Review: Deadpool & Wolverine

Reel Impressions is The NewsHouse’s weekly film review. Contributors Francesco Desiderio and Travis Newbery cover everything from new releases to trending classics. 

Deadpool & Wolverine, the most recent mega-blockbuster from Marvel Studios, was an undeniable success for Disney and an instant fan favorite. Filled to the brim with bloody action, swear words and theater-wide laughs, this was a brave new step for the traditionally family-friendly Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Fortunately, this big chance was rewarded with about $1.3 billion at the box office and counting, rocketing the third entry in the Deadpool franchise to the second-highest-grossing movie of 2024 thus far. As the MCU’s first R-rated entry, this film also sets the milestone of being the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. Director Shawn Levy and producer, writer and actor Ryan Reynolds delivered a unique and meaningful story while still playing by the rules set by the current corporate nature of the MCU and Disney. 

Deadpool & Wolverine was driven by the unique and energetic characters, and it would not have been possible without the stellar lead actors. With a cast composed of big names like Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman alone, Marvel Studios knew this film would be a hit from the conceptual stage. 

Aside from the top-billed actors, a standout performance that I greatly enjoyed was Matthew Macfayden as Mr. Paradox, a secondary villain role that Macfayden brought a fun and lighthearted attitude to. In such an established franchise, his acting contributed new energy that I thought fit very well into the tone of the film. 

Great performances like these are what drives this film, but coupled with an addicting soundtrack, large action set pieces, and eye-catching art direction, Deadpool & Wolverine shines in many categories. 

The return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine was highly anticipated by many fans but worried others due to his emotional death scene and send-off in 2017’s Logan, which marked the end of Jackman’s then 17-year run as the character. 

Deadpool & Wolverine opens with Deadpool using the decayed skeleton of Wolverine to battle countless enemies, which bothers some viewers as their beloved hero and X-Men franchise icon is seen being dug up and tossed around. However, I think it was a funny gag, a great segue between films and it led to one of, if not the best, action sequences in the entire film, starting off the well-paced runtime with a bang. 

Another gripe that I shared with many viewers was the amount of “homework” required before watching certain films nowadays. To understand all the jokes and references in Deadpool & Wolverine requires viewers to watch over 20 years’ worth of films and TV. This fan-service and “multiverse” theme, although popular and lucrative, has a bad impact on film as an art form. This film, for better or for worse, is a prime example of the commercialization of film. 

One larger issue that I had with Deadpool & Wolverine was its dependence on interconnected projects. It had a major plot point and setting that was completely reliant on a single episode in the first season of another MCU show, Loki (2021), that is only viewable on the paid subscription service Disney+. 

Ironically, Deadpool calls attention to this in the film with his signature fourth-wall-breaking jokes. He jabs at the brief appearance of a minor villain with zero dialogue and his between-worlds domain, further showing the absurdity of both being included in this film in such a big plot point. 

Due to this fact and the recent superhero fatigue among audiences, I am surprised at the exponential box office numbers that this film received despite the MCU’s massive following. Fortunately, beneath all the connecting franchises and past lore, a great buddy-cop action movie shines brightly. 

If Marvel and movie fans alike are willing to do the homework or are already caught up, this will be a greatly enjoyable film and theater experience and will bring a reignited love for Marvel movies that seems to have been lost in recent years. For the viewers who are not caught up on the decades-long story, this film is still one to see with your friends in a packed theater. 

I guarantee any viewer will enjoy many good laughs and unapologetic action and might even tear up by the end. I would recommend Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine to anyone looking for an over-the-top, hilarious, R-rated action movie. Whether you are a fan of the MCU or not, this film is guaranteed to deliver a great time at the theater.