Deadpool & Wolverine lacks the emotional depth that endeared audiences to the first two films and instead opts for a complicated story that is mostly primed for cameos and laughs.

Cinema’s foul-mouthed friend Deadpool is back, and this time, he brought everybody you’d never think of. When it was announced that Hugh Jackman would return as Wolverine, everybody wondered how this would happen without disrespecting Logan‘s beautiful ending. The film takes the time to acknowledge this predicament, yet somehow it both does and doesn’t. Then, we are quickly led into another iconic credits sequence that the Deadpool films are known for. This was a strong start, but as the film continued, it got a little too big for its britches. Deadpool & Wolverine stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Dafne Keen, and Matthew Macfadyen. It was directed by Shawn Levy, a consistent collaborator of Reynolds’s, and written by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells alongside Reynolds and Levy. 

It’s been years since the events of Deadpool 2. Wade is single, working at a used car dealership with Peter, and back living with Blind Al. He no longer dons the Deadpool mask and is leading a purposeless life. The Time Variance Authority aka the TVA (from Loki) comes knocking and takes him to meet Mr. Paradox (Macfadyen). He explains to Wade that Wolverine was an “anchor being” and his death means that their timeline is now unstable and will soon be reduced to nothing. Mr. Paradox offers to bring Deadpool to the Sacred Timeline (the MCU) if he chooses to leave his friends and family behind. Rather than accept that option, he steals a TemPad to search the multiverse for another Wolverine to bring back to his world in an attempt to stabilize it. He ends up bringing back the lamest Logan of all. Deadpool learns that Mr. Paradox plans to use a Time-Ripper to end Wade’s timeline quickly rather than let it die slowly. This is when Deadpool and Logan are pruned into the Void. Deadpool convinces Wolverine to team up with him and fight their way back to the TVA to save the timeline. First, they must face the insanely powerful Cassandra Nova and her goons. 

One disappointing thing about this third Deadpool film going this route is that so many of the characters we know and love from the first two movies are now on the back burner. What happened to Wade and Vanessa’s relationship since he brought her back to life and why? What is Wade’s relationship with the X-Men after he promised to join, especially since they helped him with Russell? Did Cable go back to the future, and where is Domino, the coolest character of all? Deadpool 2 upped the stakes and the world-building from the first film with it still feeling like a natural continuation of the story. This third entry is a big deviation. Understandably, Deadpool joining the MCU would change things, but did it have to be at the expense of the pre-established characters?

It is easy to see why the writers went berserk when creating the film. Deadpool is an absolute wildcard of a character, and now with the TVA and variants introduced, anything is possible. I’m of two minds about the film. One, if there were to be a movie all about cameos and goofiness, a Deadpool film is the right choice, and the Void is the right place for them to exist. I can’t deny it was a hilarious time, especially since I was aware of the context of all the jokes. There are deep cuts that only people deep in the lore of Marvel movies would recognize. On the other hand, it’s disappointing that Deadpool and Wolverine’s friendship wasn’t the movie’s prime focus. Yes, they might have the most screen time, but their friendship isn’t as core to the story as the title would denote. Their trip to the Void is essentially an excuse for cameos and a side quest from the actual problems at hand. Also, Wolverine’s character arc is pushed along by X-23 (Laura), not by Deadpool. 

Kevin Feige claimed that Deadpool & Wolverine was an eight on how impactful this would be to the MCU, but it doesn’t seem like it at all. The introduction of the Time Ripper was simply a MacGuffin (as pointed out by Deadpool). Perhaps he meant the introduction of “anchor beings” but even that seems far-fetched because at one point Logan was not born and the world was still in existence. The story is convoluted and stacked with plot devices. There is a smaller but streamlined and more heartfelt story about Deadpool and Wolverine somewhere in the multiverse, but why do that when you are given free rein to write anything you want to see come to life, no matter how many hoops need to be jumped through to make it happen. 

Moving beyond the story, the visual look of the movie was subpar. Loki introduced us to the Void, a place at the end of time where all pruned people and items go. It’s a great excuse for why the environment can look weird and unnatural since it is an amalgamation of spare parts. Unfortunately, the other settings didn’t do much to impress; Deadpool’s home world still felt like CGI goop. The street and his place of work look strange, and his apartment, which I found so memorable in the first two films, doesn’t even appear. The TVA is known for its iconic aesthetic, yet it looked flat. You’d think that being in a movie would make the TVA look better, not worse.

Despite all my misgivings, I can’t deny Deadpool & Wolverine is hilarious. They work the jokes into every aspect of the movie, from sight gags to sassy one-liners. The film ends with a credits scene that left my theater roaring. Also, the music chosen for every scene is perfect, particularly the opening credits and the climax. Wolverine’s serious attitude paired so well with the Merc with the Mouth. It was raucous and silly, just as Deadpool’s humor should be.

Ryan Reynolds continues to rain 3s. It’s terrifying how he’s so perfect for the role. As for Jackman, it’s clear to see how much he enjoyed being back and how much work he put into looking fit. He looked phenomenal in the comic-accurate Wolverine costume. Emma Corrin was so spectacularly evil! They truly felt sinister and scary, and I hope this isn’t the last we see of Cassandra Nova in the MCU. Finally, nobody plays a corporate bureaucrat better than Matthew Macfadyen. As good as his performance was, unfortunately, he was underutilized. There is a smorgasbord of other performances that could be addressed, but not without entering into spoiler territory, except for Dogpool, who did a fantastic job being adorable. 

Deadpool & Wolverine lacks the emotional depth that endeared audiences to the first two films and instead opts for a complicated story that is mostly primed for cameos and laughs. While it is nice that it pays tribute to all the Marvel films that exist outside of the MCU, it doesn’t mean much for the character of Deadpool. He states that he wants to make a difference in the world because he cares now, but the story feels superfluous. Overall, it is still an entertaining watch that will have Marvel fans smiling in their seats. Welcome to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Deadpool. 

Grade: B-

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: None

Where to Watch: In Theaters

Eva Kirby
She/her @eva_kirby21
Lives in Florida. Loves sports, Diet Coke, and rewatching Fleabag.
Favorite Director: James Cameron
Sign: Pisces