‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Slashes Its Way Into The MCU – Review

“I’ve waited a long time for this team up.” –Wade Wilson a.k.a. Deadpool

Everyone’s beloved mercenary, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), is back in action after a six-year hiatus since 2018’s Deadpool 2. This time, he’s not alone. He’s joined by the X-Men’s Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), embarking on a mission to save Wade’s world. The unique charm of this team-up, with the moody clawed mutant by his side, is sure to intrigue fans.

Deadpool & Wolverine features Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) at a new low in his life. With the idea of being a superhero now kaput and his red suit hidden away somewhere, Wade is trying to make sense of his life and plans. When he thinks he’s figured it out, life throws him a curveball in the form of the TVA and Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen). With Wade’s timeline facing destruction, he needs help to fix things before he loses everyone he loves. This leads to the epic team-up the film revolves around, where the “Merc with a Mouth” joins forces with “Weapon X” (Jackman) on a mission to save Wade’s timeline. But as they navigate the complexities of timeline traipsing, they encounter unexpected twists, such as the appearance of Charles Xavier’s twin, Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool in *Deadpool & Wolverine*. (Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios)

Now, let’s talk about Deadpool & Wolverine. After a night of contemplation, I can honestly say that while the film is fun, entertaining, and nostalgic, I wish I loved it more. Despite it not meeting my expectations, it’s still an enjoyable watch and a step up from Deadpool 2. Still, if you take away the great cameos, it doesn’t quite capture the magic of the first Deadpool, even with the addition of Jackman’s Wolverine, now donning the famed yellow and blue suit.

What carries most of the film are the performances, particularly Jackman’s, in addition to the nostalgia and entertainment factors. Regarding the nostalgic aspect of the film, Deadpool & Wolverine seemingly took cues from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Although, I would argue that Deadpool & Wolverine did a better job of executing this than the latter films. That said, no amount of cameos can make up for an often weak script. The script features highs and lows written by Shawn Levy (also the director), Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Zeb Wells, and Paul Wernick. The script does well by keeping the typical Deadpool humour that audiences love. At times, the running schticks are repetitive, but Reynolds and his charm mostly make it work, especially when poking fun at the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and its “low point.”

The banter between Reynolds and Jackman as their respective characters is a delightful treat for fans. Their chemistry and wit will have you smiling from ear to ear, adding an extra layer of entertainment to the film. Even though we’ve seen them play Deadpool and Wolverine for many years, their portrayal of the characters always brings fresh and exciting energy. They embody the characters so well it is challenging to picture other people portraying the two canucks. Jackman particularly shines in his return as Wolverine. His last and what many thought to be his final outing as the character came in 2017 with the critically acclaimed Logan. Jackman’s performance in Logan was heart-wrenching, and he brought this same energy to Deadpool & Wolverine in various scenes throughout the film, keeping the audience entranced.

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in *Deadpool & Wolverine*. (Photo by Jay Maidment, courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios)

While the movie is the third in the Deadpool franchise, at times, Deadpool is overshadowed by Wolverine due to Jackman’s stellar performance. That said, Reynolds still brings his A-game as Wade Wilson. He is hilariously quippy, with great comedic timing and punchlines. However, there were some instances when the jokes fell flat, or a gag overstayed its welcome. Reynolds does his best with the material given (and self-written) to make the most out of everything, and it works well for the most part.

Emma Corrin and Matthew Macfadyen do well as their respective villains, Cassandra Nova and Mr. Paradox. As Cassandra Nova, Corrin is particularly frightening, especially when she has to use her hands to delve into people’s minds—a nice callback to Cassandra Nova using her powers when she was first introduced in Marvel Comics. Although Corrin and Macfadyen have excellent screen presences, seeing more of them would have been nice, especially Corrin’s Cassandra. While there are glimmers of Cassandra Nova’s terrifying telepathic and telekinetic powers, there’s hardly enough of Xavier’s twin present to set her up to be one of the more-feared MCU villains – which she very well could be if more time were spent with the character and delving further into her story.

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in *Deadpool & Wolverine*. (Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios)

The film is at its best when it hones in on the emotional beats, like Wolverine’s fireside chat with Laura, a.k.a. X-23 (Dafne Keen), in Deadpool describing his timeline and the nine people most important to him who will die alongside it if the timeline’s destruction cannot be stopped. These moments of raw emotion and connection, or the homage paid to the pre-MCU films that paved the way for audiences to experience a movie like Deadpool & Wolverine, will keep the viewers engaged and connected to the characters.

Deadpool & Wolverine works exceptionally well as a way to bring Wade Wilson and Logan into the MCU. If Reynolds and Jackman wish to continue with their characters in the MCU, it would be a welcome bit of fun, as it was nice watching the duo back on-screen. It works even better when it pays tribute to the comic book movies before the MCU. Fun-filled and a definite crowd-pleaser, Deadpool & Wolverine easily carves a standout place for itself in the MCU.