When Ryan Reynolds' passion project "Deadpool" was released in 2016, it felt like a breath of fresh air, as far as comic book movies go. The sarcastic and wildly profane movie - and character - shook up the comic book movie apparatus, which rarely dares to stray from a tried-and-true formula. Even with the Marvel guardrails surrounding it, "Deadpool" felt original, daring, and small by comparison.
But success and money bring sequels. "Deadpool 2" showed a sophomore slump, and the latest entry "Deadpool & Wolverine" demonstrates that the success of the franchise has gone to everyone's head. The draw of the latest outing is Deapool teaming up with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, who is resuscitated back to life through movie magic and corporate general ledger accounting. As tiresome as "Deadpool & Wolverine" can be, Reynolds and Jackman's banter can be amusing.
There's a plot - sort of - to "Deadpool & Wolverine," but does it even matter? No one is interested in a concise three-act structure to their superhero movies, and you shouldn't feel like you have to be. Audiences are ready to show up and watch Reynolds do what he does with Wolverine by his side this time around. There's multiverses and there's villains (Matthew Macfadyen and Emma Corrin). Those who are excited for the movie will love it.
Marvel films have been on the ropes for a while, failing to excite audiences and light up the box office as they once did. The emphasis on multiverses has been a less than subtle attempt to excite moviegoers about the possibility of what or who could show up in a given movie. It's a concept that has been used effectively - in "Spider-Man: No Way Home," particularly - but "Deadpool & Wolverine" has stretched the multiverse to its limit. This is a movie made with a revolving door of cameos, some more unexpected than others, but they have the heft of walking up and down Hollywood Blvd.
The Deadpool character has been Reynolds' pet project since day one and he certainly still relishes putting on the red suit and getting to say depraved things. When an actor is having fun, it's easy for their audience to do the same. The problem with Reynolds since he started playing Deadpool is he's been stuck on repeat. He began his career as a fast-talking hot shot ("Van Wilder" and "Waiting..." come to mind), but the "Deadpool" movies raised him to another level. He brings the Deadpool persona to movies that have nothing to do with the knife-wielding guy in a red suit, which makes it feel like he has never stopped playing him - and we are only on the third movie.
"Deadpool & Wolverine" is drowning in meta and self-referential humor (the Fox/Disney merger gets a lot of play here). Some of the jokes land, while others fall flat or seem repetitive. At this point "Deadpool & Wolverine" feels like it's just playing the hits, but audiences are ready to flock to theaters for it. Theaters certainly need more Deadpool, more than we really do.
| Movie title | Deadpool & Wolverine |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2024 |
| MPAA Rating | R |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | The third entry in the “Deadpool” franchise features amusing banter from Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman but its self-referential humor and repetitive jokes eventually fall flat. |
