Director: Shawn Levy
Writers: Shawn Levy, Rhett Reese, Ryan Reynolds, Zeb Wells, Paul Wernick
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Synopsis: Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he crosses paths with the loudmouth Deadpool. They team up to defeat a common enemy.
There has been a lot of social media hype and even some backlash over another post-Avengers: Endgame entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Deadpool & Wolverine. Part of this is due to the abysmal run of Phase Five films, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and the atrocious The Marvels, which has left me still trying to get the bad taste out of my mouth.
So, sometimes, a world, or in this case, a studio, needs a hero. The type of hero that Bonnie Tyler would hold out for and wax poetic about. One that is going to be strong, going to be fast, and, goddamn it, one that is going to be fresh from the fight. That man is Ryan Reynolds, now free from the shackles of 20th Century Fox, to bring his endlessly creative, exceptionally clever, impossibly meta, and whip-smart comedic mind to save the MCU and bring back an old friend for the ride.
Forget the “Firenado” in Twisters, the war rig chase scene in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, those lovable minions in Despicable Me 4, or those falling Death Angels filling the New York City timeline in A Quiet Place: Day One. No, just give me Deadpool and Wolverine walking in slow motion a handful of times to the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Name” or Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” along with an adorable makeout session with the world’s ugliest pooch to make you forget life’s problems and giggle with (girlish or masculine) glee.
That’s the brilliance of Ryan Reynolds—a man who found a role that requires no shame and taps into the endlessly charming, self-deprecating humor that has made him a star. Trust me, Deadpool & Wolverine is the kind of injection of ballsy Canadian bravado that Marvel needs right now. It’s easily the funniest film of the year, and I’m not sure you’ll find a more entertaining one. At the very least, it aims to give you your money’s worth.
Do you not believe in the power of the comedic Canadian and Australian union? Well, I would love to tell you, but to avoid spoilers, here at InSession Film, we cannot reveal much (nor would I want to spoil the fun). What we can tell you is that Reynolds returns as Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool, and the story picks up six years after the regenerating degenerate retired to live a quiet life in 2018’s Deadpool 2. However, that is all about to change when the Time Variance Authority (TVA) pays him a visit.
Led by Paradox (Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen), he calls upon Deadpool to meet his destiny. Paradox is overseeing a secret project, attempting to speed up the death of the Earth-10005 universe by using a “Time Ripper,” a deadly device that kills off timelines. Suddenly, Wade finds himself fulfilling his destiny to save his friends. Yet, how does Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine fit into the equation? You’ll have to watch to find out, but the first act, a 30-minute exposition sequence, is a wild ride.
Directed by Shawn Levy, with a script from himself, Reynolds, original Deadpool scribe Rhett Reese, Zeb Wells (Robot Chicken), and Paul Wernick (making up for his hand in the atrocious Ghosted), Deadpool & Wolverine offers smart, dirty, irreverent fun. It is hard to believe how effortlessly the script integrates so many inside jokes, gags, and fourth-wall-breaking moments without feeling overstuffed. This is remarkable because having five names on a script usually means the film will be chaotic.
However, beneath all the bloodshed, variant Deadpools, dark and sarcastic wit, lack of conventional morality, and ethical ambiguity, the film knows what it’s doing and finds some unexpected heart behind one of the world’s greatest anti-heroes. Additionally, the reverence for the history of Marvel comics that Reynolds infuses into the script pairs naturally with his wry and dry sense of humor, which is delightfully mischievous.
For heaven’s sake, the humor is even incorporated in the film’s soundtrack, one of the year’s best, that’s utterly fantastic from start to finish.
This makes Deadpool & Wolverine the best Phase Five film and a savior in the post-pandemic Marvel era. In other words, praise Marvel Jesus. Ryan Reynolds has found the fun again and saved the comic book summer blockbuster with nostalgic fueled euphoria in the form of larger than life heroes.
