‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Review: A Blood-Soaked, Hilarious Marvel Thrill Ride [CNET]

It’s a much-needed shot in the arm for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman first met on screen as Deadpool and Wolverine 15 years ago in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Their brief meet cute planted a seed, and a decade and a half later the duo lead the aptly titled Deadpool & Wolverine — Marvel’s first-ever R-rated movie. 

It’s bold, blood-soaked, hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt. In other words, Deadpool & Wolverine is a much-needed shot in the arm for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Audiences have waited six years for the Merc with a Mouth to return to the big screen. Twentieth Century Fox’s sale to Disney was the main hurdle for the film’s realization. However, that studio merger brought Deadpool, Wolverine and the X-Men to the MCU, setting the foundation for a new Marvel movie era.
It was worth the wait.

Read more: R-rated ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer Is Full of Easter Eggs

Warning: Proceed with caution if you don’t want to have any Deadpool & Wolverine details revealed to you before you hit the theater to see it for yourself. Spoilers ahead.

As the trailers suggested, the movie’s main plot finds Wade Wilson on a journey to save his world from extinction. To set things right, he must track down a worthy Wolverine from a different timeline to thwart the destructive plan of the Time Variance Authority (TVA). Legacy and self-worth are big themes that permeate the movie, with Wade and Logan both grappling with midlife crises that find the duo questioning their value within the multiverse, and beyond.

Their world-saving mission evolves into a road trip action comedy of sorts. In a way, Deadpool & Wolverine is a buddy cop film as told through an ultra-violent and super-profane Marvel comics lens. From the opening sequence to the visual clips that rolled throughout the closing credits, Deadpool & Wolverine delivers. 

Read more: Now There’s a Wolverine Rounded Butt Xbox Controller to Go With Deadpool

Undoubtedly, a significant reason for its success (it’s set to dethrone Deadpool as the biggest R-rated movie opening of all time) is the performances of its two leads. Jackman, who bid farewell to his Wolverine role with 2017’s Logan, returns in a way that honors the character’s past while allowing Jackman to bring a refreshing bit of ferocity to the screen.

His chemistry with off-screen bestie Reynolds is palpable, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the film. It’s safe to say that Wolverine is Hugh Jackman, and his return alone is worth the price of admission. Add in the delicious chemistry between him and Reynolds, and it’s an absolute winning formula. 

Deadpool & Wolverine boasts a talented cast that holds its own against the superstar power of the titular duo. Succession alum Matthew Macfayden shines as the TVA’s self-centered, bumbling Mr. Paradox. Emma Corrin, who wowed audiences with her portrayal as Princess Diana in The Crown and Darby Hart in FX’s A Murder at the End of the World is delightful as Cassandra Nova, the big bad of the flick. Everyone on screen is having a blast playing these parts, and it shows.

Though fan favorites Blind Al, Vanessa, Negasonic Teenage Warrior, Yuko, Dopinder, Peter and Colossus make appearances, they take a backseat to the movie’s overall story. Their inclusion here adds to the installment’s heightened stakes, but they show up sparingly, allowing the movie’s main narrative to take center stage.

One of the hallmarks of the Deadpool movies is their humor, which is often filled with pop culture references, comic book Easter Eggs and deep cut jokes. Deadpool & Wolverine continues this tradition, but in some unexpected ways.

First, the majority of the in-world jokes are inspired by real-world events that transpired during the movie’s development and production. Personal jabs are sprinkled throughout the film, poking at the lives of some of the cast. You can tell it’s all in good fun, but it’s a surprising turn for the franchise and may be off-putting for some viewers.

And then there are the cameos.

Look, I’m not going to reveal who exactly shows up in this movie, but for audience members of a certain age (i.e., me, a guy who’s nearly 50), these casting surprises will draw some huge, satisfying reactions. To say they’re unexpected is an absolute understatement. Fan service or not, these cameos are one more way in which Deadpool & Wolverine pays homage to Twentieth Century Fox’s Marvel run — providing worthy endings to a selection of characters who fell by the narrative wayside for a time.

While Deadpool & Wolverine boasts enjoyable storytelling, it has flaws. The barrage of industry jokes and celebrity cameos, while entertaining, may fly over the heads of younger audiences. For viewers under 30, be prepared to take notes and do some postmovie Googling to fully grasp the story details. 

A few plot details make specific references to Loki season 1. Audiences don’t necessarily need to be familiar with the Disney Plus series. However, it may be helpful to refresh yourself on the events of the Marvel TV show if you want to be prepared for everything the movie throws at you.

Then there are the fight sequences. Deadpool & Wolverine is packed with a selection of battle scenes — whether between the titular characters or their common enemies — and while there are a few standout scraps between Reynolds and Jackman, many of these scenes become overly cluttered with VFX that can become overwhelming to the eye.

Director Shawn Levy has shown his talent for capturing satisfying comedy and engaging dramatic sequences on film, but action is not his strong suit. Still, these are nitpicks, and audiences will probably forgive these tiny drawbacks. 

When all is said and done, Deadpool & Wolverine ticks all the boxes a fan could want in a Marvel movie. It’s the best installment in the franchise, the best Marvel movie since Avengers: Endgame, and it charts a bold new path for the MCU.