The Merc with a Mouth finally enters the MCU with Deadpool & Wolverine, a film that serves as the very definition of “dumb fun.”
Deadpool & Wolverine
Directed By: Shawn Levy
Written By: Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen
Release Date: July 26, 2024
The latest MCU film breaks from the mold, being the first R-rated film in the franchise’s history. And really, it’s the only way to let Deadpool, be…well, Deadpool. Between the ultra-violent action sequences (that balance both humor and a “holy shit” factor) and the trademark, foul-mouthed fourth-wall breaking, this manages to be both Deadpool 3 and something new all together.
To be entirely honest, the Deadpool films have never been my cup of tea. On paper, it seems like something perfect for me. Violent action, comic book stories, and cursing up a storm? All things I love. And yet, they never quite clicked for me. They weren’t bad, but I’d only ever found them “okay.”
As such, I was fairly ambivalent when Deadpool 3 was initially announced, with my intrigue picking up once Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine officially joined the cast. The subsequent trailers, and phenomenal marketing strategy, served to kick my curiosity into genuine hype. I’m more than happy to say, that hype was justified and I came out of the experience energized and still laughing.
Which is wild because, when I think about it, the film shouldn’t work. At all.
The overall story is paper thin and much of the heavy lifting in terms of character background/motivations are given over to exposition dumps. There’s a lot of “telling” the audience why we should care about certain things, without much showing of it. But even amidst these explanations, the film expects you to be familiar enough with certain characters and events from other MCU stories to completely avoid highlighting their importance.
The action sequences, which are definitely a high point, feel…oddly placed. Some of the earlier fights (especially the opening title/credits) are more dynamic and engaging. They do a fantastic job of showcasing Wade Wilson’s legitimate skills, while keeping things intimate. Some of the latter sequences, even though they’re designed to be more epic in nature, somehow feel less. This gives the whole pacing a bit of a shake, rather than progressively ratcheting up the tension.
Even as I notice these things, none of that shit mattered. The film manages to still whip ungodly amounts of ass, that had me literally hooting and hollering in my theater seat. Seriously, my own son shushed me when I got a little too enthusiastic about one of the cameos.
It’s an impressive feat, and shouldn’t work. Yet the genuine charm and chemistry brought to the screen between the lead actors makes it work. Even as this particular Wolverine’s haunted backstory is relegated to a couple heft chunks of dialog, Hugh Jackman does a phenomenal job of selling us on the guilt and sorrow he feels. Similarly, Deadpool’s reasoning to save his world is just kinda there, but there’s a sincerity to his words and actions that pulls you along for the ride.
And yes, I want to emphasize how hilarious this movie is. The amount of times I literally laughed out loud (along with everyone else in the theater), are too numerous to count. Hell, I’m still laughing about a number of gags and sharing messages with my teens about the film that get us all laughing again. Not all of the jokes land, and a few veer too much into humor only teens would giggle about, but they hit far more than they miss.
Yet, for all the humor and irreverence the movie delivers, Deadpool & Wolverine works because it sneaks in a ton of heart. I was impressed with how the movie allowed it’s quieter, more serious moments room to breathe. I kept expecting certain moments to be capped off with a joke; something a few recent MCU films have struggled with. The film knew exactly when to hold back on the humor and let the heart shine through. The result are a number of surprisingly emotional moments and an ending that pulls on the heartstrings and left me feeling hopeful.
Even as Deadpool & Wolverine pokes fun at tropes within the superhero genre (specifically nostalgia-bait and multiverse mayhem), it deftly utilizes them to great effect. Rather than making certain cameos feel cheap or gimmicky, they come off as more of a genuine love-letter to the movies they’re referencing. In recognizing—and embracing—the absurdity of the multiverse, it manages to give us one of the best (live-action) Marvel films to use it.
For all the genuine issues one could point out with the film, there’s an undeniable fun factor that overrides all of it. It’s pure, dumb fun, but with enough heart to make it worthwhile.
