LIKE A LITTLE PRAYER // A FILM REVIEW OF “DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE”
BY MATEO MORENO
The fact that the first Deadpool film actually was greenlit is not exactly a miracle, but instead was the result of a small sorta leak of test footage, most likely by Ryan Reynolds. Executives were blind to how much audiences would gobble up the R rated tale of Wade Wilson, but Ryan Reynolds knew better. The test footage got leaked onto the internet, people went crazy and suddenly, the beginning of the most successful R rated franchise was born. The first sequel (Deadpool 2) was also wildly successful and now comes the biggest of them all: a team up with one of Marvel’s most popular characters: DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. This movie, which is truly a whirlwind through the Marvel universe, came into being not just because the first two films were so successful. It came out of friendship. The friendship of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. Fans of Jackman, and of the screen version of Wolverine, know that he has been in 9 films playing the world’s most popular mutant, ending with 2017’s Logan, in which the famed adamantium laced superhero was finally laid to rest. Everyone involved said that this was it. Jackman wouldn’t be returning to play him ever again. That version of Wolverine was done. But, when you’re friends with Ryan Reynolds, have a hankering to make a buddy-cop style team up with your friend and have a viral online fake feud over social media, chances are that you may raise those claws one more time.
Marvel Studios has been in a bit of a creative slump as of late. Personally, I’ve really enjoyed the majority of things they’ve been churning out, but critics and fans alike have ultimately agreed: this last phase was all over the place. Only a few films and TV shows have completely stuck the landing and we’ve seen Marvel take the notes. The TV shows and films coming out have been completely overhauled. Projects have been cancelled and movies have been shifted to later dates. In fact, Deadpool & Wolverine is the only Marvel Studios release this year (Venom: The Last Dance is the next Marvel character showing up on the screen this year, but it’s not an official Marvel Studios project). So, there are a lot of high hopes for this epic team-up. And it does not disappoint. We open the movie with a flashforward to the plot of the film: Deadpool is looking for a Wolverine to help him save his world. Why will be explained later, but first we are treated to an amazing and hilarious dance/over the top violent fight, the first of many. When we flash back, we see that Wade Wilson/Deadpool (played of course by Ryan Reynolds) is no longer dating Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). They’re still friends, but it’s clear that Wade wants the flame to return. He’s instead given up on the superhero life and trying to live as a car salesman. But of course, he’s pulled back into the act, literally, by a group of TVA agents (the Time Variance Authority agents we’ve met over the first two seasons of Loki on Disney +).
He’s told that his world is going to be destroyed and so Wade’s solution is to find a Wolverine somewhere in time to team-up with and save his world from destruction. So, he sets off to find one, which he eventually does (after many very entertaining false starts) and of course Wolvie is once again played by Hugh Jackman. This Wolverine isn’t the one we’ve grown to love in the X-Men films (that one is staying dead). This Wolverine is from a time where his world has been torn apart as well, and he feels like he’s to blame for it. But Deadpool does get him to join the crazy road trip of sorts and it’s a wild, WILD ride through the Marvel multi-verse. They run into a whole lot of cameos from other Marvel and Fox films (and although I won’t spoil them here, they are indeed wonderful) and eventually end up in The Void, which we also learned about in Loki. There, they come face to face with Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), the twin-sister of Professor Xavier. She’s also stuck in the void but has turned it into her own playground, bending it to her own will and has a large group of followers to help her bidding (cue even more cameos). Though she really doesn’t even need the help: Her powers are extreme, to say the least, and in order to save Wade’s world, the Merc with the Mouth and the one-time Weapon X are going to have to work together to even stand a chance.
The chemistry between Reynolds and Jackson is the key reason why Deadpool & Wolverine works so well. They are fantastic together, and this madcap adventure truly does feel like an old-fashioned buddy cop comedy. One that’s amped up to an 11. Reynolds is hilarious as always, but also has some very tender and surprising moments with Deadpool. Jackson is a beast of a performer, and he chews up and spits out this film as a true MVP. He’s very funny but also heartbreaking. True, his journey is pretty close to the one that a much older Wolverine went through in Logan, but it works just as well here. The rest of the supporting cast are all great, especially Corrin as a deliciously diabolical Cassandra Nova and a hilariously bumbling Matthew Macfayden as TVA’s Mr. Paradox. The pump culture references and in-jokes come at you at a mile a minute and it’s okay that you won’t get all of them, or even like all of them. That’s what’s great about a movie like this: It’s filled to the brim with jokes and winks and if one doesn’t work for you, the next one will. The cameos are all so satisfying that I don’t want to spoil a single one (but you are on the internet reading this, so must likely that’s already been done for you). Deadpool & Wolverine is a true adrenaline boost to Marvel Studios, one that was sorely needed. And paired with the news of Robert Downey Jr. coming back to Marvel in a different role, the sky is looking good. Even if some of the steam slows down towards the middle of the film and the plot is a bit silly, this is truly one of the most enjoyable experiences you’ll have at the cinema this year, or maybe even next year. Near the end of the film, Wade says that he’ll see Logan around, to which Logan responds, “Probably not.” You’re right, they couldn’t convince Jackman to put on his claws again, right? Right? Oh, who am I kidding. This isn’t the last time we’ll be seeing Logan. He’ll be playing this role until he’s 90.
GRADE: A-
BASED ON CHARACTERS CREATED BY Rob Liefeld, Fabian Nicieza, Len Wein, John Romita Sr., Herb Trimpe & Roy Thomas. WRITTEN BY Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells. DIRECTED BY Shawn Levy STARRING Ryan Reynolds, Hugh. Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfayden, Moreana Baccarin. NOW PLAYING IN THEATRES EVERYWHERE