Rating: 3.5/5

“Deadpool & Wolverine” is the latest Marvel superhero adventure, starring Ryan Reynolds (“Free Guy”) and Hugh Jackman (“The Greatest Showman”), as the titular hero and anti-hero. Following the events of “Deadpool 2” and the real-world acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney, the film sees Deadpool finally unite with the clawed mutant Logan to save both the X-Men universe and the entire Marvel multiverse.

The results of this anticipated team-up are mixed. The threequel’s themes, character arcs, and overall plot structure all stick to familiar and formulaic superhero movie tropes. This is while the dialogue ranges from laugh-out-loud funny to plot-driven, exposition-heavy and clunky. Not to mention the sheer amount of Marvel movie background knowledge that the film is predicated on, requiring audiences to have some awareness of a diverse selection of superhero films from the past thirty years to truly, deeply appreciate this one story. 

This level of franchise interconnectivity is an increasing issue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; it was previously seen by “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” However, “Deadpool & Wolverine” truly exemplifies it, reveling in fan service to the point of exhausting the viewer. It becomes particularly problematic when a character who has appeared in a past film is used to excuse a lack of development in this one, making for legacy characters that have little to do besides participate in flashy action sequences.

Of course, not all of the film’s characters are handled this way and a few performances stand out. Reynolds’ Deadpool remains largely endearing and entertaining, assuming you’re not sick of his shtick. While Jackman proves his suitability for Wolverine once again with a wide-ranging performance that peaks with a memorably expressive tirade partway through the movie. In addition, villains Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin, “The Crown”) and Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”) serve as fun, contrasting antagonists for Reynolds’ and Jackman’s pair of fun, contrasting protagonists.

Also fun is the stylized action throughout. The NSYNC-backed cold open, a car-based clash halfway through and the asymmetrical final battle are all satisfyingly creative spectacles in both concept and execution, particularly in regards to the latter and its use of long, unbroken shots of tracking camerawork. These sequences collectively put the film’s brutal violence, adult humor and licensed music budget on full display, doing well to scratch the same R-rated superhero action-comedy itch as the previous two Deadpool movies. However, those same action scenes are occasionally hampered by ropy visual effects in another example of a systemic and increasingly prevalent Marvel Studios issue, with none of the special effects standing out as particularly innovative or excellent. The production design is often an inconsistent jumble as well, owing to the “multiversal junkyard” where most of the film is set; jarringly dissimilar aesthetics clash amidst a depressing gray wasteland, which makes perfect sense from an in-universe perspective but is visually unappealing from an audience perspective. A handful of concepts stand out, such as the giant corpse Cassandra Nova uses as her headquarters and the depiction of said villain’s superpowers, but they do little to offset the otherwise often unattractive visual design of the film.

Overall, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is not a bad movie. While it exemplifies many systemic problems with recent Marvel Studios productions, its protagonist’s self-awareness of those issues makes them easier to stomach and entertaining and creative action, along with the performances and concepts will appeal to both hardcore and casual audiences, regardless of their knowledge of previous Marvel media. If you have not, consider watching this popcorn-worthy summer blockbuster and fun addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Image by Feelmystyle from Wikimedia