After Disney bought Fox there was much worry over whether or not the MCU would continue any of the old
X-Men continuity or completely ignore it and start from scratch, but thankfully
Deadpool & Wolverine quelled those fears and then some. After Deadpool's time travel shenanigans from the end of his second film, which includes traveling to the main universe failing to join the Avengers, Wade has retired and lost his purpose. Wade is soon recruited by the TVA as he serves a purpose in a future conflict but when he learns that his universe is planned to be erased due to his Wolverine's death, Deadpool suits up again and rebels against them to save it. Believing that getting a new Wolverine would help, the Merc with a Mouth travels the multiverse, finds and gets beaten by various Wolverines, finds one with a dark past, ends up in the Void, runs into other Deadpools, recruits fallen heroes, and takes on the twin sister of a version of Professor X. If one thinks this movie is way over the top, has glaring story problems with a rather thin plot, is overstuffed with cameos and references, and over relies on fan service, then you're right but it does it all in a very on the nose and self aware way. Director Shawn Levy, who also cowrote with Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells, still gives this entry the series's familiar over the top violence, crude humor, and fourth wall breaking and meta style while adding his own distinctive inventive action scenes. The writers knew that for a movie that is meant to pay homage to the Marvel films that Fox produced you have to make an absolutely wild and unhinged movie that would also befit the MCU's first R rating. Yes, some of the writing has large plot holes and certain story decisions just feel like an excuse for certain moments to happen for the sake of happening, but it's done so cleverly, quick, and entertaining that one can overlook it knowing what kind of movie it's being. Although the one flaw with the writing that certainly cannot be overlooked that hasn't improved from Deadpool's first two films is that Vanessa is once again relegated to such a small role and splitting them up until the end. What adds to the wild and fun style is the mixture between Rob Simonsen's playful original score and the use of popular songs for each action scene that really fits with both the type of action and how it relates to the story itself within. Ryan Reynolds has not lost his touch in playing Wilson despite the six year gap, while Hugh Jackman manages to return with a bang after saying he had retired the role in 2017. While it's not the same version as his original, Jackman has a good mixture of familiarity while having small nuances to show some slight differences. But the aspect that is the essential driving force behind this movie is the buddy trip chemistry between Jackman and Reynolds that is just absolute perfection. The rest of the cast excel just as well, whether they be entirely new, the regulars who return from the previous films, or even long awaited returns of actors who had last played well known characters years or even decades before. Sometimes it's okay if a plot is a bit convoluted just to get the story moving, and while
Deadpool & Wolverine is one of those films it at least manages to be an engaging, self aware, and absolute joy ride with a wonderful tribute during the credits. Over all: 100%
2024 top list so far:
1. Dune: Part 2
2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
3. Deadpool & Wolverine
4. A Quiet Place: Day One
5. Inside Out 2
6. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
7. The Fall Guy
8. MaXXXine
9. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
10. Abigail
11. Monkey Man
12. Late Night with the Devil
13. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
14. The Book of Clarence
15. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
16. Drive-Away Dolls
17. Kung Fu Panda 4
18. Lisa Frankenstein
18. Argylle
20. Mean Girls 2024
