Deadpool and Wolverine Spoiler-Free-(Ish) Review
Once upon a time, there was an incredibly sexy, wisecracking mercenary called Deadpool that everyone loved. He had some of the best R-rated films ever made and was played by God’s perfect idiot, Ryan Reynolds-Senpai. But all his success couldn’t change the fact that Fox could no longer make a good Marvel movie even if their lives depended on it. So Disney decided enough was enough, they bought Fox, and brought all their characters back to Marvel for the first time in years. But then Disney started dropping the ball and their big bad got arrested, so Reynolds-Senpai decided enough was enough. And instead of it being Nick Fury telling DP he was part of a larger universe, Reynolds told everyone’s favorite merc that he had to save the MCU before Disney ran it into the ground. And to do that, he had to bring another hero out of retirement. Here’s a hint: his name rhymes with ‘Pulverine’, which is an actual word.
And that, my dear nerds, is how we got the film of the MCU’s lords and saviors, Deadpool and Wolverine. That’s right-not only was all that talk about Marvel Jesus real, but it was actually two people!
In all seriousness, though, it’s well-known that Marvel has gone from the franchise with the Midas touch to being the sick man of Hollywood. Even I was starting to lose hope when Jonathan Majors got arrested and The Marvels flopped. But if there was anyone who could save Marvel from the fictional, and very real, threat to itself that wasn’t Spider-Man, then it had to be Deadpool and Wolverine. And boy, did they go above and beyond! This film isn’t just Deadpool and the X-Men’s long-awaited introduction to the MCU. It’s a love letter to what came before.
The Part With Some Spoilers (Shh!)
So, spoilers, but the opening is perfect Deadpool. After going to Logan’s grave and digging him up, Deadpool proceeds to use his metal skeleton to beat up an army of TVA agents trying to arrest him. While dancing to “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC. So, it was pretty much the funniest thing ever. But how did old Wade end up on the TVA’s naughty list? He didn’t; they ended up on his.
After using Cable’s Time Machine to audition for the Avengers (no Tony Stark, but we did get Jon Favreau as Happy) and failing, Wade got so depressed he quit being DP, Vanessa broke up with him, and he became a used car salesman. But that’s not who Wade is. And then the TVA comes along and asks him to join the MCU for real because he’s going to be super-important (maybe) in the future.
There’s just one catch: Logan’s death in the near future is going to lead to the end of his entire universe. So this pretentious, British-sounding jerk who misses when the TVA destroyed timelines decides he’s gonna un-alive Wade’s universe without him in it to prove the old ways are better. And to stop that, DP is gonna need to get another Wolverine, and winds up choosing the one that let down his X-Men. And then they get sent to the Void where the TVA dumps all the things they consider to be a mistake, and to get home, they have to prove that, mistake or not, they’re still part of Marvel. And everything in Marvel is capable of kicking some serious butt.
I Owe Fox an Apology
It’s almost hard to remember, but Marvel was making films about its characters that weren’t Spider-Man long before the MCU was a thing. The Blade trilogy, Daredevil and Elektra, those two Fantastic Four films that Chris Evans was in. But the real money makers were the X-Men franchise. But then the MCU came along and all people wanted to know was when all these characters were going to join, including myself. It wasn’t like Fox (which made most of those films) was doing anything good outside of Deadpool and Logan, right?
Everyone, I think I owe Fox an apology. After seeing Deadpool and Wolverine, I realized it was a mistake to think like that. I used to think that most of the Marvel films that predated it couldn’t compare to the MCU. But then the last few years taught me that, yes, even the Marvel Cinematic Universe was capable of making screw-ups. Not as bad as that 2015 Fantastic Four film, but films like The Marvels were pretty bad. But as bad as some of those films were, they are still a part of the Marvel story.
During their travels in the Void, Deadpool and Wolverine come across versions of different characters from non-MCU films that the TVA pruned. And, as we learn, even more versions of those characters were killed offscreen. It’s a pretty meta way of saying that they didn’t matter enough for Marvel to care about them anymore. But they helped pave the way for the MCU, and for that, they should be remembered. And most of them do end up having a role to play.
Deadpool and Wolverine is the Best Movie since Endgame
But what you’re here for, dear readers, is to know how are Deadpool and Wolverine together. Was this team-up 24 years in the making worth the wait? Yes, yes, in every sense of the word, yes! Ryan Reynolds is as hilarious as ever as the Merc with the Mouth and pulls no punches. He doesn’t hesitate to throw shade at Fox and the Mouse while also praising them and all things Marvel. It’s clear Ryan Reynolds was having the time of his life getting back in the suit.
And Hugh Jackman? While he’s not playing the Wolverine that fans of the X-Men films grew up with, but a variant of him, he’s still the Wolverine. And, yeah, Disney is probably never going to let him retire from the role now that he’s back. But is that really a bad thing? Much like everyone has that one person they think of when they think of a role, Hugh Jackman is Wolverine. Just like Kevin Conroy was the Batman! And yes, it is worth seeing the film just to see him wear that iconic costume! I had people in the theater crying out in joy! And I was one of them!
In summary, Deadpool and Wolverine were everything the fans wanted and more. It’s a swan song to Marvel’s Fox era and a perfect introduction for the X-Men and Deadpool into the MCU. And it’s got the most epic remix of a Madonna song I’ve ever heard. Matter of fact, why are you still reading this? Go buy your tickets and see it now while it’s still in theaters! it’s the best MCU film since Endgame!
And get that remix of “I Need a Prayer” on Apple or whatever they have for Android or Google Pixel!
