Deadpool & Wolverine all fun, no substance

Theatrical movie review - Comic Book Movie

Deadpool & Wolverine key art. Courtesy of Disney.

When Deadpool hit theaters in 2016, it broke records to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie at the time. Two years later, Deadpool 2 did even better, beating out its predecessor. Beyond being commercially successful, both were critically successful, earning praise from audiences and critics alike. Despite the overall love for the character and franchise, I have been a bit more standoffish toward them. I thought the jokes in the original were funny the first time, but the replay value has been minimal for me, and the second one felt stale out of the gate. All that to say, I went into Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine with some trepidation.

Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is trying his best to live a life that has meaning and helps others. When Mr. Paradox (Matthew MacFadyen) brings him to the Time Variance Authority, Deadpool discovers that he will have the opportunity to save his world and be the hero that he wants to be. But in order to realize that heroism, he will first need to team up with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and many others to bring down Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) and save not just his world but all the worlds in the multiverse.

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds as Wolverine and Deadpool. Courtesy of Disney.

Despite my concerns, this movie worked. Yes, the jokes are incredibly vulgar, the violence is over the top, and the story is paper thin, but the action is well choreographed, the cameos are delightful, and the long-awaited team-up between Deadpool and Wolverine proved worth the wait. 

With this being the third time around, the performance from Reynolds as Deadpool is about what you would expect. He obviously loves this character, and while it would be fun to see him branch out into something else, it’s fun to see him back in the suit. MacFadyen is delightful as Mr. Paradox, leaning into his villain role. However, the reason that this movie works is absolutely due to what Jackman brings to the table. He retired Wolverine in 2017 after Logan, and I have never been happier to see a performer return to a character one last time.

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool. Courtesy of Disney.

As mentioned before, this movie is stuffed with cameos, and while it might be hard to say that they serve the story, they definitely are used to enrich the plot more than some movies have. If you are a more recent fan of comic book movies or you have loved them all along, there is something in here for everyone. 

Ultimately, that’s what this movie really is - a love letter to comic book movies. The MCU has struggled to find its footing following Avengers: Endgame. This film acknowledges this and pokes fun at it while also trying to revive what was. At the end of the day, I don’t know if Deadpool & Wolverine will be the Marvel Jesus that it suggests, but it’s a fun couple of hours at the cinema, for sure.

This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on July 28, 2024.