Bringing its humor and gruesome action to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Deadpool & Wolverine offers a thrilling experience that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Directed by Shawn Levy, this new installment in the Deadpool film series looks towards the future of the character and what the multiverse holds for upcoming superhero stories.
Six years after using a time-travel device to attempt to join the Avengers in Earth-616 and being rejected from the team, Wade Wilson / Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) has since returned to his universe and retired as the masked mercenary. Wade has worked as a used-car salesman and is about to celebrate his birthday. That is until the Time Variance Authority’s (TVA) Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) captures him and tasks him with finding a variant of James “Logan” Howlett / Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to save his own timeline.
Right off the bat, Deadpool makes several meta quips that break the fourth wall. It even goes as far as to mocking superhero-movie cliches. With “comic-book-movie fatigue” being a discussed topic on the internet due to the saturated releases of these types of content, (and diminishing audience enjoyment) as stated by writer Caleb Fesmire on Collider, it is both ironic and humorous for this theme to be incorporated into the movie.
Unveiling the masks behind familiar heroes
However, the movie adds more surprises along the way as audiences follow Deadpool’s story. A major one is the unlikely pairing of Deadpool and Wolverine on-screen. While the two characters have paired up in the Marvel Comics, the live-action adaptation of these heroes makes for a dynamic duo and nostalgic callbacks, especially to the iconic X-Men films.
The movie also reintroduces some familiar characters with a star-studded cast. While Jackman’s Wolverine delivers his deadpan wit and serious demeanor, Chris Evans’ entrance as Johnny Storm / Human Torch from the Fantastic Four (2005) film franchise excites audiences. Wesley Snipes stuns as well as Eric Brooks / Blade from the Blade film trilogy.
Moreover, Channing Tatum’s Remy LeBeau / Gambit from the unproduced Gambit film catches moviegoers off-guard. There’s even the wholesome Mary Puppins / Dogpool (Peggy), who leaves the audience in awe. These aren’t the only cameos and guests to appear in this film, as a lot of iconic characters make their way into the multiverse.
While these cameos are certain crowd-pleasers, do they account for the hype surrounding this movie? This raises the topic of “variants” of cameos in MCU films as a whole. For further context, “variants” or alternate versions of characters are already common in comic book stories, with different backgrounds or alternate realities of a character that are still “canon” or established in a story’s continuity. Although this may seem unusual for live-action storytelling, it’s a familiar aspect in comic book storytelling and is slowly being integrated into the MCU.
One might expect that cameos are only for the purpose of fan service, but these guests also play a role into the storyline of Deadpool & Wolverine such as X-23 / Laura (Dafne Keen) finding her way to move forward from Logan’s death in her universe. Certainly, not every audience member may familiarize themselves with all these characters but the fact that they are integrated more seamlessly into the story makes it more interesting to ponder on how these characters can further develop alongside future stories within the MCU.
Aside from that, Charles Xavier’s twin sister, Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), makes her debut as this movie’s villain. With a cunning portrayal of the character, Corrin showcases Cassandra’s potential with her powers and backstory. However, her character still lacks presence in the movie’s plot, being overshadowed by the central pairing of Deadpool and Wolverine.
Despite this, the movie presents a head-turning plot. Deadpool’s main conflict is his struggle to find his purpose, while Wolverine has difficulties moving forward from his failures within X-Men. Combining these conflicts, the duo supports each other and rises together, leading to heartfelt scenes juxtaposed with action-packed sequences of them fighting side-by-side to save the multiverse.
Weaving together threads and tunes
Besides the storylines and cast, the film’s visuals are vibrant and filled with high-energy action, characteristic of both titular characters. From the fast-paced scenes to the explosive (and gruesome) effects, moviegoers are immersed in the gritty settings such as the Void and various timelines that Deadpool and Wolverine jump through.
Furthermore, the costuming in this film is notable, especially with the homage to Wolverine’s iconic blue and yellow comic-accurate suit and mask. For other guest characters, audiences can also expect to see iconic suits from their respective movies with small refinements in some aspects such as colors and materials used.
Another highlight of the movie would be its eclectic soundtrack. Each song that appears is a delightful surprise, ranging from “You’re the One That I Want” from the Grease movie musical to “Like a Prayer” by Madonna and “Bye Bye Bye” from NSYNC. One might wonder how each of these songs fits into the movie. This mixed soundtrack provides an unconventional approach that highlights the uniqueness of Deadpool & Wolverine.
Plus, the unpredictability of the songs add a layer of playfulness accentuating both the action and comedy genres of it.
Wrapping up this multiversal adventure
Deadpool & Wolverine delivers a playful and engaging experience that rekindles interest in comic book movie adaptations. It paves the way for the future of superhero movies, particularly with the potential integration of X-Men storylines into the MCU. But only time will tell what the future phases of the MCU will hold.
From the charming chemistry between the titular duo to the ensemble of characters from both MCU and X-Men films, there is a lot this movie offers to longtime fans and newcomers to Deadpool’s adventures. It’s slowly mastering the integration of “comic variants” into its stories. While characterization could still be improved, Deadpool & Wolverine is a film worth watching for its laughs and exciting story.
You can catch Deadpool & Wolverine in local cinemas near you.
