Deadpool & Wolverine brings Deadpool and Wolverine into the MCU in style as Marvel Studios delivers the ultimate team-up of the century.

To say that the film lived up to my expectations is not an understatement. It did all that and more as it brought a smile to my face. The film more than makes up for the fact that I cannot watch the previous two Deadpool films these days. I’m going to have quite a bit to say below the film’s logo (no major spoilers here) but there is a post-credit scene. Not only that but there’s a reel paying tribute to Fox’s Marvel films that runs during the credits.

 

The gist of the film is that the Time Variance Authority (TVA) brings in Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) because his universe–Earth-10005–is dying. Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfayden) informs Wade that it’s because of the universe losing its anchor. None other than fan-favorite James “Logan” Howlett/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), one of the best to come out of Canada. Wade does what he does best. He hits up the multiverse to find a Logan that can save his. Cue up the montage of Wolverine variants and plenty of easter eggs to bring fans the oddest of odd couples to hit the screen in one of the best road trip movies–so to speak–of all time.

There are cameos and they are just absolutely awesome. Especially REDACTED. I started howling from the minute REDACTED showed up. We knew some of the cameos and of course, trailers just absolutely ruin some surprises. How a number of them did not leak is beyond me. I’m all the better for it because they are some of the best parts of the film and work in service to the story. They are not in the film for some mere gimmick. I would say more but I really do not want to spoil. Maybe in a few days when more people see the film. I just love how they generally incorporate Deadpool into the overall MCU. This will be a spoiler to anyone that did not see the first trailer but having some understanding of Loki is essential to the film because of both the Time Variance Authority and the Void.

I’ve had high expectations ever since Hugh Jackman announced his return as Wolverine. Following 2017’s Logan, I never thought I’d see the day. They don’t dishonor anything that happened in the film. Because of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s R-rating, we’re seeing Logan like never before and in his comics-accurate costume previously teased in X-Men. It’s hard to believe that he’s been playing the role for a quarter-century but he doesn’t miss a beat here. Sorry to disappoint any fans of The Music Man but no, Hugh Jackman does not break out into showtunes.

The classic Deadpool humor doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to the meta commentary and breaking the fourth wall. I’m not sure which scenes were filmed during the writers strike and which were picked up after the fact but there’s not a joke here that misses. Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and company absolutely nail the landing. Marvel itself takes a few hits for the state it is in after Avengers: Endgame. The film probably won’t do Endgame numbers but it’ll probably be the best MCU outing in five years if I have to guess.

Deadpool & Wolverine not only delivers the team-up of the century but the best Marvel film in five years.

DIRECTOR: Shawn Levy
SCREENWRITERS: Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy
CAST: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen

Marvel Studios releases Deadpool & Wolverine in theaters on July 26, 2024. Grade: 5/5

Please subscribe to Dugout Dirt and Solzy at the Movies on Buttondown.