DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Review: Relentlessly Entertaining Team-Up Is A Demented Return To Form For The MCU

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Review: Relentlessly Entertaining Team-Up Is A Demented Return To Form For The MCU

Marvel Studios hasn't been having the easiest time of things recently, but the hilarious, demented Deadpool and Wolverine does mark a return to form for the MCU...

Review Opinion
By MarkCassidy - Jul 24, 2024 12:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Deadpool & Wolverine

Deadpool and Wolverine director Shawn Levy and star/co-writer/producer Ryan Reynolds have repeatedly claimed that Marvel Studios basically gave them carte blanche to make the movie they wanted to make, with nothing - and nobody - off limits for reference, parody, and outright ridicule. Even after the first trailer was released and pegging entered the MCU lexicon, fans wondered how far a Disney-branded project would really be able to take the R-rated mayhem before encountering some pushback.

Studio execs may well have brought the red marker out for certain things (Kevin Feige was said to be a bit apprehensive about drug use - although "Devil's Dandruff" gets more mentions than Scarface), but you'd never know it, because Deadpool and Wolverine is without a doubt the most irreverent, vulgar, violent, and gleefully gonzo superhero movie you're ever likely to see.

If you're familiar with the first two Deadpool movies you'll have a pretty good idea of what's in store, but there definitely seems to have been a concerted effort to dial everything up to 11 for the Merc With a Mouth's MCU debut, with a constant stream of in-jokes, nods, winks, and meta fourth wall-breaking. If a few gags or one-liners fail to land, it's only because we're being pelted with so many, and it's a testament to how clever the writing is (it's not all dick jokes) that most hit the mark.

Humor is completely subjective, of course, but if you're already dialled in to Wade Wilson's shtick, this might honestly go down as the funniest comic book movie ever made. If you're not on board with Mr. Pool's brand of comedy, this threequel isn't going to make any converts, and some critics have called the movie out for its overreliance on pandering, nostalgia, fan-service and gratuitous cameos - even though this really is missing the entire point.

This is not to say that Deadpool and Wolverine (or any movie) is or should be immune from criticism, but having a main character that takes the piss out of his own film - during the film - does allow for a certain amount of having and eating of one's cake. Too much exposition? Wade did warn us that there would be at the start. Run-time starting to drag a little? A quick fourth wall-break to let the audience know that "we're in the home stretch" should take care of it.

Reynolds can play this character in his sleep at this stage, but that doesn't mean he rests on his laurels, delivering arguably his best performance as the now washed-up former mercenary. After failing to make the Avengers roster, Wade finds himself working as a car salesman. Still surrounded by friends and his now ex-girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), Wilson has convinced himself that he's content, but still believes that he's meant for more. 

Wade gets the chance to prove himself when the TVA comes calling, joining forces with a grouchier than ever Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) Variant in an attempt to prevent his universe from being destroyed. Banished to The Void - the Mad Max-inspired wasteland from the Loki Disney+ series - the pair soon encounter the evil (though her villainous motivations are a bit murky) Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) and a lot of Multiverse Variants.

Yes, the movie features quite a few appearances from various Marvel characters (some you'll know about, some have been rumored, others will likely be a complete surprise), but Deadpool and Wolverine is not the "cameo fest" some fans were concerned about, and the heroes and villains that show up make sense for this story. Most of them also make a significant impact thanks to a terrific third act showdown against Nova's forces.

The real draw, though, is the dynamic between the title characters, and it is easy to imagine that the sheer volume of carnage on display could become a tad tiresome after a while if it wasn't for their interplay. It's the standard buddy movie relationship in many ways, but it takes longer for these guys to warm to each other than you might expect, and they engage in a couple of brutal, bloody battles beforehand.

We've met a broken, hopeless Wolverine in Logan, but he's never been this angry and downright mean (that berserker rage is on full display), and while Reynolds does have his share of heartfelt scenes, Jackman does most of the dramatic heavy lifting. Certain moments do strike an emotional chord, though there is an argument to be made that some of these sequences could have been given a little more time to resonate before the next barrage of jokes.

Though mileage may vary for the uninitiated or even more casual CBM fans, Deadpool and Wolverine is a demented delight. Go in knowing what to expect and you're in for one of the most relentlessly entertaining superhero movies in quite some time.

“Marvel Studios presents their most significant mistake to date - Deadpool & Wolverine," reads the new synopsis. "A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. When his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctantlier... reluctanter? Reluctantest? He must convince a reluctant Wolverine to - F*ck. Synopses are so f*cking stupid.”

In addition to Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in the title roles, Deadpool and Wolverine will see Morena Baccarin (Vanessa), Leslie Uggams (Blind Al), Rob Delaney (Peter), Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead) And Shioli Kutsuna (Yukio) return as their respective characters, and they'll be joined by franchise newcomers Emma Corrin (The Crown) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), who will play a TV agent and Charles Xavier's evil counterpart, Cassandra Nova.

