REVIEW BY: Darren Zakus - 7/25/24

RATING 5 out of 5

Deadpool & Wolverine will forever be remembered as the crowning jewel of Ryan Reynolds’ career with this glorious and hilarious love letter to the Marvel Fox era anchored by the sensational pairing of Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, making for one of Marvel’s best films to date!

For years fans have watched the social media war between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman rage on, occasionally with some help from Blake Lively, fueling the desire to see these two actors share the screen as Deadpool and Wolverine in the R rated format that they deserve. When it was announced back in 2017 that The Walt Disney Company was acquiring 21st Century Fox that included Marvel characters such as the X-Men, Deadpool and the Fantastic Four, fans feared that we would never see this team up as it seemed unlikely Disney would not embrace the R-rated nature that made the first two Deadpool films runaway hits at the box office or want to continue iterations of these characters from the Fox films but instead move to recast them for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But Kevin Feige heard fans cries and is not only officially welcoming Deadpool into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the third film in the series, but giving audiences the long anticipated Deadpool and Wolverine team up with Deadpool & Wolverine. Within seconds of the film starting, it's clear that despite joking in the trailer that Feige had off limit rules for this film, Reynolds and team were given the keys to the kingdom to create this marvelous, meta-filled sequel that is not only the best of the three Deadpool films, but Reynolds’ and Jackman’s valiant effort to save superhero cinema from extinction… and it more than accomplishes exactly that!

Not much can be said about the story of Deadpool & Wolverine without getting into spoilers, because there is good reason so much of the film has been shrouded in secrecy. It is everything you would expect from the first Disney produced Deadpool film, with the Merc with a Mouth taking multiple shots at Disney, Kevin Feige, his fellow co-stars, and really anyone who is ripe for a bashing, in what can only be described as the buddy cop film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From a narrative perspective, if X-Men: Days of Future Past was a love letter to the X-Men series, Deadpool & Wolverine is a love letter to the Marvel Fox era that began back in 2000 and has seen many iconic characters be brought to life on the big screen. As expected, there are cameos galore, but instead of being merely a quick appearance for a fan service moment, each cameo plays an important role in the film’s story over multiple scenes, ensuring that the film is one thrilling, hilarious and ultimately emotional spectacle that is without a question one of the most crowd pleasing superhero films since Avengers: Endgame. With Hugh Jackman’s Logan returning after he was so beautifully killed off in Logan, the film respects that incredible ending but finds the perfect reason for Jackman to take up the claws again (and finally wear that comic accurate suit!) within the story, but also giving Logan a moving character arc over the course of the film that reminds you why Jackman’s Logan is still one of the greatest superhero casting choices ever made. It truly is the type of film that you want to experience with a sold out crowd in theatres, without anything being spoiled, as audiences are going to be laughing out loud in, cheering, and applauding in unison from start to finish.

For years, Reynolds has been making audiences laugh hysterically, but he has reached new heights with his work in this film. Once again wearing that red suit so you can’t see him bleed, the jokes that Reynolds unleash truly showcase his comedic talents, while pouring his heart and soul into the journey Wade undergoes over the course of the film, seeing him become a hero worthy of being an Avenger. Seeing Jackman back once again on the big screen as Logan is a true treat, and his performance once again is incredible. Playing a different variant of Logan with a darker past, Jackman taps into that yearning and heartbreak that he brought to Logan, creating one beautiful arc over the course of the film, proving that he should never stop playing this beloved character when handed the right script. But Reynolds and Jackman as a duo, well… it may just be one of the greatest comedic pairings to ever grace the silver screen. The hurling insults at each other, bloody scarps and comedic banter they find is infectious, ensuring that there are countless moments of unabashed, pure joy throughout the film. Matthew McFayden and Emma Corrin make their Marvel debuts as Paradox and Cassandra Nova respectively, and while they are not the most developed villains in the franchise, the two of them serve up wonderful supporting performances that ensures they are everything the film needs and so much more. The supporting players from the first two Deadpool films return, and while it's a delight to see them all return, they play more minor roles in this film as Deadpool and Wolverine embark on their romp through the multiverse. And those cameos, well it’s everything fans will want!

The Deadpool films have always had excellent soundtrack selections, but the choices for Deadpool & Wolverine are without doubt the cream of the crop. Every song perfectly fits the emotion of the story during the scene in which it plays, with the variety of songs that are selected having no bounds ranging from showtunes, fan favourite pop hits and to classic songs from the 1960s and 70s. But it is the use of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” as teased during the film’s trailer that makes for the best needle drop of the entire film, energizing one of the film’s biggest set pieces to give it that truly epic feeling that will leave viewers cheering.