It’s no secret that Marvel has been on a downhill trajectory since the release of “Endgame” rocked audiences worldwide. The impact of this oh-so-perfect ending was almost negated as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) saw their next film, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” less than three months later. Then came the release of the MCU’s fourth phase, an oversaturated grab bag of middling movies, with “WandaVision” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” being the only stand-outs.
Besides those two, Marvel was suffering. They needed a fix soon, or else risk the end of the MCU and the destruction of the company entirely. Who could possibly save them from such desolation? Enter: the Merc with the Mouth and the most recognizable mutant out there.
“Deadpool and Wolverine” hit the world—and theatres—by storm, becoming the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time in just a few weeks.
Starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as Deadpool and Wolverine respectively, “Deadpool and Wolverine” serves as the third movie in the “Deadpool” series, based around the original Marvel comics.
The “Deadpool” movies are known for their humor, and the latest installment is no different. Most of the jokes hit, and even when one doesn’t, there are enough of them to make up for a miss. Reynolds consistently breaks the fourth wall, quipping solely for the audience’s enjoyment. Although in previous films, these asides stale by the end of the runtime, “Deadpool and Wolverine” manages to keep the energy up by including nods, references and even cameos from both the comics and previous movies—Channing Tatum as the card-throwing Creole Gambit and John Favereau as Tony Stark’s chauffeur/bodyguard/personal assistant Happy Hogan from the “Ironman” series.
Jackman and Reynolds steal the show with their unwavering chemistry and continuous banter. Reynolds provides most of the light-hearted entertainment of the movie, and Jackman grounds it with an emotional throughline. His performance gives the film much-needed dramatic beats that balance out the comedy.
Beyond the stars, “Deadpool and Wolverine” features a strong supporting cast, including “Succession” actor Matthew Macfadyen and Emma Corrin, known for their portrayal of Princess Diana in the long-running Netflix hit, “The Crown.” Macfadyen brings a certain kind of deranged obsession to his performance that audiences have come to expect from him, shouting incoherently in a hilarious manner not unlike a small child throwing a tantrum.
Although they play a fairly typical Marvel villain, Corrin manages to add some nuance to their character Cassandra Nova. They carry themselves with an eerie and unsettling air that is only heightened by a horrifying ability to literally reach into the minds of others.
Of course, like any action movie, “Deadpool and Wolverine” is filled with high-octane fight scenes, but unlike the majority, they maintain an air of whimsy by using funky pop songs—NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye”—or delightfully out of place musical numbers—“You’re the One That I Want” from “Grease.” The music choices throughout this film elevate the style and make it all the more enjoyable.
Even the more serious fights feature slick editing and brilliant choreography, keeping the audience’s attention throughout its runtime. “Deadpool and Wolverine” is truly one of the least boring movies in recent history, and is just so entertaining.
Whilst at the end of the day, “Deadpool and Wolverine” is two hours of blatant fanservice, it’s good fanservice. It knows exactly what it is, and doesn’t try to be anything more or less. This movie succeeds as a comedy, as an action movie, and most importantly, as a superhero movie. In a world of overdone, boring, Marvel heroes swooping around the Multiverse saving the world, “Deadpool and Wolverine” provides a much needed break from the mundane.
