By Penny Theodorakopoulou,
Marvel fans, assemble! This will be one hell of a ride. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) is your cinematic fantasy come true, if you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you combined the sassiest, most sardonic mercenary dressed in red spandex with a sullen, weathered Canadian mutant, who likely smells like a mix of remorse and cigars. Imagine all the spectacular mayhem of a Lethal Weapon film, only with less police procedural aspects and more beheadings. Give two of the most adored characters in the Marvel Universe complete freedom to do anything they want, and this is the result, people, and it’s as amazing as it is stupid.
The plot (it’s complicated but in a fun way)
Let’s start with the plot. Perhaps you were hoping for a Shakespearean drama with nuanced character development and deep emotional depth. In which case, it’s obvious that you’re in the wrong theater. Deadpool & Wolverine‘s narrative is more “Wham! Bam!” than Hamlet. Stan (Lee), thank you. It’s an insane rollercoaster with just enough consistency to keep you fastened in until the very end.
The plot revolves around (once again) time travel, parallel universes, a villain whose name is either unpronounceable or too complicated, and a quest to save the multiverse (because, of course, it’s always the multiverse, and Deadpool doesn’t miss the chance to comment on that in the movie), all without going into too much spoiler territory. With his signature irreverence, Deadpool dives deeply into this disaster, pulling a reluctant Wolverine along who would much rather be doing anything else. Imagine it as a mutant buddy-cop movie, in which neither our heroes nor the bad guys know what’s coming, primarily because Deadpool won’t read the script… again.
Character dynamics: The odd couple meets the Avengers
Let’s now discuss the core of the film, which is the relationship between Deadpool, who is played by our (much beloved) Ryan Reynolds, and Wolverine, who is once again portrayed by Hugh Jackman (because, really, who else could pull off so much brooding?). These two resemble oil and water if water had adamantium claws and oil had a never-ending mouth. Deadpool’s constant witticisms are countered by Wolverine. If Deadpool is the naughty child in the backseat who pokes holes in the gas tank to see what happens, Wolverine is the sullen father who just wants to get through the family road trip without anybody being hurt.
Their relationship is electric, similar to what may happen if you jam a fork into a toaster. Deadpool’s wild energy perfectly contrasts with Wolverine’s calm, and their banter is a comic treasure. Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds appear to be having the time of their lives, and their happiness is contagious. If only Wolverine would allow anyone near him with a clever rejoinder, their back and forth would be so keen that it could cut through adamantium.
Not to be overlooked are the action scenes, which are a lot. It’s a visual feast to witness Deadpool’s disorganized, careless style of fighting contrasted to Wolverine’s vicious, systematic cutting and dicing. It’s like witnessing a stunning, aggressive dance performance where one dancer is too energized from caffeine while the other is simply exhausted from performing. Every fight scene is a fascinating (and frequently humorous) spectacle because of the disparity between their styles, which only serves to increase the entertainment value.
The action: More bang for your buck (and a few limbs, too!)
Now that we’ve discussed spectacle, let’s get started. This movie pushes things to a whole new level. If you thought the first two Deadpool films or any of Wolverine’s many cameos were ridiculous, this movie goes above and beyond. Deadpool & Wolverine‘s action is so deliciously over-the-top that it makes Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) seem like a nice Sunday drive. We’re talking about hand-to-claw fighting that destroys entire armies (and city blocks), vehicle chases that defy gravity, and explosions large enough to make you wonder whether Marvel Studios’ special effects budget is covertly supported by the GDP of a tiny country.
One particularly memorable scenario has our two “heroes” breaking into an enemy stronghold —a sequence that, of course, goes spectacularly wrong. Wolverine just sighs and begins slashing, while Deadpool practically wings it with guns blazing and swords flailing. It’s like viewing a carnage-based symphony, with Deadpool serving as the conductor and Wolverine playing the irritated first chair violinist, who is only there because he lost a bet.
What’s the best thing, then? It never feels gratuitous (well, not too gratuitous) despite all the turmoil. Although the action is intense and fast-paced, it is counterbalanced with humor and the characters’ overall likeability. If you haven’t already passed out from the sheer brilliance of it all, you could be laughing one minute and gasping at the extreme severity of a fight scene the next in this kind of movie.
Humor: Fourth walls? What fourth walls?
Without talking about the humor, a review of Deadpool & Wolverine wouldn’t be complete. You know exactly what to anticipate if you’ve watched any of the previous Deadpool films: more pop culture allusions than a season of Family Guy, meta-jokes, and fourth wall breaching. However, this film finds a way to push it even farther.
Deadpool talks to the audience for so long that it’s surprising he doesn’t ask to share your popcorn. He makes fun of the budget, the genre, the clichés, and even the reality that you’re witnessing this madness happen in a theater. He once stops the fight in the middle to make a point about how absurd everything is, then he turns to Wolverine and requests to go directly to the part where they win. Naturally, Wolverine merely rolls his eyes and murmurs something about how absurd this whole situation is.
And yet, there’s a startling amount of heart amid all the irony and sarcasm. Beneath Wolverine’s rough exterior and Deadpool’s never-ending jokes, there’s a story about two very different people coming to respect —and possibly even like— one another. A timeless story: boys meet, boys irritate boys, boys band together to rescue the world.
The million-dollar question: Should you watch it?
One-word answer: duh! Multiple-words answer: it’s a whole lot of fun. Action, humor, and character relationships are all abundantly presented in this film, and then some. It’s a letter of love to fans of both characters, full of references and Easter eggs to make even the biggest Marvel fans smile from ear to ear.
Yes, the humor isn’t for everyone, and the plot may be a little complicated, but if you’re in the theater, you probably already know what you’re getting into. Ultimately, though, this film is just plain enjoyable. This is the kind of movie that embraces its uniqueness without reservation. And to be honest, that’s exactly what we need in a world where superhero movies occasionally take themselves a little too seriously.
So, get your tickets (or watch it online, we live in 2024, after all!), check your seriousness at the door, and get ready for the year’s most crazy, funny, and thoroughly enjoyable film. If there’s one thing Wolverine and Deadpool can agree on, it’s that you’re going to have an incredible time. Also, be ready for the amounts of cameos in the movie, because they are all over the place.
P.S. Please stick around for the post-credits scene. Trust me.
P.S.2 Be ready to have ‘Bye Bye Bye’ stuck in your head for weeks. You have been warned.
