Directed by: Shawn Levy
Written by: Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, and Shawn Levy
The Deadpool franchise has carved a unique niche in the superhero genre, mixing irreverent humor, meta-commentary, and over-the-top action in a way that has resonated with fans and critics alike. The titular character, played by Ryan Reynolds, has become synonymous with breaking the fourth wall and delivering quips that leave audiences in stitches. So, when it was announced that Hugh Jackman would reprise his iconic role as Wolverine, the internet collectively lost its mind. This excitement was tempered by the bittersweet memory of Logan (2017), where we bid farewell to Jackman’s Wolverine in a heart-wrenching finale. With five writers in the kitchen, you might expect the script to be a bit of a mess, but surprisingly it mostly works. The film’s tone is consistent with the irreverent spirit of the Deadpool franchise. About 99% of the jokes hit home, which is quite an impressive feat. Did it live up to the hype? Yes, it did, which is why this film gets a Writing a Movie RIGHT review.
Here come the spoilers…
The film opens with perhaps the best ever use of a boy band song ever. Deadpool brings us up to date with his life about not being good enough for the Avengers and trying to accept living a normal life selling used cars. Although he has his friends, it is revealed that he is no longer with his girlfriend, Vanessa. Not a lot of backstory is given on this. During his birthday party, TVA agents come and take him to the Time Variant Authority to speak with Mr. Paradox. Paradox informs him that his world lost its “anchor being” when Wolverine died (reference to 2017’s Logan) and will deteriorate to nothing in a few thousand years, but Paradox wants to set off a device called a Time Ripper to speed up this event. He offers to send Deadpool to the sacred timeline as he is important to future events, but Deadpool doesn’t take too kindly to the idea of losing his friends or ex-girlfriend (again) and steals Paradox’s time pad. He then launched into a full montage of trips to find a variant of Wolverine to replace the dead one in his timeline so he can save his friends. When he finally finds one and brings him to Mr. Paradox, Deadpool is told he brought back the worst of all Wolverines. Oops. I will stop here because the sheer amount of cameos from this point forward is too great to ruin, so go in with as little knowledge as possible to get the jaw-dropping effects of seeing these cameos for the first time.
One glaring omission in the story is the lack of exploration into why Deadpool and Vanessa broke up. This crucial element of Deadpool’s motivation is glossed over, leaving a significant gap in understanding why he goes to such great lengths for her, especially as emphasized in the film’s final scene. Their breakup is briefly mentioned but never fully explained or developed, which would have added much-needed emotional depth to Deadpool’s character arc. The film presents their break up in a way that leads the viewer to think she left him, but a better situation would have been him pushing her away because he felt he would never be “enough.” Another quick montage could have reinforced Deadpool not believing in himself, and strengthened the theme of him not being good enough to build a life with her.
The action sequences are predictably bonkers, with Deadpool and Wolverine slicing and dicing their way through hordes of multiverse versions of Deadpool is perhaps the highlight sequence of the film. Shawn Levy’s direction ensures that these scenes are visually exciting, though they occasionally teeter on the edge of being too chaotic. There are a few standout set pieces, including a deceased Antman being utilized as a base and the fight in the minivan showcasing just how much room you have in those vehicles.
Ryan Reynolds is as charismatic and quick-witted as ever, fully embodying the character of Deadpool, and his chemistry with Hugh Jackman is undeniable. It’s clear that both actors are having a blast as Jackman slips back into the role of Wolverine effortlessly, reminding us why we fell in love with the character in the first place. Their dynamic is the film’s strongest asset, and it’s a joy to watch them play off each other in a delightful clash of personalities: Deadpool’s relentless wisecracks and fourth-wall-breaking antics are balanced by Wolverine’s gruff, no-nonsense demeanor, and their bickering and banter is the heart of the film. Buoyed by the excellent chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, Deadpool & Wolverine delivers in spades.
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