Shawn Levy directs Deadpool and Wolverine from a script by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells.

The movie is set to open in U.S. & Canadian theaters on July 26, and will be available in IMAX, RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, Cinemark XD and premium screens everywhere. Will you be checking out Deadpool and Wolverine opening weekend? Let us know in the comments section.

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Is Now Available On Digital - Check Out An Extended Preview
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DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE Is Now Available On Digital - Check Out An Extended Preview

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vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/24/2024, 12:45 PM
The lousy expoaitions are plenty. Like

"I am the sister of charles xavier"

"I need to hold one's head to make my powers work" or something like that.

My point is, it couldve been handled better and not spoonfeeding the audience
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/24/2024, 12:52 PM
@vectorsigma - and good that mark mentioned how unclear nova's motivations are. Even after the 2nd watch i still dont get it.

So what are the two factions melee-ing about with high school level productions in the 3rd act?

Bad writing
roboticJohnson
roboticJohnson - 7/24/2024, 1:34 PM
@vectorsigma - I mean, nova's intentions are pretty clear. Spoiler alert for those that haven't watched it yet, but basically she is satisfied living in the void, controlling people and killing the ones who resist, and strikes back at the tva when they break their "truce". It's pretty simple overall
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/24/2024, 1:47 PM
@roboticJohnson - that is too generic. She controls people for what, just living in the void and have slaves? Not too villainous for me for other pruned guys to fight her. So why do the anti nova group fight her to the point of dying? They can just go away given the vastness of the void.

Maybe it is in the poor execution. They might be fighting for resources or whatnot and was not made clear
roboticJohnson
roboticJohnson - 7/24/2024, 3:12 PM
@vectorsigma - I am not 100% sure but nonetheless confident that she says she just enslaves or kills people in the void, which given her evil nature and the fact she lived there her whole life with no one having a particularly strong moral impact on her kind of makes sense. She wants to rule over the void, it's kinda like what happy suggested to deadpool at the beginning, she found a goal that wasn't too ambitious and was satisfied with it, in this case being a ruler of a desolate place. As for the other heroes who fought against her, I'm pretty sure she was hunting them, with the scouting team and stuff, because as I already said, her goal is either killing or enslaving, not letting live a peaceful life. So the pruned heroes were motivated by survival and, at least imo, heroism, which means not letting an evil woman rule the place.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 7/24/2024, 9:25 PM
@vectorsigma - soooooo, you actually didn't even see the movie? Also why you did watch it second time if it was bad for you, my friend, you lil' stigma.
WhateverItTakes
WhateverItTakes - 7/24/2024, 10:05 PM
@vectorsigma - she was terrible
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/24/2024, 10:27 PM
@RegularPoochie - whag are you saying man??? Lolz
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/24/2024, 10:30 PM
@WhateverItTakes - yeah, vey poorly written, her motivations, whatever it is are lazy.

Asni have been saying even in the past, this movie focused too much on the dp and wolverine pair up that that they forgot everything else
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/24/2024, 10:34 PM
@roboticJohnson - if pruned heroes were motovated by survival, why attack then? Yeah i know they said becauae they have dp and wolverine but that is just lazy.l writing.

All im saying is she obviously has motivations but that didnt come out as clear and compelling for the audience to care.

Look at Loki or Ultron or Thanos. Everything is clear and executions to make this clear for the audience on why they are bad are great and the audience will understand why the heroes need to fight them
abd00bie
abd00bie - 7/25/2024, 12:28 AM
@vectorsigma - Ooof, she had none of her comic counterpart motivations? They shouldn't have used her then if she is just a cookie cutter villain in the movie. I'm seeing it tomorrow though, so I can't really judge atm.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/25/2024, 1:18 AM
@abd00bie - im not a comic reader, can you please share her motovations there?

And that is the word to use, cookie cutter.

Enjoy
roboticJohnson
roboticJohnson - 7/25/2024, 4:36 AM
@vectorsigma - no, I also don't think she was the deepest villain ever, not the best antagonist neither the worst. But her motivations were made pretty clear, that's what I'm trying to say. As for the heroes, they were just trying to survive but then deadpool convinced them to fight back. Everything is spelled out in the movie quite clearly, I don't understand how you missed it
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/25/2024, 5:23 AM
@roboticJohnson - mark on his review also mentioned how murky her motivations are.

We didnt miss anything. Maybe its a matter if "is that it?" for me that i was waiting for something better and more compelling.

RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 7/25/2024, 1:54 PM
@vectorsigma - You know very well what I'm saying, you're just here to hate this movie always and it's been going on since the first trailer, lol. And you you were wondering the the stigma, vectorSTIGMA, lol! just fun and games, no ill will against you, you make usually good points here.
roboticJohnson
roboticJohnson - 7/25/2024, 8:08 PM
@vectorsigma - then mark is wrong too.

I get it if you wanted something more compelling, but you said you didn't understand her motivations or the motivations of the heroes and that's what I was answering to
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/25/2024, 8:56 PM
@RegularPoochie - everything is fair here, jist looking at a different lens.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 7/26/2024, 3:01 AM
@vectorsigma - True, I didn't mean no harm like I said and it's actually good for this site to people actually see others perspectives and still put some banter in there with tongue on the cheek, so cheers, have a pint.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/26/2024, 3:55 AM
@RegularPoochie - cheers!
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 7/26/2024, 8:15 AM
@vectorsigma - by the way, are you going to watch Emergency Awesomes full cameo and other little things from this movie, he made his short video already, but he said he's going/is SDCC and make an two hour video while there, lmmfao. Also are you hyped about about SDCC, becaus were seeing the state of this new Marvel state where they are going and also DC's panel what they are now doing, I mean we know much, but I think many characters and actors are revealed for the future. Good time to be alive, because these both are reboots from now.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/26/2024, 9:19 AM
@RegularPoochie - is that a youtube channel? Im not into yt to be honest.

But yeah, looking forward to the sdcc announcements. My only wish is for marvel to bring joss whedon back.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 7/26/2024, 9:44 AM
@vectorsigma - Yes, one of the most respected and liked guy who does those videos, goes to all comic-cons and stuff. He's just so unbias towards thing and and don't saturate thing and also kinda ecplains where and what thing are from and what happened. Like now from D&W
DocSpock
DocSpock - 7/24/2024, 12:46 PM

Clean sweep from the 3 CBM guys.

Regardless of that, I’m all in.

MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/24/2024, 12:47 PM
Let’s all attack Ror now… who’s with me?
kider2
kider2 - 7/24/2024, 12:50 PM
@MyCoolYoung - I am! How dare he have an opinion! How dare he write it out and share it! Disgusting behavior I thought he was better than this!
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/24/2024, 12:50 PM
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MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/24/2024, 12:51 PM
@kider2 - that’s the spirit, could’ve been meaner, but I like it. Nobody should have a positive opinion about comic book movies. What he think this some kind of nerd website where we like comic books and shit? Foh
vegetaray
vegetaray - 7/24/2024, 1:42 PM
“Cameo fest” is exactly how I described it in one of my comments, but maybe variant-fest would’ve been the better verbiage. By the time the BIG ending happens I was absolutely over all these different characters / variants / cameos. Where’s Waldo is the vibe by the end of the movie…It very quickly turns into a ~did ya see that character being played by that one actor / actress~ type of vibe. Hugh in full costume saves it for me but just barely.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 7/24/2024, 3:36 PM
@vegetaray - "Where’s Waldo is the vibe by the end of the movie…"

User Comment Image

"Hugh in full costume saves it for me but just barely."

Hugh Grant's in this movie too?!?
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 7/24/2024, 1:52 PM
A positive for me is nova's mind reading powers. I dont know if comic accurate but i dig the creativity with that.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/24/2024, 1:52 PM
Damn , even Ror liked it and he tends to be the most critical of the 3 on here I feel.

I’m glad to hear praise for Emma Corrin’s performance as Cassandra Nova but it does seem like their villain falls a bit victim to unclear/underwritten motivations which is unfortunate but I’ll see.

Looking forward to this , can’t wait for Saturday!!.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/24/2024, 2:06 PM
@TheVisionary25 - damn you gotta wait until Saturday? Will you avoid spoilers?
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/24/2024, 2:36 PM
@MyCoolYoung - I’m trying to as much as possible but I have the willpower of a goldfish lol
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/24/2024, 3:15 PM
@TheVisionary25 - man… lol if I see them I’m cooked but I’ve gotten better. I don’t go seek them out. I remember the torture I put myself through for both infinity war and endgame and in the end it made the experience better
WhateverItTakes
WhateverItTakes - 7/24/2024, 2:19 PM
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Colton
Colton - 7/24/2024, 2:45 PM
Is it full of tired dick and fart jokes like the last two?
WhateverItTakes
WhateverItTakes - 7/24/2024, 4:24 PM
@Colton - no all new ones
Cass
Cass - 7/24/2024, 3:30 PM
Calling it a ‘return to form’ is interesting, considering this site gives basically every MCU product high scores.

I’ve seen mixed reviews but hoping it’s good when I catch it tomorrow.
WhateverItTakes
WhateverItTakes - 7/24/2024, 4:24 PM
@Cass - I'm not surprised by the mixed reviews
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