The MCU Multiverse Movie I’ve Been Waiting For

Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine is a movie close to 25 years in the making, ever since Hugh Jackman first donned the black leather suit and adamantium claws to play Wolverine in 2000’s X-Men. While Ryan Reynolds was a more recent addition to 20th Century Fox’s X-Men franchise, he became so synonymous with the Deadpool character that I’m certain I’m not alone in believing he would be nearly impossible to recast. Instead of going the recasting route, Deadpool & Wolverine utilizes the multiverse to not only explain their joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but offer an exceptionally fun buddy comedy.

The plot of Deadpool & Wolverine is somehow both convoluted and basic. The movie is essentially a buddy road trip story that’s complicated by multiverse politics and red herrings. The TVA, introduced and explored through two seasons of Loki, plucks Deadpool from his timeline and tells him his universe is in trouble. Instead of working with TVA agent Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), Deadpool looks for help from one of the multiverse’s Wolverines. Since they’ve both gone rogue, the TVA banishes them to The Void — the multiverse’s trash heap — where they face Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin).

Deadpool & Wolverine Is Shameless Fan Service

The movie is a glut of Marvel cameos, references and Easter eggs

Look, I’m not going to sit here and say Deadpool & Wolverine is a “good” movie. The character development is thinly drawn at best, often taking a backseat to multiverse shenanigans. There’s still an emotional throughline, as Deadpool searches for a purpose that’ll make him matter — all to impress Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), because he’s ultimately a selfish character. The new Wolverine has a barely touched tragic backstory to justify his anger issues. Everyone else in the Deadpool & Wolverine cast is a largely one-dimensional character, existing simply to serve the plot or get a cheer from the crowd.

But that’s not why you go to see Deadpool & Wolverine — and it’s certainly not why I enjoyed the movie. Deadpool & Wolverine is a love letter to Marvel movies of the last 30 years, and I love those movies. I grew up watching the X-Men movies, and had to sit through the franchise fizzling out while enduring the false starts of The Fantastic Four. Deadpool & Wolverine gave me closure. The film is the ultimate fan service movie, couched in an odd-couple team-up. It’s Fox’s version of Avengers: Endgame, rendered through the playful and crude lens of Deadpool.

Deadpool & Wolverine is best enjoyed by someone with a deep, enduring love for Marvel movies; as a result, the film sometimes leaves casual fans in the dust. The last three decades hold a lot of Marvel movie lore, and even those who have seen every movie referenced by Deadpool & Wolverine may be confused by some of the real-world callbacks. Thankfully, the movie strikes a good balance between very deep cuts and more general pop culture references. Still, this is very much the kind of movie where it’s better to do your homework if you want to appreciate everything.

Deadpool & Wolverine Is Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman At Their Superhero Best

Both actors remind us why their Marvel characters have endured and remained beloved

Considering both superheroes are in the title of the movie, it should come as no surprise that Deadpool & Wolverine hinges on Reynolds and Jackman. It’s clear from their performances that they gave 110% to this movie, and had a ton of fun filming it. Reynolds’ fast-talking, rude-mouthed superhero pairs well with the gruff, straight man stoicism of Jackman’s Wolverine; the actors’ comedic chemistry shines in every scene they’re in. It’s the team-up I’ve been waiting for between these two characters since they first appeared onscreen together in 2009.

What heart Deadpool & Wolverine has is entirely because of Reynolds and Jackman. It’s obvious they care about these characters just as much, if not more, than we do, and they put their entire hearts and souls into their performances. It’s the only reason the moments of genuine emotion — few and far between as they are — have the weight needed to land properly. Though Wolverine’s backstory is thinly sketched, Jackman’s performance is layered enough to be compelling. And Reynolds brings enough depth to Deadpool that the character becomes more than a trite joke machine.

The rest of the cast also look like they had a blast filming Deadpool & Wolverine. Macfadyen and Corrin are both fun as villains, even if they do fall a bit into the MCU trap of being rather one-note. Additionally, all the actors who have cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine seem to relish showing up in the movie, making their appearances, whether brief or more substantial, all the more enjoyable.

Ultimately, Deadpool & Wolverine is a movie made to be a crowd-pleaser, and it succeeds in that respect. It puts the Marvel multiverse to work, using the concept in smart, economical ways to include references that run the gamut. It may not work for everyone, but after a few multiverse disappointments, Deadpool & Wolverine far exceeded my expectations.

Deadpool & Wolverine starts playing in theaters Thursday afternoon, July 25. It is 127 minutes long and rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references.

A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.

Pros

• Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman are at their superhero best.
• The action is thrilling and exciting.
• Tons of multiverse cameos and references for all kinds of fans.

Cons

• Weak character development and one-note villains.
• Some not-so-great CGI in places.