Deadpool & Wolverine: Movie Review

The Merc with the Mouth is finally back! And he's got his best friend (from the comics) with him, one he's mentioned with thinly veiled envy since the first one premiered in cinemas in 2016. Just like that first one was released on Valentine's Day as a love story,  "Deadpool & Wolverine" arrived just in time for Friendship Day as perhaps a buddy movie of the ages. Ever since the first news dropped about Hugh Jackman reprising the role of Wolverine in a team-up for the next Deadpool movie, the anticipation from fans across bases was tense, and the build-up was worth it as this movie delivers everything needed for the full climax.



The third instalment of Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool movies comes on the back of Disney acquiring Fox Studios and thus allowing previously IP-locked characters from the MARVEL comics to finally appear side-by-side, and Ryan aka Wade makes sure the viewers know about that too. There's one keyword that explains the plot - the Marvel cinematic multiverse, or MCM. That's what allows Deadpool to work around the poignant ending we got for the iconic metal-claw-brandishing anti-hero, Wolverine, in the 2017 flick - Logan.

Everything going forward in this review contains *SPOILERS* so, skip to the final para for the rating if you still have not seen the movie yet.

 The closing scenes of Deadpool 2 show Wade Wilson using Cable's time travel doohickey to "correct" many errors of the past, including the death of his dearly beloved Vanessa. Viewers of the other MCM movies will know that is not something that gets overlooked, especially by the agency that was introduced in the online series Loki, called the Time Variance Authority or TVA for short. They're essentially there to stop anyone from meddling with reality too much by hopping across different timelines and universes. Turns out the death of the Wolverine in Wade Wilson's universe was causing his entire timeline to die. While that would usually take a few millennia, an overzealous middle manager called Mr Paradox at the TVA finds it better to expedite the process and end the whole reality in a matter of days using a special machine meant to be used only in extraordinary circumstances. However, Deadpool gets a chance to switch universes and pursue his dream of being in the Avengers before his world gets a premature death. Of course, Wade hears all of it but instead concludes that he needs to steal the Wolverine of another timeline to save his own.

Cue the montage and we're treated to a host of Wolverines paying homage to the versions showcased in the comics before we get the one that Wade can drag along for his adventure. The only spoiler for this one is already there in the trailers - he wears the iconic yellow suit!!!

The movie is packed full of hilarious quips, insults, innuendos and fourth wall breaks courtesy of Ryan, I mean Deadpool, while Logan brings the violence, glistening muscles, and general badassery. Together, they make sure the movie earned its R-rating and is thoroughly entertaining. The extra budget definitely improved the action sequences too which are plenty bloody and deliver on most expectations.  And yet, one of the best fight sequences involves a Honda minivan.

*END OF SPOILERS*

Those who have followed the Marvel mutant characters on the silver screen over the past 20 years or so are treated to a long list of cameos and tongue-in-cheek gags, and only a few miss the mark. Big shoutout to Director Shawn Levy and the writers for bringing this long-awaited team-up to life with such excellent execution.

"Deadpool & Wolverine" is a prime example of fan service done correctly. After all, Ryan and Hugh are massive fans of the characters they play and it shows in their chemistry. This movie has those moments that make fans whoop and yell in joy while also giving casual viewers a good look at the phenomenally designed superhero costumes.  Another key element in this movie is the soundtrack. These are songs many Marvel movie fans would have never heard of, but all of them are somehow just perfect. From the opening titles to the epic finale, those tracks will stay in your head for weeks if not months after you watch the movie.



I actually watched the movie twice (on the same day) to be certain of how much I liked it. I can't wait for it to come to streaming platforms so I can enjoy it a bunch more times as well.

Time for the final movie rating for "Deadpool & Wolverine", and I give it 9 out of 10 chimichangas. That's as a fan of the characters and superhero genre as a whole. But if I had to separate those biases from the review, I'd score it at around 7 out of 10 dog treats.

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