Wade Wilson has come a long way since having his mouth sewn shut for most of his time in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Since then, it’s safe to say his reach has grown. Deadpool wisecracked and massacred his way beyond his legion of day-one comic book fans and into the hearts of folks who’ve never touched a comic.
Two solo blockbusters and a ton of merchandise and con costumes later, the Merc With a Mouth makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut with Deadpool and Wolverine. Leaning slightly on the events of Disney+’s Loki, Deadpool and Wolverine unites Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) with X-Men’s Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) on a mission to save each party’s respective timelines/universes.
With his free reign days at 20th Century Fox now over, we’ve all wondered how Deadpool’s “all gas, no brakes” style would transition into the family-friendly confines of the MCU. Rest assured, because Deadpool and Wolverine is arguably the most Deadpool movie of the franchise so far.
The premise alone was a sign, as it’s the culmination of long-running jokes in the Deadpool movies. Beyond that, Night at the Museum franchise and Free Guy helmer Shawn Levy and the writing team, which includes Reynolds, make sure Deadpool keeps his hard R, but they also add a lot more.
The comedy in Deadpool and Wolverine carries the film and makes it the most fun MCU film since the first Guardians of the Galaxy. The script provides for plenty of Deadpool’s quick wit and signature “fourth wall” breaking, but the difference is there’s more to it. You get the usual run of toilet humor as well as the off-color jokes about drugs and sex. Yet, they keep the humor fresh by weaving more current pop culture, entertainment, and real-life events into the punchlines. But the fun doesn’t stop there.
Another hallmark Levy and Co. pull off is the tremendous amount of quality fan service they bring to this Deadpool entry. These aren’t just mere callbacks to yesteryear. The cameos are thoughtful and well-executed. They show a sincere appreciation to those who invested in the comic book film genre early.
The hyperviolent blood baths are still there. They aren’t as featured as Deadpool and Wolverine's humor, but it’s enough to remember that the goods to put the action in action-comedy remain. The third act easily has the best of those sequences and stays in line with the theme of appreciating the fans.
On the acting side, there isn’t much to say other than Reynolds and Jackman again show why they’re among the elite in the pantheon of perfect film castings. There’s nothing undiscovered between them performancewise, but it’s nice to finally see both actors in tandem and delivering on the promise Jackman’s cameo in Deadpool 2 held.
If there’s one flaw in Deadpool and Wolverine, it’s Levy’s pacing. This issue is where the previously mentioned “all gas, no brakes” approach works against the film. After about an hour, the film hits a lull, and you begin to join Wolverine in being annoyed by the sound of Deadpool’s voice. Perhaps at this point, it would have been a good idea to invest more in the film’s main villain, who shall remain nameless to avoid spoilers.
The best way to describe Deadpool and Wolverine is chaotic and fun, precisely what a Deadpool movie should be. If you had fears Deadpool’s arrival into the MCU would censor him, put them to rest as this entry maintains the integrity of the antihero we all loved since or before his first film.
There’s no need to catch this one in any premium format. Viewing in 3D isn’t the worst idea, but there aren’t enough 3D-worthy scenes to consider it a decent watch in that format.
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