Deadpool & Wolverine review: This time, the MCU is the villain

As a longtime fan of the Merc with a Mouth, I was excited to see Deadpool and Wolverine team up on the big screen once again. But after watching Deadpool & Wolverine, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. The film missed the mark for me in several ways.

As a Deadpool fan, I’ll admit that playing his defender can be quite a challenge. The character is often portrayed in media as an anti-hero with a penchant for excessive violence and immature humor, which can be off-putting to some. I get it, the constant meta references and crude jokes aren’t for everyone. But there’s a depth to Deadpool that goes beyond his irreverent exterior. He carries a deep sense of pathos that has resulted in some oddly endearing stories about characters who feel unlovable. That emotional territory is a powerful one for a summer blockbuster to explore.

Look at that, I made a reference! Just like Deadpool! I can swear like him, too.

As a longtime fan of Marvel Comics and someone who has closely followed the development of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on the big screen, I must share my perspective on the recent film “Deadpool & Wolverine.” While some have labeled it as an MCU story due to its inclusion of characters from this cinematic universe, I strongly disagree with this assessment.

Before it all unfolds, the tale initiates in Deadpool’s distinct corner of the multiverse, which is perishing. Seized by the Time Variance Authority from “Loki,” Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Reynolds) discovers his universe is waning, a consequence of Wolverine’s demise at the conclusion of 2017’s “Logan.” This demise makes Wolverine an “anchor being,” someone whose absence causes their timeline to crumble. However, TVA agent Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) reveals that Deadpool has been deemed exceptional and will be rescued from his deteriorating timeline, transferring him to the MCU. Unfortunately, this salvation does not apply to the close-knit family Deadpool has amassed throughout his previous films.

In the case of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” this production faces an initial challenge: it comes with an intricate backstory and a wealth of narrative complications already in place. This may not pose a problem if the filmmakers, led by director Shawn Levy and his writing team, aim to satirize convoluted superhero narratives. However, it does create difficulties when attempting to elicit the necessary emotional depth that is essential to Deadpool’s character development. For me, the specifics of time travel or multiverse mechanics in this film, as well as the plot’s causal sequence, are not crucial to my enjoyment. It seems that the five credited writers—Levy, Reynolds, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells—may share a similar attitude towards these intricacies.

I take great interest in the film, yet I’m concerned when the confusion over the characters’ connections impacts the movie’s emotional depth. In “Deadpool & Wolverine,” we don’t get a clear sense of where Wade stands with his friends and relationships (for an unexplained reason, he seems estranged from his ex-girlfriend Vanessa, portrayed by Morena Baccarin). Consequently, Deadpool’s strong desire to accomplish something meaningful appears aimless. He remains unchanged throughout the film’s duration of two hours and seven minutes, making him a static character rather than one who undergoes significant growth or development.

Maybe it’s due to the fact that the film heavily relies on Wade’s co-star, Logan (played by Hugh Jackman), to carry much of its emotional burden. In “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Logan initially appears as part of Wade’s harebrained plan to save his universe. If Logan serves as a anchor point in Wade’s timeline, he reasons, then Wade can search other universes for a new one. The Logan that Wade ultimately encounters is more damaged than the one portrayed in previous X-Men films, and a significant portion of the movie’s runtime is dedicated to exploring this damage. This seems like an inefficient use of both Wade’s time and ours, as Logan has already had extensive exposure in prior X-Men movies. While Logan brings enjoyable moments to the film, his impact on its emotional development feels like borrowed emotional weight from the Spider-Man: No Way Home example.

The film takes a humorous approach to poking fun at Disney, Marvel, and Kevin Feige’s involvement in the MCU, with Deadpool and Wolverine’s antics serving as the comedic anchor. From the outset, Disney and Marvel are portrayed as the thematic targets, making it easy for the jokes to land without needing extensive character development. The profanity and violence can be seen as just par for the course in a Disney movie, as we recall Deadpool’s infamous pegging scene from the first film – funded by none other than Mickey Mouse himself! And let us not forget that the film’s villains are a direct result of Marvel’s corporate power.

In the final part, Deadpool and Wolverine come close to discovering something intriguing. The major portion of the movie unfolds in The Void, a chaotic purgatory governed by Cassandra Nova, the formidable telepath and sinister sister of X-Men’s Charles Xavier (Emma Corrin). This anarchic realm, ruled by Disney after their acquisition of 20th Century Fox, is a melting pot for misfit heroes and villains from various film studios. If you’re familiar with Deadpool and Wolverine’s numerous cameos and guest roles, this is where they originate: an entertaining take on the consolidation of corporations.

In their battle against Cassandra and their attempt to leave The Void, Logan and Wade are simultaneously trying to exit the remnants of, for instance, the 20th Century Fox X-Men universe. However, the storyline and its comedic elements undermine Deadpool’s character, limiting the depth of his emotional resonance. Despite his jibes at the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Deadpool cannot help but measure himself against it, referring to himself as “Marvel Jesus” in this film. Regardless of his universe’s outcome, Wade yearns for significance – a way of expressing his desire to become a part of the MCU and its influence being the only thing that truly matters within this narrative framework.

As a long-time fan of the edgy and irreverent Deadpool character, I was initially excited about the prospect of seeing him team up with Wolverine on the big screen. However, after watching “Deadpool & Wolverine,” I couldn’t help but feel disappointed and disillusioned.

The team-up of Deadpool and Wolverine has given us a comic book hero with an unfortunate trait: he doesn’t represent anything noteworthy. This is quite ironic. Initially, fans feared that Disney’s ownership and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s strict storyline guidelines would dilute Deadpool’s unique qualities, such as his profanity and violent humor. However, it seems those elements were left intact. Instead, the MCU removed something more essential: Deadpool’s heart.

I told you I could swear like that cheeky bastard.

Deadpool & Wolverine debuts in theaters July 25.

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2024-07-24 01:49