‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Review: A Shot of Pure Adrenaline

The last three years have not been the kindest to Marvel Studios as the studio has struggled to find its path forward since Avengers: Endgame. There have still been major successes like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 but most recent Marvel Cinematic Universe films haven’t been as big “event” films as the ones from the Infinity Saga. As the studio slows down and reevaluates their superhero landscape, Deadpool & Wolverine shows that there is still plenty of gas left in the tank. Gas that is then poured all over the past and present Marvel filmography and gloriously set ablaze. Deadpool joins the MCU in the most boisterous way possible, dragging Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine by the claws with him. The film is a bloody good time with huge laughs, gruesome action, and plenty of superhero surprises that will leave your inner child grinning with glee. Deadpool & Wolverine is a shot of pure adrenaline and dopamine and some of the most fun you’ll have at the theater all year.

Honestly it’s difficult to describe the plot of Deadpool & Wolverine without giving away spoilers, but the film essentially revolves around Deadpool trying to save his universe from being purged by the TVA. In the process, he recruits a washed up and reluctant Wolverine to help him out, and the two venture into the Void and beyond to find a way to save his friends. In typical Deadpool fashion, there is plenty of breaking of the fourth wall with meta jokes about Disney, Marvel, and the actors themselves. Even if you’ve seen all of the trailers so far, you are still not prepared for what Deadpool & Wolverine has in store.

First and foremost, this is very much a Deadpool movie. Yes, the franchise has moved from Fox to Disney and is now joining the MCU, but make no mistake, the formula remains unchanged. The violence and language are all still turned up to 11. Deadpool, and pretty much everyone else, doesn’t hold back in letting vulgarities fly. If you had any fear that having the character now be a part of the Disney brand would soften the tone or make it more PG-13, you are severely mistaken. Deadpool & Wolverine earns its R-rating from the opening moments and never lets up. Of course, Deadpool’s humor is also very specific.

As the third film in the franchise, you should already be pretty familiar with his style of raunchy humor, over-the-top violence, and nerdom references that would put any fanboy to shame. It can be a lot to take in, especially when the entire film makes it the main focus and everything else comes second, story included. Having Deadpool join the MCU doesn’t automatically elevate the storytelling or anything else. It just gives the character more content to work with. Personally I found the humor and action to be highly entertaining and fun. I didn’t care that the story itself might not make much sense because I was still smiling from ear to ear.

Deadpool & Wolverine is the film equivalent of a fighting video game. It’s not so much about the story but about the characters and their interactions with a simply story to get them all in one place. I will admit that the plot of the film isn’t that complex or nuanced when you think about it. It’s mostly there to find ways to put all these characters together and then unleash chaos between them. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are amazing opposite each other. Deadpool’s incessant talking paired with Wolverine’s macho hatred for him is one of the best buddy comedy pairings. Jackman still has it after all these years, and it’s even more awesome to see him finally in the yellow and blue suit as well. Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova, the film’s main villain, does a suitable job and  has some gruesome moments but like many MCU baddies is an one film wonder with not much depth. The fan service of this film, however, is simply off the charts, not only to the Marvel Cinematic Universe but to all of Marvel, past and present.

Even though the MCU is going though a rough patch these days, it’s still not as bad as it was during the early days of the superhero genre. There was a reason why Marvel sold the film rights to Spider-Man to Sony for a paltry $7 million. Deadpool & Wolverine is geared towards that older audience who lived though those early Marvel movies and not just the MCU ones. Its meta references go back through the entire Marvel film history. And while at times you may see yourself as Chris Evans pointing and saying, “I understood that reference,” the film embraces both the good and bad of Marvel to at least get a laugh from it. I enjoyed the constant barrage of inside jokes, digs on the IP, and the film’s ability to find humor in nearly everything, although I understand how it can be overwhelming for some.

It’s probably impossible to not be spoiled to some degree, but the less you know about Deadpool & Wolverine before seeing it, the better. There are tons of genuinely surprising moments that are sure to delight Marvel fans of every level, delivering exactly what I want out of fan service. Some audiences might want more from the film, but I was delighted by every moment and every little detail. Superhero movies don’t always need to be some greater exploration of deeper themes and complex psyches. Sometimes you just want to see two unkillable forces go at each other until the sun goes down. Deadpool & Wolverine delivers just that.