Deadpool & Wolverine [Review]
Since Avengers: Endgame ended nearly a decade of Marvel movie magic on a bombastic high, recent phases in the MCU have been muddled, at best. With changes in direction involving more TV shows and one-shots than before, and a handful of movies just not landing the right chord with viewers, there has been a fair amount of nay-saying around whether or not the MCU has what it takes to make another compelling arc and bring viewers back to the theater.
That is, until the arrival of "Marvel Jesus": but please, call him Deadpool.
Ryan Reynolds reprises the central role as Wade Wilson, the merc with a mouth who finds himself on the wrong side of the Time Variance Authority. While initially blaming it on his brief stint with manipulating time in order to revive Vanessa and try to set things right, Mr. Paradox clarifies that it's actually because their universe's "anchor being" died, which will unravel the threads of time and space in his universe and lead to its inevitable end. This anchor being? Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, who met his end (tragically) in Logan.
Now, typically this would happen over the course of decades, but Paradox is tired of being middle management for the TVA and simply babysitting universes as they wind down to oblivion. He wants more efficiency! So, he plans on using a device called a "time-ripper" to expedite the process. Deadpool, thinking he could simply swap out the lost anchor being, goes on a hunt across the multiverse for a proper replacement, and in the process uncovers a much bigger threat that's going to take more than just his blades and bullets to resolve.
Going into a Deadpool movie, you expect to have a good time. Crude jokes and wild violence are dealt in equal measure, with sharp, fast-paced writing carrying laughs from one scene to the next. Reynolds' comedic timing remains largely unchanged, but the natural rapport he has with Jackman provides a new layer of entertainment as the two exchange barbs and banter throughout the film.
Of course, it can be hard to pick up the finer nuances of the narrative when the whole theater is laughing, so I am looking forward to re-watching this at home with the subtitles on (especially when it comes to a certain hero's cameo).
Jackman, looking fantastic as he dons the adamantium claws for the 10th time in a live action film, brings some much-needed emotional grounding to the film. Obviously battling survivor's guilt, Logan is far from interested in any sense of redemption when the movie begins, and we get some particularly vicious lines from him as his conflict with Wade escalates as the film progresses.
The core duo is complemented by a murderers row of cameos and promising talent, which I dare not spoil here for those who are finally getting to the theater this weekend. Suffice it to say there will be moments that will leave you shocked. One hero in particular almost got me up and out of my chair...maybe you'll be able to guess once you've seen it.
The fight choreography is solid throughout the movie, particularly with how they incorporate Wolverine's feral method of fighting, and even Deadpool gets to show off some of the martial skills that make him such a threat to begin with. The climactic fight scene is a fever-dream, with each hero getting a moment in the spotlight. It's a real gift to the fans.
While the movie delivered pretty much everything I would expect, it was a bit disappointing that at the end of it there wasn't much overall consequence to the broader Marvel universe. A singular post-credit scene does nothing to allude to what's next, and there seem to be no efforts to tie Deadpool into the central narrative. Maybe a character meant to constantly break the 4th wall is satisfied staying on the outside, but it was still a bit lackluster in the lore department.
Still, Deadpool & Wolverine is a fantastic trip to the movies, and a rousing MCU film that's sure to inject energy back into the fanbase. Make sure to get a chance to see it on the big screen while you can!
