Last year’s horror-comedy slasher Thanksgiving both parodied and embodied the genre. Though it was a fun watch, one could argue that simply being self-aware about the tropes you parody doesn’t give you a free pass to indulge in them. The same is very much true of the latest installment in the Deadpool franchise. Deadpool & Wolverine is filled to the brim with shameless fan service that relies on the same plot devices and gimmicks it mocks. Frustrating as that may be, it wouldn’t be fair to expect anything less of the franchise as it enters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sticking to Ryan Reynolds’ signature character’s shtick and imbibing in the slew of fourth-wall-breaking, pop-culture-heavy material endowed through Disney’s acquisition of the IP, director Shawn Levy hits all the beats you’d expect. And though it’s laden with in-the-moment references, and it whiffs on a fair share of jokes, Deadpool & Wolverine is still a pretty damn good time.
For many, viewing Deadpool & Wolverine will feel like being the oldest cousin at a bachelor party. It’s chaotic, lasts a bit too long, and you might leave with a headache and urge to spend your time doing something a little more serious. Reynolds has few lines that aren’t cheeky quips and there are more big fight sequences than you might expect. It seems that the entry into the MCU – the Deadpool character was previously owned by Fox ‒ has fueled Levy and the rest of the crew to go bigger in all capacities. Sure, the film is bloated and many bits don’t land, but if the goal was to revive the MCU in its current sorry state, this surely met those aspirations. The plot is based around the multiverse, providing endless fodder for easter eggs and cameos. After some exposition from the head of the Time Variance Authority ‒ Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) ‒ Deadpool (Reynolds) teams up with a Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) from another timeline to save his world against the all-powerful Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin). But the plot feels secondary to the fact that it’s Deadpool ‒ ultimately, it’s a comfort watch filled with crude humor and violence. And the fact that all our friends are there too (however cheap that may be) only adds to the fun.
As a recent Reynolds collaborator (Free Guy and The Adam Project), Levy is in tune with Reynolds’ comedic style and seamlessly takes the reins from Tim Miller and David Leitch. It may be a stretch to say that Deadpool & Wolverine works better as a comedy than as a comic-book movie because many jokes fall flat, but hilarious comedic performances from Macfadyen and two notable A-listers are easily the best parts of the film. Though Reynolds has his fair share of zingers, it’s these performances, and the chemistry between the actors, that really stands out. While much of the humor is a product of the time and may not hold up a few years from now, Deadpool & Wolverine still provides some of the heavier laughs in recent memory. Though the comic-book elements take a back seat to the comedy, it still does a serviceable job when you strip away the jokes. Notably, the action looks great and the story is entertaining and sensible enough with an ounce of heart.
It’s fair to criticize the film for a number of faults: the stakes feel too low at times and too high at others, it’s derivative of the first two installments, the villain isn’t great and many bits are juvenile. But examining the film’s worth on a serious basis like this feels like it misses the point. It’s a high-energy sequel meant to bring the character into the MCU and give a jolt of energy to the universe. Sure, there’s plenty to criticize, but just look at the AMC popcorn buckets. This is a movie that’s meant to be fun; if you come in with that mindset, you’ll be sure to enjoy it.
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