“Deadpool & Wolverine”, released July 26, 2024, is a comedic, action packed, and unapologetically over-the-top, unforgettable blockbuster. It stars Ryan Reynolds as the self-aware Deadpool, Wade Wilson, and Hugh Jackman as the legendary Wolverine.
When Wade Wilson is recruited by the Time Variance Authority to fulfill his supposed higher purpose, he learns of a secret weapon that will be used to wipe out his world for order throughout the multiverse due to the loss of his universe’s anchor being. An anchor being is someone who is so significant to a timeline’s history that without their existence, it begins to fall apart. In Wade’s case, that person would be Wolverine, who died in the 2017 film “Logan.” In an attempt to save his universe, Wade enlists a reluctant variant of Wolverine to replace him. Once denied, Deadpool and Wolverine are banished to The Void, the TVA’s dumping ground of abandoned universes. Along the way, they encounter many friends and foes, some who may risk the fate of the entire multiverse.
As the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Deadpool & Wolverine” succeeds at telling a unique and refreshing story. This is largely due to the energy that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman bring to this movie. Deadpool often acts in a more comedic manner, while Wolverine is often more serious; their opposing personalities conflict, leading to some hilarious interactions over the course of the movie. As with most Marvel movies, some surprise appearances arise throughout the movie’s runtime. We see the return of several fan favorite characters, along with some especially deep-cuts from behind the scenes. Ones that particularly stood out among fans were Henry Cavil’s brief appearance as Wolverine; Chris Evans’ return as the Human Torch; Wesley Snipes as Blade; Dafne Keen as Logan’s long lost daughter Laura; and Channing Tatum as Gambit. These appearances reward long time viewers of Marvel media while also adding to the film’s overarching theme of heroes redeeming themselves and not being forgotten. In addition, the film balances a humorous tone, while still being able to develop the protagonists in an engaging way, the most prominent example being Wolverine’s growth throughout the movie. When he is first introduced into the movie, Wolverine is depicted as being a failure, blaming himself for the death of the X-Men in his universe. Throughout the film, he is able to prove himself worthy of being called an X-Man, eventually saving all of reality. Ultimately, these elements add an emotional stake to an otherwise plot driven movie.
Despite the movie’s strengths, it still has some weaknesses. For instance, the ending is somewhat unsatisfying. While Deadpool and Wolverine venture across the void, they meet the aforementioned heroes who aid them in their fight against the film’s antagonist, Cassandra Nova. It’s heavily implied that those heroes sacrificed themselves for the titular characters to achieve their victory. However, the TVA promises to help save them. In the end, we never learn if they survived, leaving a loose thread that many fans were unsatisfied with. Furthermore, the visual effects throughout the movie were somewhat inconsistent. In some scenes, the environments and characters look completely believable, while other shots just aren’t as polished. This was likely due to the movie’s release being pushed forward.
Many fans were wondering how this movie would impact the wider Marvel Universe. Freshman, Jaren DeBose, had this to say about his thoughts on the movie, “It was really good, and I think it could be a turning point for Marvel.”
When taking everything into question, this film succeeds at exactly what it should be, an entertaining blockbuster with well written dialogue and comedy. The movie’s few apparent flaws can be looked past when you don’t take it too seriously, just like Deadpool himself.
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