Deadpool and Wolverine in the same film! Our JP has been waiting for this team up. His review for “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
Deadpool & Wolverine
(20th Century Studios / Marvel)
- Directed by Shawn Levy
- Written by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, Shawn Levy
- Based on Marvel Comics
- Produced by Kevin Feige, Lauren Shuler Donner, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy
- Starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Aaron Stanford, Matthew Macfadyen
Studio Synopsis:
Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” delivers the ultimate, iconic, cinematic team-up throwdown on July 26. Shawn Levy directs “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen. Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, George Dewey, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers. Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy.
J.P’s Take:
Deadpool, known as the “merc with a mouth” is one of Marvel’s most iconic characters in its universe. And they have solidified that with a threequel, which provides some of the hardest R shenanigans that only a Deadpool outing can create.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is Marvel’s zaniest rivalry and is a big middle finger to superhero lore and the movie industry in an unruly, yet, sidesplitting way, while even poking fun at itself many times over. And yet, it seems to find its heart, with a story that centers around the dissolution of Deadpool’s timeline / world. To save it, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds), a.k.a. Deadpool, is given an ultimatum to find James “Logan” Howlett, better known as Wolverine, or watch his world disintegrate before his eyes. The man tasking him with this near-impossible feat is Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), head of project “Time Ripper” at the TVA (Time Variance Authority).
Despite the plot being driven by some elaborate time-traveling set pieces, we’re not thrust into convoluted, mind-raveling jargon or antics. It’s all handled amusingly, as Deadpool romps through each version of Earth and timelines in search of the “right” Logan. These moments set up some hearty laughs along the way. Just as amusing is the open sequence with Deadpool digging up the corps of Wolverine, only to be caught by TVA agents, ready to take him down. Of course, you know he’s not going anywhere without a fight. He slices and dices, stabs and eviscerates his opponents like ground beef and lays waste to an entire brigade. It’s choreographed to NSYNC’s 90s classic “Bye Bye Bye,” ingeniously. This is not only one of the most violent and bloodiest sequences of any Marvel outing, it’s quite morbidly hilarious as well.
This goes for the rest of the movie as a whole, with numerous scenes of gory violence, laced with obscenities and vulgar language to boot. You can bet your bottom dollar you’ll get your hard R movie fix with this rare film in Marvel’s history. A “Deadpool” movie wouldn’t feel right otherwise. Fortunately, that’s not the gist of things underneath it all as Wolverine’s parable remains the overarching principle of the story. Being he is the oldest living mutant and the last of a dying species, his death is considered a revelation to the mutant and human world. Comic book nerds (me included) have foreknowledge of this fact. The joke within this matter is that Deadpool considers himself to be “Marvel Jesus,” saving both the MCU and mutant kind, when in fact both he and Wolverine are immortalized.
Instances where Wolverine and Deadpool are trying to disembowel each other prove relentless and cringe-worthy. However, in down times, they manage to slide into sentimental moments as well. Then you’re smacked in the face again with innuendo-riddled rants and fisticuffs.
Moving onward, the villain here is Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), who’s no secret to the Marvel faithful, is a powerful mutant and twin sister to Professor Charles Xavier. Her presence sets up a Mad Max romp through “The Void,” where Deadpool and Wolverine are banished. Wolverine is of great importance to her as well. At this point, we’re reintroduced to characters from Marvel outings that were either dismal in box office performance or have stoked a cult following. One of those characters made their intro in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” I won’t spoil it too much, but I’ll give you some hints – a female assassin in red, the day walker, Logan’s illegitimate daughter, and a magical card-wielding mutant of Cajun descent. This sparks a team-up you will see coming and it is worth witnessing.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” isn’t just about the exploits of the deranged merc, it’s also a golden opportunity to get your geek on, as this is one of the most Easter egg-ridden sequels put forth. I can guarantee your head will explode trying to spot and listen for them all.
If this is the last we’ll see of the disfigured assassin (which I’ll bet it won’t be), it will be his swan song. Yet, it will go out in a gloriously bloody, hilarious, and extravagant fashion. I had nothing but a raucous good time …and in IMAX.
Official Site: Deadpool & Wolverine
