DEADPOOL ON STEROIDS
Movie Review – Deadpool and Wolverine
Review by Ray Schillaci
Deadpool & Wolverine is a comic blast. There are so many laughs you will probably have to see it again to catch the hilarious dialogue you missed. The film does run a little long on super-charged action and has its silly moments that will make you groan, but this Disney/Marvel turn out is the most self-deprecating, over-the-top, and foul installment of the Deadpool franchise making one wish for more Deadpool in the Marvel universe to lighten things up.
This Deadpool outing should also come with a stern warning to parents of small ones in love with the two beloved Marvel characters, this is not a friendly family affair. This Marvel/Disney production may be the raunchiest movie of the year. Not only does the famed four letter word get casually thrown around a multitude of times, there is sexual reference dialogue that some of us might never have heard before.
The outrageous dialogue is as hyperbolic as the insane violence. This once family friendly, Marvel/Disney venture has now adopted the black sheep of the Marvel universe from 20th Century Fox. They’ve given Ryan Reynolds a no-holds barred opportunity to take the whole Marvel franchise to the next level while giving the finger to everyone involved, delivering an adult-driven comical adventure that brings out the naughty kid in most of us.
Deadpool opens visiting Wolverine’s gravesite. He is dead set on resurrecting him. What he finds is pretty damn funny and how he uses what’s left of Wolverine is just the tip of the iceberg of outrageousness while confronting the Time Variance Authority. Anyone who has not kept up with the Marvel Universe that crosses over into the Disney+ streaming shows could easily be lost. But, the cavalcade of comic violence that brings to mind some of the more delirious moments of Monty Python (along with the rapid fire pithy dialogue) can’t help but give you the patience to catch up.
It’s a dizzy story that goes everywhere and nowhere at the same time, toying with timelines in the Marvel universe, reminding one of the zaniness from Everything, Everywhere All at Once. As Deadpool works on wreaking havoc on the Time Variance Authority (TVA), he takes us back to why this all started up. Wade Wilson/Deadpool uses Cable’s time traveling device to go back and join the Avengers. Happy Hogan, once liaison to Tony Stark, has been promoted and is one of the main decision-makers for Marvel/Disney and delivers the bad news that Wade is not a good fit. Deadpool has never elevated himself to the kind of superhero that Captain America or Thor represents.
Wade is crushed. His hopes of being an Avenger have been shattered and he decides to hang his suit up and somehow fit into a normal life which spirals him into a downward funk, losing his girlfriend, Vanessa and working as an unsuccessful used car salesman. He masks the way he really feels with a humble smile, a broken heart, and a yearning to discover who he really is supposed to be.
Six years later, Wade is surprised by all of his friends that we have seen in the previous Deadpool movies including his ex with a birthday party. It warms his heart and gives him a slight lift…until there is a knock on the door. He answers it only to be confronted by the TVA who swiftly take him to meet Mr. Paradox who is involved with timelines. Paradox informs him that Wade’s timeline is deteriorating due to the death of James “Logan” Howlett (the Wolverine) because he was an “anchor being” stabilizing Wade’s timeline.
Paradox provides Wade with an all new Deadpool outfit complete with his beloved weapons informing him of the mission the TVA is demanding of him. Well, you don’t demand anything from Deadpool and he quickly wrecks havoc of the plans by stealing Paradox’s Tempad and travelling the multiverse to find a variant of the Wolverine that could help save his timeline. The outcome is incredibly funny.
It turns out when Deadpool comes back with his Wolverine, who is dressed in the original comic book outfit, this Logan turns out to be the worst of all variants. Also, this Wolverine wants nothing to do with saving anybody. He prefers to drink himself into a stupor than to commit to any kind of heroism. As the two argue with Paradox, he has them transported to the Void where all reject superheroes are left to live in a desert-like oblivion.
From here on, the adventure takes us to a giddy Marvel fandom of characters with some dialogue that you never thought you would hear out of their mouths. This third outing for Deadpool defecates all over the Marvel universe, Disney and 20th Century Fox. Nothing is sacred. Everyone is open game and that’s what makes Deadpool all the more unique. He’s like a modern day Bob Hope, breaking the fourth wall, but still having you involved in the story and laughing all the way.
Hugh Jackman is the most animalistic Wolverine we have ever seen. He seethes with anger and regret. He has little patience and that is not a good mix with Deadpool, the merc with the mouth. Anybody who’s ever wanted to see superheroes fight, this beats the infighting in the Avengers movies. This combo of Deadpool and Wolverine is a non-stop comical brawl that can’t help but make you cheer and laugh.
Ryan Reynolds almost comes across giddy with every foul act he commits as Deadpool. He is at the top of his game with snappy dialogue, insane action scenes and breaking the fourth wall a multitude of times. Between the two actors it’s like watching the very best of WWF with big laughs.
Wait to you see the surprise guest stars that join the unhinged duo. Their appearances are priceless, giving the audience every reason to stay through the credits. Marvel/Disney have outdone themselves with a film that dares to mock their franchise, the whole multi-universe and unsuccessful superheroes that either bombed at the box office or never had the chance to appear. Deadpool & Wolverine is a must for any Marvel fan and can be just as much fun for an even wider audience that have not kept up with the universe as a whole.
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Directed by: Shawn Levy
Release Date: July 26, 2024
Run Time: 128 Minutes
Rated: R
Country: United States/Australia/Canada/New Zealand
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Marvel Studios
