Movie Review: “Deadpool & Wolverine”

“Deadpool & Wolverine” is the third — and potentially the most highly anticipated film in the “Deadpool” franchise due to  the involvement of fan-favorite Marvel character Wolverine. The excitement surrounding this film has been palpable since the initial announcement came from Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Sep. of 2022. 

Now — almost two years later — we are finally able to watch this film. The question is, did they only make this film as a cash grab because Marvel didn’t  know where to go with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, known as the MCU, after they closed out the famed “Avengers” series?

To get all of the negativities out of the way first and foremost, there are a lot of critics out there arguing that “Deadpool & Wolverine” feels less punchy than the first two films because audiences can openly see the influence of Disney within it. 

For example, Maya Phillips with The New York Times, argues that this film is simply “just another formulaic Marvel Cinematic Universe movie with a saucier rating.” This, and many of the arguments from other critics, may have something to do with Disney's acquisition of the intellectual property back in 2019. 

So yes, now that Deadpool can be a part of the MCU — with the ability to mention and feature members of the Avengers — audiences may begin to see the influence in the rest of the Marvel Universe within our beloved antihero’s own universe. However, this does not necessarily detract from the viewing experience of this film. 

While Marvel may have initially been hesitant to release their first R-rated movie within the MCU, it is hard to argue against the success of “Deadpool & Wolverine.” 

According to Deadline the film has secured itself the number six slot on the list of highest grossing films on opening weekend, and marked itself as the number one highest grossing R-rated film to ever be released. 

It is important to note that, just like the first two films in the franchise, there should be some viewer discretion when it comes to watching this film. Audiences should be prepared for jokes that will offend all manner of people due to the dark comedic nature of the Deadpool franchise. 

This movie is definitely deserving of its R-rating, and involves foul language, bloody gore and a lot of sexual innuendo. Almost all of the comedy within this film derives from obscenity, profanity and violence, all of which are set to a maximum in this film. 

It is exactly what many fans of the franchise have loved about the series since its inception. 

The film introduces the MCU, alternate dimensions, and time travel to the “Deadpool” franchise for the first time, and the beginning of this film can feel a bit disorienting; however, most of that disorientation subsides within the first 30 minutes of the film. 

To summarize  the plot in as few words as possible to avoid spoilers: Deadpool must find his universe a new Logan — Wolverine — in order to save his reality. 

For newcomers to the franchise, Deadpool is played by Ryan Reynolds. For anyone unaware of the X-men franchise, Wolverine — also known as Logan — has been played by Hugh Jackman for over twenty years, with his most recent appearance prior to this film being “Logan,” which was famously his retirement from the role. 

When we last saw Wolverine in “Logan,” the character was given a definite ending to accommodate Jackman’s retirement from the role. But now, Wolverine is back, and more violent and vulgar than ever. This is a very nice addition to a character who is famed for his attitude problem and retractable metal claws. 

Longtime comic book fans may also recognize that this new variation of Wolverine is wearing the iconic yellow-and-blue suit, marking the first time that Jackman’s Wolverine has done so. This reveal came as a pleasant surprise to fans when it was first showcased. 

There are many more sections in the film where Marvel fans will be pleasantly surprised and maybe even ecstatic at times. There are several cameos throughout the film, and even more characters that are brought in from both the comics and old Marvel movies that have long been forgotten by the masses since the release of the MCU’s 2008 film, “Iron Man.” 

Towards the end of “Deadpool & Wolverine” the movie is akin to another recent fan favorite Marvel film, “Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse,” but you’ll have to watch the film to see why. 

The love and care that all of the writers and director Shawn Levy put into this film really paid off. It is endearing and heartwarming for all of the fans who miss the lesser known Marvel heroes and villains. This film — while bordering on being full blown fan service — walks the line perfectly, providing everything necessary for it to come off as a love letter to all of its fans. 

As usual with the “Deadpool” franchise, the soundtrack must be mentioned. While there is some original score composed by Rob Simonson, the soundtrack really stands out with its licensed music selection. Backed by pop or rap at the perfect moments, the music choices made by the crew truly create the perfect ambiance for any occasion. 

Whether “Deadpool & Wolverine” was Marvel’s attempt at breathing new life into the MCU or not, it is hard to deny that this film is incredibly entertaining, funny, charming and complete fan service to longtime supporters of the older Marvel films. 

The concerns from critics are understandable because the last thing we want to see happen to Deadpool is for his universe to get as exhausted as the rest of the MCU has become, but ultimately, this film did not prove itself to be enough of a sellout to lose its core charm. 

At the end of the day, “Deadpool & Wolverine” managed to retain its signature style and humor while simultaneously providing a much-needed breath of fresh air to the MCU. This film is exciting, action-packed and fun from beginning to end. As always, make sure you stay until the very end of the credits for the signature post credit scene.