DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, and Leslie Uggams
Director: Shawn Levy
NICK
My biggest fear going to Deadpool & Wolverine was that it would tarnish the legacy of Logan, a film I consider the greatest superhero film of all time. Thankfully, it doesn't. It respects what came before it while also trying to build something new, and it does so in a way that only Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) can: with gratuitous violence, foul language, and a cavalcade of cameos. There are some jokes that miss, and the fourth wall gets a little schticky, but Reynolds and Hugh Jackman make up for all of that. Jackman, in particular, is fantastic, reminding us just how synonymous he is with Wolverine.
ADRIANO
Deadpool & Wolverine is the cinematic equivalent of a baby’s mobile. There's fun to be had, and I did laugh more than I expected, but a lot of this film is just an ugly-looking waste whose only purpose is to force No Way Home-style applause out of audiences. Any attempt at effective character writing is poor (they got close with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, in fairness), the film's action is weightless, the humour is repetitive, and the story is nonsense. For many, this'll be exactly what the doctor ordered, but for me, my fun peaked at the opening sequence.
QUENTIN
For Marvel fans, Deadpool & Wolverine has just about everything they could ask for: violent action, killer cameos, laugh-out-loud jokes, on-point character portrayals, and deep-cut Easter Eggs, all while paying a surprisingly loving tribute to the 20th Century Fox era of superhero movies. It’s probably the best and most rewatchable Marvel movie since Endgame. If I take my Marvel-bias hat off for a second, though…it’s a bit too long, mostly due to the abundance of exposition necessary to make the crossover work (such as it does), and Ryan Reynolds’ schtick can wear just a tad thin. Only you know if you’re a hat-on or hat-off person.
AMARÚ
Deadpool & Wolverine is a hilarious love letter to 25+ years of Marvel fandom that takes itself as seriously as Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) takes moments of silence. The expositional setup is clunky, and I don’t need Shawn Levy to direct any more big MCU fight scenes, but from its absolutely pitch-perfect opening credits to every (rightfully) gratuitous cameo, this film is the blockbuster hit that a couple of this year’s legacy sequels wanted to be. Naturally, though, it’s Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s chemistry that shines the brightest, proving that the title is spot on about what you came here to see.
KATIE
Deadpool & Wolverine delivers everything the fans want and more, from gratuitous violence and trashy humour to plenty of cameos and winking at the camera. Yes, the CGI effects and visuals are inconsistent, and the inconsequential plot is secondary to the fourth-wall breaking, F-bombs, and Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) budding relationship; however, I laughed a lot more than I predicted, and any issues I had were quickly pacified by a self-conscious joke and Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s undeniable chemistry. The film is essentially two hours of fan service, but I still had a great time.
PRESTON
For lovers of Marvel's cinematic universe, superhero comics, cartoons, television series and all other things of the ilk, Deadpool & Wolverine can be safely regarded as straight-up nerd porn. I, being a fan, found entertainment there, but will always place a higher value on the crushing sarcasm and dark humor that Ryan Reynolds, once again, delivers with expert precision. Although, even for me, some of the jokes eventually stale from overuse as the film goes too far for too long. No matter the length, I recommend staying all the way through the credits for one very satisfying final scene.
SHADAN
Once my most anticipated movies of every year, MCU films have become a pop culture chore lately. Perhaps the key to enjoying their offerings now is low expectations, but I can’t deny I had an absolute blast with Deadpool & Wolverine. Yes, it’s pure fan service, and it relies too heavily on cameos; I’m also willing to overlook the thin plot because I gave myself over to the silliness for two hours and received plenty of laughs and fun surprises in return. I found the 2000s-era, 20th Century Fox nostalgia sweet and surprisingly effective, making this my favorite of the Deadpool trilogy.
