Deadpool & Wolverine – Film Review
by Fran Winston

Director – Shawn Levy
Writers – Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Stars – Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Rob Delany, Matthew Macfadyen

When Fox was taken over by Disney, it looked like it might be the end for Ryan Reynolds R-rated superhero Deadpool aka Wade Wilson. His non-PG antics are the antithesis of the usual Disney fare.  Indeed, the development of this threequel was placed on hold after the acquisition in March 2019. However, control of the character was then transferred to the Disney-owned Marvel Studios and this integrates Deadpool with the MCU while retaining the R-rating of the previous films, making it the first MCU film to have such a rating. Reynolds, who co-wrote the script, also managed to use the disparity between his behaviour and Disney’s ethos as a plot point.

Joined by Hugh Jackman, reprising his role as Wolverine from the X-Men movies, this is as irreverent and bonkers as you’d expect. Within just minutes the audience has been subjected to “mild necrophilia” which very much sets the tone for the rest of the movie. You’d expect nothing less from the famously potty-mouthed character.

This fully utilises the Marvelverse and having some knowledge of the movies and shows beforehand is useful to fully enjoy this. Deadpool and Wolverine find themselves at the mercy of the TVA (the Time Variance Authority introduced in the Loki TV show). Accosted by agents from the agency and asked to help with their work, he is delighted. That is until he realises his own timeline is being slowly destroyed due to the death of “anchor being” Logan/Wolverine (as seen in 2017’s Logan). This results in him going on a search for a Wolverine throughout the multiverse (canon in multiple Marvel movies) to find one to save his world.

However, this doesn’t sit well with the TVA who banishes them both to the void where they encounter Professor X’s (of X-Men fame) sister Cassandra (Corrin) who has a bit of a chip on her shoulder. All they want is to escape the void and get home but Cassandra has other ideas. When she plots to destroy the world using a time ripper they are the only ones who can save it but possibly at a huge cost to themselves

Baddie out to destroy the world is pretty standard superhero fare but the dynamic between Jackman and Reynolds and the acerbic and lewd wit ensures this never feels tired. It is as much a buddy movie as it is a superhero film and they include plenty of scenes where they fight each other “to give the audience what it wants”.

This also pays homage to all the Fox superhero films and the cameos alone are worth the entrance fee. They didn’t skimp on the budget when it came to casting these legacy characters and there are more than a few surprises. There are also plenty of Easter eggs that will delight fans of comic books and superhero movies. At one point Deadpool describes himself as Marvel Jesus and while that may be debatable he is definitely some sort of a geek messiah. Reynolds knows what the audience wants and gives it to them in spades.

They also take full advantage of the multiverse concept to introduce Wolverine and Deadpool variants – including a nod to his football club Wrexham.

This wears its tongue firmly in its cheek and is all the better for the lack of gravitas. Deadpool is lewder and cruder than before and the action scenes are even more outlandish. Kudos to Disney for allowing the character the freedom to be irreverent and raunchy in what is definitely a first for them.

Even if you are not a fan of superhero movies, Deadpool and Wolverine are a dream team that is sure to leave you with a smile on your face. This is two hours of pure escapism with plenty of laughs thrown in for good measure and takes superhero movies and the MCU to a whole new level.