Deadpool & Wolverine Review - A Complete Marvel Fan Service with a Glut of Cameos and Easter Eggs
Deadpool & Wolverine's narrative manages to be both simple and intricate at the same time. The film is just a road trip narrative between friends that gets convoluted by red herrings and multiverse politics. Deadpool is removed from his timeline by The TVA, who is first revealed and more explored in two seasons of Loki, and informed that his reality is in danger. Rather than collaborating with TVA agent Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), Deadpool seeks assistance from a Wolverine from the universe. The TVA banishes them to The Void, the multiverse's garbage landfill, where they must contend with Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) since they have both turned rogue.
I like the Marvel films from the past 30 years, and Deadpool & Wolverine is a love letter to those films. I grew up watching the X-Men films and had to endure The Fantastic Four's false starts while seeing the franchise wilt out. I was satisfied with Wolverine and Deadpool. With its odd-couple team-up, the movie is the epitome of fan service. It's Fox's adaptation of Avengers: Endgame, seen through Deadpool's sarcastic and light-hearted perspective.
Deadpool & Wolverine occasionally leaves casual fans behind since it is best appreciated by someone who has a strong, abiding passion for Marvel films. Marvel movie mythology over the past three decades is extensive, and even moviegoers who have watched every film that Deadpool and Wolverine mention might find some of the real-world allusions confusing. Fortunately, the film does a wonderful job of balancing incredibly esoteric cuts with more mainstream pop culture allusions. Still, if you want to really enjoy this sort of film, it's definitely best to finish your homework.
Not surprisingly, given that the names of both superheroes appear in the film's title, Deadpool & Wolverine depends on Reynolds and Jackman. Their performances make it quite evident that they enjoyed making this movie and gave it their all. The rough, straight-man stoicism of Jackman's Wolverine contrasts nicely with Reynolds' fast-talking, crass superhero; their comic chemistry is evident in every moment they share. It's the reunion between these two characters that I've been yearning for since their 2009 on-screen debut.
I will not sit here and claim that Deadpool & Wolverine is a "good" film. At best, the character development is flimsy and frequently takes a second to the antics of the multiverse. Despite being a selfish character in the end, there is still an emotional undercurrent as Deadpool looks for a reason to matter, all in an attempt to impress Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). To explain his rage management problems, the new Wolverine has a traumatic past that is little mentioned. The remaining members of the Deadpool & Wolverine ensemble are mainly one-dimensional characters who are just there to advance the story or win over the audience.
Deadpool and Wolverine owe all of their heart to Reynolds and Jackman. They clearly have as much, if not more, passion for these characters than we do, and it shows in the way they give their performances their all. The infrequent but genuine moments of feeling only have the weight they require to land correctly because of this. Even though Jackman's portrayal of Wolverine isn't very deep, it nevertheless manages to be engaging due to its layers. Additionally, Reynolds gives Deadpool enough nuance to elevate the character above just a joke machine.
Overall, The movie is a crowd-pleaser, and after a few multiverse disappointments, the movie is a complete fan service that exceeded my expectations
Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