There’s no mistaking at least part of the motivation for Shawn Levy’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” was a desire to see these two giants share the screen again. It’s been six years since “Deadpool 2” and seven since “Logan,” Wolverine’s last appearance. The two only crossed paths once in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” but back then Deadpool (still played by Ryan Reynolds) wasn’t the crude fast talker we know and love. The other part of the motivation, doubtlessly, was to give Deadpool the ending he deserves. And to give Wolverine one more chance at redemption. And to make us laugh, heartily, for 2 hours and 7 minutes. The film, with only a few stumbles, succeeds on all fronts.
From the opening credits, “Deadpool & Wolverine” lets us know this is a Ryan Reynolds show. Deadpool goes looking for Logan’s final resting place and encounters a bunch of baddies (the TVA from the “Loki” series). The scene that follows is one of the most hysterical and absurd combination of sex and violence I’ve ever seen. But there’s a backstory. We learn, in time, that Deadpool has been recruited to help euthanize a fractured timeline in his universe. Logan’s death—who was the timeline’s ‘anchor’—has set it on a spiral of no return. Deadpool is supposed to help put his reality “out of his misery,” in which case he’ll finally matter. The rub is to do so will mean losing everyone from the previous two movies he cares about. He then sets off on a multiverse quest to find a suitable ‘other’ Wolverine to stand in for the fallen one to prevent his reality from ending.
Of Multiverses, Timelines, and Redemption
What has always worked about superhero movies is the lonely torture that goes along with being a hero. And amidst “Deadpool & Wolverine”—which is basically a two-hour Ryan Reynolds stand-up routine—is that the writers nail Deadpool’s solitude amidst his humor and hyper violence. The film has an ‘R’ MPA rating, and earns it. The movie theater where I saw the film was checking IDs for anyone under 18, which made me laugh. Yes, the film is gory, irreverent, and packed with more homoeroticism than any of the previous efforts. But I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen IDs checked for a film, even amidst a litany of “Saw” releases and 2022’s “Terrifier 2.” But I digress.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is a laugh riot. Hugh Jackman reprises Logan and is still in complete command of the character. He’s has that gruff, ‘leave me alone’ type sarcasm that made his character work in the past. However, this time writers Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and star Ryan Reynolds give him something else to work towards: redemption. Without offering spoilers, Deadpool yanks him from a multiverse where he was not a hero. Watching Wolverine—through Jackman—wallow in self-pity and alcoholism—amidst ultra-bloody fights with Deadpool—split up the film’s 4th Wall breaks (spoiler: there are too many to even attempt to count).
As usual, the gore in “Deadpool & Wolverine” (especially the fights between the titular characters) is irreverent and hysterical. I doubt the violence in this film—or its two predecessors—is meant to be taken seriously. It hits more like an old ‘80s action film married to a comic splatterfest that will have you in stitches. Since there’s no fear that either of these two can actually die from their wounds, the scenes are more like a colossal fist-fight than attempted murder. However, the fights are outrageously violent. The litany of uses Deadpool finds for his swords (now made of adamantium) and Wolverine finds for his claws feel like they’re going for a Guinness world record. And somehow, every step of the way, Jackman’s reserved gruffness and Reynolds’ irreverent sexualization of every scene keep the laughs coming in bucketfulls.
Hyper Violence and Comedy Times 10
But why the film works—despite its absurdity—is our desire to see these two redeem themselves once again. Fans of the Deadpool universe have been accustomed to the hero’s comedy as a mask for his pain, and Director Levy (who helmed the super touching “Real Steel,” also starring Jackman) knows how to make Deadpool’s loneliness stick. His longing for his love Vanessa (reprised by Morena Baccarin) and his friends make the film’s more tender moments work, and Wolverine trying to make up for past mistakes only intensifies this. Wade’s always been a sad sack. “Deadpool & Wolverine” knows this; and though minimal compared to the film’s hyper violence, Wade’s story is important and necessary.
Jackman and Reynolds are perfect together. Sometimes they fight out of necessity (trying to figure out the other’s angle) and other times just due to their personalities. Reynolds does most of the talking and Jackman most of the grunting. However one scene in a Honda Odyssey (just gold) has Jackman delivering a takedown monologue of Wade’s character that would be cutting and harsh if it weren’t so self-reflective. The ensuing fight is so humorous and blood it makes “Freddy vs. Jason” seem conservative. Yet amidst it all, Deadpool and Wolverine’s characters shine, the former as he tries to make up for his past and the latter as he tries to remember who he really is.
Jackman and Reynolds Are a Lot of Fun
The cameos and co-stars in “Deadpool & Wolverine” are plenty, and almost hard to keep track of. The villain this time around consists of a TVA agent named Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfayden), and his megalomania smacks of Agent Smith from “The Matrix”—just one of this film’s spoof-riffs. You could look up the cast list on IMDb and ruin most of the cameos. However, in due diligence—since this is the film’s opening weekend—I will not. One I will mention is Chris Evans. His scenes—and twist—are so utterly funny it’s almost worth the price of admission alone. Blind Al (Leslie Uggams)—Wade’s roommate—is back, along with her cocaine habit, and the film introduces us to the villainous Cassandra Nova, played with a sardonic seriousness by Emma Corrin. Apart from this, “Deadpool & Wolverine” litters so many ancillary characters it feels like a Red Carpet event or casting call.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is best enjoyed for what it is: a comedy raunch-fest with some heartstring pulling along the way. Questions like: does the film save the MCU or make it relevant again are pointless. In a tired sea of new Marvel projects, it does stand out, and for the better. Its callbacks and cameos are hysterical, its soundtrack is amazing, and its fight sequences are perfect. Those—like this writer—who have not seen “Loki” may be somewhat confused, but all-in-all its forgivable. “Deadpool & Wolverine” does justice to its leads, and is the most fun I’ve had at the theater in a while. Whether it’s the end of Deadpool (or Wolverine’s) story remains to be seen. But if you want to laugh and see Reynolds and Jackman in top form, it’s a great way to spend two hours of your time.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is currently only playing in theaters.
