The merc with the mouth makes his big, bloody debut in the MCU, and he’s brought a 20th Century friend along for the ride. Deadpool & Wolverine isn’t the “Marvel Jesus” the studio needed to course correct its cinematic universe, but it never pretends to be that type of movie. This is, instead, a violent, foul mouthed and hilarious romp that reminds us how much fun comic book movies can be. Maybe that’s what the MCU really needs.
Marvel’s convoluted multiverse is actually the perfect playground for a Deadpool movie. Cameos can often feel like cheap ploys to distract fans from a film’s flaws, but that’s not the case here. There are a ton of familiar faces that pop up, but those appearances go hand in hand with Deadpool’s signature fourth wall busting and meta humour. They also make sense in the larger context of what this movie is about, serving a purpose in the story.
The story itself is nothing special, and certainly isn’t some sort of big creative jolt that’s going to restore faith in the MCU’s current trajectory. This is not that movie, nor does it aim to be. This is a Deadpool movie, and you can expect a lot more of what fans adored about the first two entries. It’s also really, really funny. There’s a bit of humour that doesn’t land, but otherwise it’s very consistent in delivering big laughs. It’s first and foremost a comedy, but grounds itself in seriousness often enough that it never becomes unwieldy.
I really like how personal this outing feels for Deadpool and Wolverine. The stakes feel higher because Reynolds and Jackman really sell them. Their chemistry is fantastic, striking a nice balance between these characters’ clashing personalities. Hugh is able to step right back into those adamantium filled shoes without missing a beat, delivering one of his all time best performances as Logan. There’s so much cinematic history with these actors and characters, making it easy to care about their fates. Emma Corrin is delightfully unhinged as the film’s big bad, making for a truly menacing foe. My lips are sealed regarding the cameos, but I had a blast with almost every one of their performances.
I had my concerns about Shawn Levy taking the directorial reins from David Leitch, but I have to commend his ability to handle an action sequence. While the action itself isn’t quite as defined or cleanly orchestrated, there are a handful of awesome brawls that make good use of that R-rating. The opening sequence sets the stage perfectly, and was not something I would’ve ever had on my bingo card for this movie.
Is Deadpool & Wolverine a great MCU movie? Not really, but it is a great Deadpool movie. This long awaited team up is a fitting send-off for Fox’s era of superhero films, that knows how to show its audience a damn good time. Let’s f*cking go!
4/5
Review by: Benjamin Garrett