When looking back at the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it feels as though it was a forgotten era. Since Avengers: Endgame dominated the box office and pop culture conversation in 2019, the MCU has felt lost. While there have been sprinkles of hope with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and No Way Home, the MCU seems to lack the connective tissue that made 2008-2019 such a formidable era for the studio and comic book films in general.
The idea of oversaturation comes into play with the overabundance of Marvel television series and three to four movies a year. However, the oversaturation wasn’t due to content quantity but to the feeling that Marvel became homework, removing the enjoyment and excitement cinephiles once felt. Mixing the lack of connective tissue with the feeling of watching homework with little to no payoff, the downturn in Marvel began.
As the calendar shifted to 2024, a new strategy commenced where only one film in the MCU would be released, sparking excitement unseen for a Marvel property in quite some time. What makes it easier for Kevin Feige and Disney’s new strategy is that the title is Deadpool & Wolverine, one of the most anticipated Marvel films in history and the first title to fully evoke the 20th Century Fox purchase.
Helmed by Shawn Levy, the Merc With A Mouth and the Uncanny Wolverine break the fourth wall in the Summer Blockbuster event of the year! Deadpool & Wolverine perfectly blends the frenetic energy and humor of Deadpool with the brooding tenacity of Wolverine to create an exhilarating cinematic ride through the Marvel Universe. Balancing fan service with a fresh, witty, and emotionally driven narrative, the film celebrates the best of both characters while reopening the possibilities of an MCU we can all root for once again.
Deadpool & Wolverine reenters Wade Wilson’s life six years after the events of Deadpool 2, as he’s left Deadpool behind and attempts to live a quiet, normal life. That is until the TVA arrives and pulls him back in, just when he thought he was out, on a mission and unexpected partnership with Wolverine as the duo attempt to save their universe from a catastrophic threat.
When seeing an array of writers on a film’s screenplay, it’s always questionable whether the ideas can come together into a cohesive narrative, but the combination of Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, and director Shawn Levy construct a script that’s a purposeful mess. Working with the convoluted multiverse saga, the screenplay embraces that idea, crafting an arc that’s both personal and grand. Diving into both Wade and Logan’s pasts and their evolving relationship, the screenplay adds an emotional weight that grounds what’s otherwise a grandiose comic book rollercoaster ride.
With unexpected twists, turns, and cameos, Deadpool & Wolverine’s screenplay also serves as a love letter to the 20th Century Fox era of Marvel. Sure, there were misfires during that era, but there’s no denying the impact 20th Century Fox had on the genre, including one of the most emotionally resonant films in genre history, Logan. It’s a fitting bow on an era that may be remembered more fondly upon the film’s conclusion.
Deadpool & Wolverine‘s heart and soul lie in the performances of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Tango and Cash – Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. The duo’s infectious chemistry jumps off the screen as their banter and camaraderie lead to some of the funniest moments within any MCU film to date. There’s no denying that Jackman and Reynolds were not just made to play these characters but made to work together for years to come.
Emma Corrin and Matthew Macfadyen are commendable in their supporting roles, with Corrin’s Cassandra Nova standing out. Corrin adds humanity and motivation to Nova, removing the “villain of the week” ideology of recent MCU villains and adding stakes to her role. Corrin’s blend of endearing and menacing is impossible to ignore.
Along with the performances, I found George Richmond’s cinematography to be a standout. Richmond’s lens captures the dystopian wasteland with a Mad Max flair while juxtaposing it with the colorful Marvel palette. With Marvel films recently criticized for their look, I found Deadpool & Wolverine to be one of the best-looking entries in the franchise in quite some time.
The needle drops teased prior to release are worth the price of admission. Similar to Sean Baker, Shawn Levy knows how to nail a needle drop opening. What could have been the highlight of the needle drops continues to elevate until a fitting Goo Goo Dolls and Madonna insert that is the chef’s kiss to the year’s best soundtrack.
Sure, the film won’t bring in new fans to the 40+ film/series franchise, but Deadpool & Wolverine is the spark this franchise desperately needed. It’s vulgar, bloody, and violent, and it closes the door on one era of Marvel while opening the door to something that’s been lacking in the MCU for quite some time: optimism.
