Deadpool & Wolverine [Film Review]

Deadpool & Wolverine
Released: July 25, 2024

Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen.

It happened. It finally happened. Both Deadpool and Wolverine have entered the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) as the merger between 20th Century Fox and Marvel Studios is finalised - and we, the fans, are the ones who will be celebrating this milestone for years to come.

But don't get your hopes up. Despite this being the first time intellectual property from the 20th Century Fox reign (urgh IYKYK) has been taken under the wing of Kevin Feige and co. it serves as a self-contained, re-spawning point for what's to come - and trust me when I say the team behind the film have understood the assignment and left me in awe of what's to come - or potentially what could be coming as they're always keeping us on our toes.

But what does that mean if you're not a fedora-tipping, comic book nerd like most attendees currently lining up to hit cinemas on release day? Let's try and explain with the least amount of spoilers possible.

Set not too long after the events of Deadpool 2 (2018), the film crosses between the boundaries of fiction and reality as we open with Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) throwing back to the time he applied to be an Avenger with a familiar face turning down his application on the basis he was only doing it because "he needed it", unlike Marvel's mightiest heroes who do it to help those who need them most. Wade comes to terms with the fact he's too self-centred and settles for a "normal" life selling cars with a sweet new toupe alongside former X-Force recruit Peter Wisdom (Rob Delaney).

Now this is where the story gets a little complex, but don't fear because Deadpool & Wolverine does its best to get viewers up to speed, even if you don't know the current events of Phase Five. All you need to be aware of is the multiverse (with multiple variants of the same Marvel character across universes) existing and "timeline police" (Time Variance Authority aka the TVA) are doing their best to prevent characters from travelling between these universes and altering the Sacred Timeline; something which Wade had been doing in spectacular fashion in the closing credits of Deadpool 2.

Following a blood-soaked encounter with the TVA (and Marvel's first reference to pegging lol) Wade is given a chance to join the MCU and save the ones he loves from annihilation by tracking down a variant of Wolverine to prevent his timeline from collapsing.

Cue another signature Deadpool montage overflowing with easter-egg-filled hilariousness before Wade finds a Wolverine/Logan (Hugh Jackman) who he believes would be the perfect fit. As expected, this variant doesn't want to come quietly and the pair commence their first (of many) sharp, stabby and profanity-infused fight scenes.

Let's just say things don't go according to plan and the duo find themselves cast into The Void; a purgatory apocalyptic wasteland for superheroes/villains where we meet forgotten faces of the past and the film's big foe, Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin). The telekinetic outcast is revealed to be Charles Xavier/Professor X's twin sister, who was killed in the womb and sentenced to life in The Void, where her resentment has grown alongside her legion of followers - viewers first spotted these throwback characters in the first official trailer, so it's no secret as to who some of them are, but you'll still get a huge smack of nostalgia to the face when seeing them on the big-screen again, some for the first time in 20 years.

Now the majority of the film takes place inside The Void, with Deadpool and Wolverine searching for a way to beat Cassandra and use her overpowered abilities to send them back to the real world. What follows is yet another hilarious fourth-wall-breaking smorgasbord of easter eggs, nostalgia and references galore - alongside some of the bloodiest, banter-filled fight scenes between our two lead actors. It's exactly what you imagine a Wolverine and Deadpool team-up movie to be, and the action and surprise cameos cease to halt for the majority of the film's 2+ hour duration.

And now the wrap-up.

Personally, I think the film is adequate. It's not bullshit crazy like Avengers: Endgame or Spider-Man: No Way Home, and it's not sub-par like some of the forgotten Marvel releases like Eternals or Shang Chi; but it does exactly what it sets out to do. It brings two of the X-Men's most prominent anti-heroes together for an adult-centric, action-packed and blood-soaked buffet that'll be lapped up by fans and young adults who crave seeing their fav characters swearing like sailors and bashing each other's brains in.

My only criticisms are the triumphant ball-drop of Cassandra Nova, who despite being one of Marvel's most ruthless adversaries, came across as yet another 'blip on the radar' baddie, which in turn left me wondering 'what could have been', rather than what was witnessed on-screen. It felt at times as if the Emma Corrin-portrayed character was merely there as a third-wheel in the Wade and Wolvie show and that, somehow, 20th Century Fox's inability to produce decent villain arcs leaked its way inside this flick as a final flip-off before dissolving its IP into Marvel. The second issue was that by the commencing of the third act, you couldn't help but feel fatigued or that some parts of the movie had dragged on longer than needed. But, as Deadpool does best, he breaks the fourth wall and acknowledges this on several occasions - which serves as a way to maintain your attention to the storyline and not ponder when the action will cease and the film will start its descent into climax.

However, it's a self-contained story that harks back to the early years of the MCU, where not everything sets up another outing in a few years (or does it!?) and you don't have to be completely aware of the current MCU's timeline to enjoy or understand what's going on.

Praise doesn't just go to Deadpool or Ryan Reynolds. Yes, this is the best outing since the first film, but the movie does an exceptional job of explaining why Hugh Jackman returned to the signature role only HE was born to play (so far); and despite originally wrapping up his portrayal of the character almost perfectly in Logan (2017), Deadpool & Wolverine literally wastes no time in reminding you that THAT closing chapter was just one of a million possible endings across the multiverse, and that anything can happen when Marvel are splashing their "big Disney bucks" around the place.

From the film's hysterical, tear-inducing opening credits to the first-of-its-kind final onslaught (and all the cameos littered throughout) - this is the closest we've ever been to a live-action comic book, and the saving grace the MCU needed before rebooting its upcoming phases. Also, Deadpool's proclamation as Marvel Jesus stands firm and is well and truly executed by the plot of Deadpool & Wolverine.

Following a dismal influx of lacklustre films and hit-and-miss TV series, we can only hope this is the start of an exciting future for the once-dominating MCU.

Rating: 4/5

Film Review by Paul 'Browny' Brown

Deadpool & Wolverine hits Australian cinemas on July 25th.
Get your tickets here