Deadpool And Wolverine

This review may contain spoilers!

Deadpool and Wolverine serves as a direct sequel to Deadpool 2 (2018) and is the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this story, Deadpool is yanked out of his universe and told that it will die due to the death of an anchor being perishing. An anchor being is a figure who keeps a universe alive, in this case Wolverine from the Logan film/the Fox universe. Determined to save those he cares about, Deadpool goes on a multiversal mission to find a new Wolverine to replace his universe's deceased one.

This film really gets to take any shackles that were on Deadpool and turn them loose, I haven't seen the character like this in media for ages. The jokes he gets to make are wild, in fact, as a whole the film has a strong sense of humour that plays to effect well. Even characters who aren't inherently comedic become funny because they're going against the grain when it comes to the merc with a mouth. I loved the adventure elements of the feature, it made the whole thing move quite quickly, sending Deadpool rocketing through the multiverse at speed as he tries to fix a high stakes problem: his very world/timeline being obliterated. Seeing Deadpool get to tumble into different worlds, meet different characters, and throw his wit up against everything Marvel has or hasn't done felt like something straight out of a comic book. I loved the point in the story where the power got taken away from Deadpool and Wolvie, leaving them stranded in the Void. Not only did it result in some crazy returning roles, but it made for a compelling setting where two very different characters had to team up to face against one of the more impressive antagonists I've seen in the MCU. This film delivers fun, laughs, gory action, surprises and an experience that will have you tuned in from start to finish.

Shawn Levy, the director of this film, is one of the absolute best in the business when it comes to making spectacular blockbusters. The way this film is shot draws stunning set pieces out, highlights visceral action, and even feels like whole comic panes come to life on the big screen. The effects are phenomenal; Alioth looks even better than it did in Loki, in general many of the powers and characters within the Void are impressive, certainly it was where the effects budget comes to life. The score is a thrill, but better than that is a soundtrack that feels like it might have been cultivated from the mad mind of Deadpool himself. If you weren't an NSYNC fan before Deadpool and Wolverine, you sure will be after.

 

Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine, is the meanest we have ever seen him; Jackman plays a washed up and jaded version of Logan nicely, and it was immensely fun to watch him turn a character like that on Reynolds. Emma Corrin, who played Cassandra Nova, is one of the finer recent Marvel antagonists; Corrin had wild and unpredictable manners throughout her scene that resulted in bursts of violence or mercy alike. Matthew MacFadyen, who played Mr. Paradox, was having a lot of fun drawing on his Succession days to play this foppish TVA agent; MacFadyen feels like a businessman with a petty streak and too much power to wield. Dafne Keen, who played X-23, felt like Wolverine's conscience in this film; she was hardened but had matured into her own independent hero. Jon Favreau, who played Happy Hogan, is one of the first cameo roles we get in this film, and it is a blast; watching Favreau spar with Reynolds in a job interview/battle of the wits was excellent. Morena Baccarin, who played Vanessa, might not have had as much to do in this film, but she still feels so emotionally connected to our protagonist; watching Baccarin and Reynolds play their characters as separated trying to find their way back to one another was quite sweet. Leslie Uggams, who played Blind Al, is a real nice comedic scene partner to Reynolds; Uggams has a scathing and sharp delivery that really lands with the grittier jokes her character falls into. Wesley Snipes, who played Blade, was one of my favourite performances in this film; Snipes feels as badass playing this character as he did over twenty years ago. Channing Tatum, who played Gambit; gets to really have fun finding the manner and impressive qualities of this role; I also really got a great laugh out of Tatum's 'accent work' and humour around him not ever actually playing the role before. Chris Evans, who played Johnny Storm, was one of the best surprise appearances we got; Evans donned that cocky self-sure persona from all those years ago like he had never let the role go.

However, the best performance came from Ryan Reynolds, who played Deadpool. There is no doubt in my mind that Reynolds just understands this character, inside out and front to back. There is a real soft-natured quality to the character, where he loves working with Peter or holds love for those close to him. But it is phenomenal watching him ramp up from this more mundane point into an adrenaline soaked, silly, violent goofball who flirts with the camera at every turn. Seriously, this is the best the fourth wall breaking gags have ever been. I loved the chemistry between Reynolds and Jackman, the love/hate relationship is everything fans have been waiting years for. There is no one who does Deadpool better, I don't think there's an actor out there who could have delivered us everything this movie was.

Deadpool and Wolverine doesn't always have its eye on the ball, the stakes don't always race, and we need a bit of reminding about the ticking clock at times. But more than that, this film suffers like past films do due to the multiverse. The multiverse does yield some great plot points and characters, but it also comes with long scenes brimming with exposition around timelines, anchor point beings, pruned timelines and the way the Void functions; I enjoy this movie but listening to the fake science ramble drags a movie that otherwise has good pace. I also recognise this as a great Deadpool sequel, but it feels a bit empty for the trajectory of the MCU. I reached the end of the movie feeling like I watched a character I loved go on an adventure, but the grander story hasn't really advanced at all.

Rob Delaney, who played Peter, is a gag that feels a little overused in this sequel; Delaney just feels like he pushes the envelope a bit too hard to draw out a laugh. Jennifer Garner, who played Elektra, is probably the most underwhelming of the surprise returning roles; she barely seems to be trying to portray the character in her whole appearance. Wunmi Mosaku, who played B-15, feels awkwardly shuffled into this to give some TVA exposition; the infatuated with Delaney gag felt extremely forced as well. Aaron Stanford, who played Pyro, is not a performance I ever thought was good, and it hasn't matured with time; Stanford stumbles through his minor antagonist performance. Tyler Mane, who played Sabertooth, must feel very squandered; Mane's Sabertooth is present, but he should have just been left back in the early 2000s. Karan Soni, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna, Stefan Kapicic and Lewis Tan, who played Dopinder, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Yukio, Colossus and Shatterstar respectively, are the old Deadpool ensemble who feel really squandered in this; the movie barely has anything for them and they wind up turning into set dressing.

Truly my favourite performance from the two leads in their superhero roles; this is a brilliant sequel made with love for Marvel fans. I would give Deadpool and Wolverine a 9/10.