Not Quite Marvel Jesus
If I had a nickel for every time Disney Marvel made crowd-pleasers using legacy characters not originally owned by them to win back their MCU audience, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. Deadpool & Wolverine is a No Way Home-like attempt to revitalize Marvel’s post-Endgame momentum. Does it succeed? Well, sort of… not really.
I’ll start right off the bat and say the movie was entertaining; I had a lot of fun watching it and couldn’t wipe a long-standing grin off my face. But while Deadpool & Wolverine had its moments, it pains me to say that it falls into the classic “all looks, little-to-no personality” trope.
Unfortunately, the near-dozen trailers released for the film covered half of the coolest scenes. Some reveals, like Sabretooth, appeared in the movie for probably a little over three minutes, which was quite underwhelming. Much of the remaining screen time was spent traversing barren, empty landscapes, making me feel that the setting could have been more engaging. Another gripe I had was the excessive amount of talking. It’s ironic, given how much Deadpool blabbers, but I didn’t mind his chatter (in fact I loved it). However, too many scenes focused on conversations that felt unnecessary.
My biggest concern, however, is the plot and overarching narrative. While I’ll give Ryan Reynolds credit for his meta jokes and references that brought some good laughs, the story’s premise was pretty weak. Bringing back the Time Variance Authority and their antics always seems like a recipe for disaster. Wade Wilson, played by Reynolds, even comments on our fatigue with the Multiverse, and he’s right. The villains were poorly established and lacked strong motivations. One villain aimed to hasten the conclusion of a timeline, but his reasons were unclear, while the other was a generic, power-hungry type. Without compelling villains, it’s hard to generate the same emotional investment that, say, Thanos achieved. Additionally, both Deadpool and Wolverine had personal conflicts that needed resolution and were integrated into the story, though the final execution was a bit messy.
Besides the plot and the movie’s rather empty feel, Deadpool & Wolverine did a great job keeping my eyes glued to the screen. The performances by Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds were outstanding, showcasing some of the best on-screen chemistry I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t help but feel that the gap left in my heart from watching Wolverine die in Logan was filled by his return in this movie. Seeing him back, especially in his comic-accurate suit, was pure eye-candy for me. The unexpected cameos further added to my fanboy excitement.
Another aspect I’ve always appreciated about the Deadpool movies is their shooting and editing style. The film features a handful of impressive scenes and fight sequences, along with a solid use of CGI that enhances rather than detracts from the viewing experience. The soundtrack also complemented the movie immensely, keeping it far from boring.
Ultimately, Marvel will need to make a much stronger effort to revive its withered Marvel Cinematic Universe than by relying on another Deadpool flick. Personally, I preferred Deadpool, Deadpool 2, and Logan to this movie. While I expected more, I’m not disappointed. It stands as a decent addition to the franchise, completing the trilogy and serving as a love letter to Wolverine and Logan fans, providing a sense of closure for those who saw Wolverine’s journey come to an end in Logan. One thing is for sure: Jackman still has it. Perhaps his time isn’t finished yet.
