One is the reluctant hero of a super-powered mutant group. The other is an equally super-powered mutant but doesn’t want to be part of said group. Despite numerous opportunties, neither of them play well with others and have a temper. So what happens when you put the two superhuman characters who can regeneratively heal together? You get Deadpool & Wolverine.
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin and Matthew Macfadyen, the film sees Wade ‘Deadpool’ Wilson (Reynolds) retired as a vigilante and living an essentially boring life in a 9-5 job. He is quickly accosted by TVA agent Mr Paradox (Macfadyen), who informs Wilson that his world is in jeopardy. Unwilling to lose his loved ones, Wilson teams up with Wolverine (Jackman) to save his timeline while facing super-powered mutant Cassandra Nova (Corrin), Charles Xavier’s twin sister.
Let’s be honest, Marvel Studios have not been doing so great lately. The audiences may continue to flock to the cinema to reunite with old favourites such as Ant-Man, Captain Marvel and Thor, but their recent adventures have had mixed reviews. Throw in the unclear future surrounding the Kang Dynasty and the franchise is in chaos with no-one is on hand to steady the ship. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe heading towards the newly announced Mutant Saga, it is up to our eponymous heroes to save the day – and more specifically, the universe.
On the face of it, Deadpool & Wolverine is Marvel’s 2024 attempt to recapture the same level of hype and success of Spiderman: No Way Home. But with ‘the Merc with the Mouth’, the stakes are bigger and so, this threequel had to swing hard to hit a home run. For the most part, it hits hard, right between the eyes. The surprises come thick and fast so long-time Marvel fans will love each twist while taking a nostalgic visit down memory lane. But the thrill of these surprises quickly dwindle as the core of the story – saving Wilson’s timeline – gets lost amid the haze of fan service and cameos. Although Paradox drops hints of what is at risk and the necessary steps that are to prevent it, the feeling of peril isn’t overly threatening until the third act, which just becomes a quick and easy way to remind audiences that Cassandra is not only a villainess but a core character. This lack of cohesion mostly stems from the collaborative screenplay between Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells and director Shawn Levy, which is overwhelmingly self-aware. The meta-filled quips throughout means no holds barred – not even the big wigs at Disney are protected from Deadpool’s fourth-wall jokes, intense violence and risque humour, despite the BBFC’s 15 rating.
If anything, Deadpool & Wolverine presents an opportunity to rewrite history and exorcise the ghosts of Marvel films, namely the poorly received X-Men Origins: Wolverine. To that extent, Reynolds and Jackman do what they do best – Reynolds runs his mouth at super-high speed while Jackman is the reluctant, gruffly-voiced hero. Both characters have had issues with being part of a team and finding purpose in life, so it is almost humbling to see them actually work together. It is also great to see them be compassionate towards others but not necessarily hog the limelight to shine on their own terms. When they are on screen together, they are just dynamite – Jackman and Reynolds’ insane camaraderie is full of jabs, stabs and swearing, reminiscent of an over-eager puppy and his grumpy owner who may constantly complain about his yapping but truly cares deep down.
In a somewhat trend of British villains in the Deadpool franchise (after Francis ‘Ajax’ Freeman’ in Deadpool), Cassandra is devilishly played by Corrin. Indulging in mercilessly bending her will to every mutant that crosses her path, her performance feels restricted to a small portion of the film due to her character being stuck in the Void, a place where old variants are banished. Due to this, Corrin barely has a chance to expand their role as a heartless and manipulative megalomaniac. Meanwhile, Macfayden hams it up as the egotistical Paradox, a smarmy ass who wants to cheat his way up the TVA hierarchy.
Despite the inconsistent tone and cohesion, director Shawn Levy ensures that each joke (and surprise) delivers in entertainment value and throws in a nostalgia-laden soundtrack for a fun factor of 11. So Marvel and/or MCU fans can rest in the knowledge that the characters are just as important in fleshing out the multiverse in this adventure – but the franchise shouldn’t overly rely on the past to pave its future.
Deadpool & Wolverine has some narrative bumps but it is a step up from recent MCU instalments, with Reynolds and Jackman launching themselves among the best on-screen partnerships of the franchise.
Deadpool & Wolverine is out in UK cinemas on 25 July.
Rating: 
Director: Shawn Levy; Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells (co-screenwriters)
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfayden
Runtime: 127 minutes
Country: USA
