Deadpool & Wolverine (Spoiler Free Review)

 Deadpool & Wolverine (Spoiler free)

Genre: Superhero/action comedy

Director: Shawn Levy

Released: 2024

     Much of the pre-release discourse surrounding Deadpool & Wolverine has centered on whether or not it can "save" the foundering MCU. Having now seen it, my short answer is: no, but my longer answer is: why was it ever thought that this film would represent some kind of major course correction for Marvel? 

     Certainly nothing in the marketing that I saw indicated that this was meant to introduce some kind of radical alteration to the current direction the MCU is going in, and the film itself more than bore that out. Deadpool & Wolverine, despite having been folded into the MCU by dint of Disney's 20th Century Fox acquisition, is very much what I would call a stand alone movie. It's far more concerned with its titular characters than it is with slotting itself into the overarching narrative of the universe it is nominally a part of now, which I was frankly relieved about. Obviously your mileage may vary based on what you want from the film, but whatever your disposition towards the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the Deadpool character, this movie is unlikely to change it.

     That is, of course, a double edged sword. If you listened to the most recent podcast episode on the first Deadpool, then you'll know that Nathan and I are hardly superfans of the Deadpool movies, and unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your outlook), D&W is decidedly in line with the preceding two installments when it comes to Deadpool; his sense of humor, his character arc, and his motivations are largely analogous to what we saw in Deadpools one and two. If that works for you, then good news: you'll be right at home. If not, then I don't know what to tell you. Deadpool's sense of humor is still crude, reference-heavy, and altogether still heavily dependent on the novelty of his supposedly transgressive approach to superhero-ing. I found this to be more tiresome than delightfully subversive, especially since, whatever transgressive merits Deadpool had in the first film, those have worn off at this point. Violence and swearing might be unusual for Disney, but they're not unusual for Deadpool, and although the movie seems to find the simple notion of Disney's name being in the credits for a hard-R movie hysterical, I personally was unimpressed. Beyond this, the humor was standard Deadpool fare, decisions about whose strengths I will leave to the reader's judgement.

     So if Deadpool himself is recognizably Deadpool, with all that that entails, what about the movie's other components, most importantly the hotly anticipated return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine? I'm pleased to report that this finds the movie on much stronger footing, although even here there are issues. You hardly need me to tell you that Jackman is pitch perfect in his most iconic role, and the chemistry between him and Reynolds is undeniable. The odd couple dynamic they quickly strike up is familiar, but effective, especially since Wolverine has by far the stronger character arc, and their clashes, both verbal and physical, form the highest highs of the movie. 

     There is, however, trouble in paradise. I fully admit that the following may come across as deeply nitpicky, but, as I've said before, I can only review the movie as I experienced it. Deadpool and Wolverine are undoubtedly an entertaining pairing for the initial-hostility part of the buddy cop formula this movie adopts, but I found their partnership failed to ever coalesce into something deeper or more engaging. Deadpool and Wolverine's arcs felt like they developed along mostly separate lines. Wolverine's character beats especially seemed to occur independently of his on-screen partner: most of the important moments were shared by Logan and different characters rather than Deadpool and vice versa, which made them feel strangely isolated from each other despite sharing so much screen time. Like I said, this is where the movie is strongest, so don't take this as being a deathblow for the movie, but do be aware that any kind of meaningful friendship between Deadpool and Wolverine fails to materialize, despite the movie's attempts to construct one.

     Regarding the movie happening around this entertaining-but-superficial bromance, I'm afraid those who have, in their darkest, most private moments, begun cursing Into the Spiderverse for opening the Pandora's Box of multiverses, this movie will not move the needle for you. As with so much multiverse content, especially that created by Marvel, D&W relies heavily on nostalgic cameos to sell its premise, and . . . what can I say? That model of storytelling was never my bag, but it's become positively draining by this point. There are cameos aplenty, and literally nothing else to differentiate this film's handling of the multiverse concept from that of its predecessors. 

     The side characters are, as implied, mostly the subject of these cameos or surprise appearances, the villain's motivation is murky and the finale is quite simply made up on the spot, which you'll understand when and if you get to it. D&W continues the franchise's tradition of having superb action, and a fight scene in a car stands out for specific praise, but the bottom line here is that this movie will succeed or fail with you based on how game you are for Deadpool and his style. I myself am unmoved by it, but the hard hitting action and the pairing of Deadpool with Wolverine, while shallow, was still entertaining enough to keep this from being a total failure. It's not going to convert anyone to the character's fanbase, but the faithful should be well served. For the rest of the audience? I'd wait for the Disney Plus release.



C-