The Gist
When he discovers his universe is dying Deadpool has to search for a hero – Wolverine.
The Review
Deadpool & Wolverine is not only one of the most anticipated films of the year it is also probably the first time in future that a production company has admitted publicly – ‘yeah maybe we have been going about this all wrong.’
There is no hiding it within the screenplay of this film – Marvel are pretty admitting that perhaps the direction that they have taken the MCU in recently may not exactly be what cinema fans want to see. The one joke that runs throughout this film is that Marvel have brought Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds – Free Guy) into the Disney owned MCU to save it – as he calls himself Marvel Jesus – here to be a saviour.
The plot of the movie follows that theme. Wade Wilson aka the foul-mouthed Deadpool feels that his life has hit a wall. He has split from his partner, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin – Serenity), and his dreams of joining The Avengers are ruined by a blunt meeting with Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau – Chef).
His interest in life though is reignited when he finds out through a corrupt Time Variance Authority Agent known as Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen – Pride & Prejudice) reveals that he is about to end Deadpool’s timeline and kill everyone within it because one of its character anchors – Wolverine (Hugh Jackman – The Greatest Showman) – is dead
Deadpool instantly dreams up a plan to find a Wolverine that is still alive to help save his world but their plan is soon put to a test by the fact that they can’t stop fighting and they find themselves banished to the TVA Wasteland where they confront Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin – The Crown) – a villain who is determined to make the Wasteland her own. It is then that Deadpool and Wolverine learn that the Wasteland is full of Marvel characters that have been thrown by the wayside over the years.
The premise behind Deadpool & Wolverine is actually pretty smart – Ryan Reynolds not so subtly hinting that Marvel have thrown some pretty interesting characters by the wayside (thrown into a Wasterland) over the years and gone in the wrong direction when they ended their timelines. The sad thing is though is that the rest of the plot is just kind of bland.
Yes, to be brutally honest if it wasn’t for the fact that as an audience member you sit there in suspense waiting to see what ‘forgotten’ Marvel character or actor/actress is going to turn up next this would be another ordinary Marvel film – once again we find ourselves with a story that at times trips itself up while the centrepiece villain is another that will be quickly forgotten after the credits roll.
Oh yes – there are the Deadpool vs Wolverine fights as well and for a while they certainly hold interest but by the time they head into the third or fourth round even they become tiresome. Credit must be paid though to their fight in the SUV and of course the initial fight with Deadpool using parts of Wolverine’s body in a battle against TVA Agents – it’s just a pity that the rest of the film wasn’t just as creative.
As you would expect from a film directed by Shawn Levy (Night At The Museum) the comedy works remarkably well, and made even better by the fact that Ryan Reynolds can be funnier than most so-called comedic actors operating in Hollywood today. Yes Deadpool & Wolverine is a movie that will make you laugh it just doesn’t keep up the suspense it way it should.
Aside from Ryan Reynolds the other big winner here is Hugh Jackman. Him returning to the role of Wolverine is one of the things that makes this film so special, especially after it felt like he was completely done with the character. Here though Jackman shows that if he wants to he could be playing this role for another 20 years – he not only matches Reynolds with the comedy but is an absolute star in the action sequences.
The Verdict
Deadpool & Wolverine is an okay film. The premise is fine – and the return of some old favourites will place it in a special spot in the hearts of comic book fans but like so many of the current day Marvel films the plot itself is kind of bland and it never really overcomes it.
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