, a MacGuffin, that would accelerate the process. The loosely noble and morally flexible Deadpool refuses that option and snatches Mr. Paradox’s Temporal Loom to travel to multiple universes to find the one Wolverine who would help serve as the new anchor being. As the Merc with the Mouth travels through time and space, he runs into an appropriately sized Wolverine, an Age of Apocalypse Wolverine, a Wolverine wearing John Byrne’s classic yellow and brown suit, a Wolverine that’s being crucified, and another that’s played by someone other than Hugh Jackman. Though most refuse his offer, Deadpool has to settle for a reluctant and very drunk Wolverine, considered the worst of all the Wolverines because of his selfishness.
Unhappy with what Deadpool has recklessly done, Mr. Paradox sends “Deadpool & Wolverine” to the void, a desolate wasteland where everything pruned goes. Now it’s up to Deadpool to return home, all the while facing a new threat like Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), who intends to escape from the prison of misfit Marvel heroes pre-MCU and carry out her revenge on all of those who wronged her.
A film like “Deadpool & Wolverine” doesn’t require as much prior viewing of previous MCU films and Marvel Superhero films pre-MCU as initially thought. The self-aware Deadpool understands that he lives in a superhero world built by a mega Hollywood studio, and as such, he explains the process of IP rights and studio acquisition with profane nuance. Those who follow the MCU films and some studios’ efforts to bring certain heroes to the big screen may get more out of these jokes than those who blindly come into something like this. This is especially true with some cameos, some of which are hilarious misdirects. Still, all the cameo heroes share the same keen sense of wink-and-nod jokes that poke fun at themselves or others.
Wade’s search for a new sense of purpose is a refreshing take on the confident character who can be vulnerable. He still knows how to press people’s buttons and isn’t afraid to hold back on the searing jokes towards others and himself. Though Wade tends to act as if he’s self-serving, he’s a more prominent and altruistic hero than he believes. So even though he starts off as a mercenary who is in it to get a new suit and be a part of the MCU, his guileness surfaces when he realizes what is at stake. And he makes that clear as he holds a photo of his family – all of the supporting cast that have been with him throughout his bloody adventures – with him on his quest to return home.
Of course, this wouldn’t be much of a “Deadpool & Wolverine” review without mentioning Wolverine. The man with the adamantium skeleton and bone claws returns after taking a dirt nap for seven years. Though it’s different from the one you want it to be. And Deadpool makes sure the one we’ve watched between 2000 and 2017 is dead by hilariously desecrating his corpse and using his bones as weapons to kill off TVA agents and a day player against N’Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye.” Though this may not be the same Wolverine, he attempts to atone for his failures by drinking his demons away. The new approach to Wolverine allows us to explore new aspects of Logan that haven’t been seen in any of the prior 20th Century Studios X-Men films.
Seeing how the film is titled “Deadpool & Wolverine,” the titular dynamic is the film’s crux. Reynolds and Jackman play these fearsomely strong characters who are impervious to injury and have emotional vulnerabilities and tragic backstories. Both performances reveal depths that have never been explored in either one of the characters. As such, they have a deeper connection with each other, and their dynamic reflects the themes of friendship through the superhero lens. Watching these two in action has been a long wait for fans who have been aching to see them shred their adversaries apart on the same screen. And the experience of watching that with your friends and superhero fan community.
Reynolds continues to be charming as ever, even more so now that there are personal stakes. One titular hero goes through an existential crisis, while another wallows in tragic self-pity. So it’s wonderfully perplexing that a nihilistic film can be so warm, wholesome, and funny. And that isn’t through just the jokes and winks and nods. It also comes through the collective cheers when “Deadpool & Wolverine” try to kill each other – watching Wolverine pull and spit out bullets shot into him by Deadpool was fun – or better yet, kill their enemies.
Considering the nearly seven-year absence, Jackman’s return is just if not even more welcomed. The Wolverine is just as uncomfortable to be around as ever. And even though he is the wrong hero for the job, he will always be the wrong hero. However, the lore dictates that makes him the most dependable. Watching the profane and violent banter between the two is cringy and hilarious. They bring out the best in each other in ways that are expected from a buddy film. That idea and the film being a road trip comedy comes to fruition when they exchange more than a few blows in a Honda Odyssey.
Though the meta humor is a signature part of the Deadpool franchise, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is a buddy road trip action comedy that justifies its existence with a new story and higher stakes for Wade and Logan. While a film of this size would tend to exploit the cameos to support the grandiose superhero spectacle, here it is used to support the story, all the while serving as a comedic commentary on studio rights, how disposable some cinematic heroes are, and how some never lived up to their potential. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s a shame to see how some studios treat their IPs. So, to see these cameos reprise their roles while delivering their signature one-liners and acknowledging their dispensability and tabloid headlines is hilarious. It’s also another chance to see them grace the screen one last time.
Levy, who uses a script penned by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells, reminds us of why we love superhero movies and how the concept of the multiverse could be used effectively when it is in the right creative hands. The film never makes it a point to serve as a bridge to the next chapter but instead uses plot devices and narrative saga links as jokes. And Levy understands how important a film like “Deadpool & Wolverine” is for the fans. So, he takes into account the significance of something like having Jackman put on the iconic yellow and blue suit. And because humorous self-deprecation is one of the many natures of a Deadpool film, it can strike a balance between celebrating and critiquing 20th Century Studios Marvel superhero IPs.
Unfortunately, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is thinly plotted. It relies heavily on the titular chemistry and signature jokes to carry the film through to the end. Even though it has a story that we’ve seen before, has a one-dimensional villain with a cookie-cut tragic backstory and lazy motivation – though Corrin looks like she is still having tons of fun -, and sees its titular heroes go on a familiar hero’s journey, it’s still a thrill to watch. The profanity-laced quips, the grizzly action sequences, and the chemistry are so refreshing and fun because it is highly anticipated, and there’s no required watching to understand what’s going on. Hell, even Deadpool makes fun of the exposition early on when he first meets Mr. Paradox.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is one of the better action comedy MCU sequels and the multiverse film we’ve been waiting for. It knows what it is and what people are expecting. As such, it gives the people what they want and doesn’t hold anything back. Despite some of its predictability, the solid narrative and emotional payoffs satisfy its characters and should please the audience. So much so that you may want to go back to the theater to find the missed Easter eggs or laugh at the jokes you couldn’t hear.
9/10
Deadpool & Wolverine in theaters July 26, 2024 and is Rated R.
