Ryan Reynolds (Free Guy) and Hugh Jackman (Swordfish) first shared screen time in 2009 in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Jackman portrayed the title character - a role he has embodied for the past 18 years - and Reynolds played Wade Wilson - a mutant mercenary who is manipulated by the leader of Team X, William Stryker (Danny Huston; The Aviator), and is turned into Weapon XI (also known as Deadpool) which is a mutant killing weapon with multiple mutant powers. This week the 15-year wait for fans is finally ending when Deadpool & Wolverine premieres in theaters worldwide.
The Merc with the Mouth was introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe via 20th Century Fox in 2016 and from the start, he was something different. Not born a mutant/superhero, Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Reynolds) gains his immortality through a freak accident. However, it's more of what he does with it rather than his ability itself that is what makes him so special. He has no problem telling it like it is and throwing in a curse word (or 8) that makes his films so much fun. With outrageous characters and one-liners that zing back and forth, he shakes up the MCU with his not-so-family-friendly, R-rated fare.
This third installment is no exception. Deadpool & Wolverine earns its R-rating within the first 5 minutes of the movie and doesn't let up for the next two hours. From blood and guts flying everywhere to thinly veiled...who are we kidding - blatantly obvious sexual innuendos, the writers have no problem insulting anyone and everyone in the audience. While most of the world was already aware of Deadpool's reputation (they don't call him the Marc with the Mouth for nothing) this third film cranks it up even higher by pairing him with the world's crankiest freak of nature - no, not The Hulk - Wolverine.
It has been long since established that Reynolds and Jackman are good friends in real life and take every opportunity they can to take jabs at one another in commercials and social media so putting them together was bound to be a treat. And it is comedic gold! While writers Reynolds, Rhett Reese (Zombieland), Paul Wernick (Zombieland), Zeb Wells (Robot Chicken), and Shawn Levy (Free Guy), who also directs, obviously gave their all putting this script together, it wouldn't have had the impact it does without these two gentlemen reciting their lines with perfect inflection and timing.
The rest of the cast includes familiar faces, such as Leslie Uggams (American Fiction) as Blind Al, Morena Baccarin (Gotham) as Wade's love, Vanessa, Rob Delaney (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One) as Peter, and Karan Soni (Office Christmas Party) as the stereotypical yet lovable taxi driver, Dopinder. Joining these Deadpool veterans are Emma Corrin (My Policeman) as the villainous Cassandra Nova and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession) as the TVA's Mr. Paradox and both are welcome additions.
Yes, you heard that correctly, Deadpool & Wolverine ties everything together by bringing television Loki's TVA into the mix, which of course means there are variant timelines and numerous Deadpools and Wolverines - all with their own flair and flavor. Without giving much away, we meet a variety of each with some hilarious results and we even spend some time in The Void, where people and things go to die. Taking Deadpool and Wolverine to another dimension (so to speak) was a brilliant way to bring them together and to give the franchise a fresh spin.
One can't watch this movie without laughing and inevitably audiences will need to watch it multiple times both in the theater and on streaming (with closed caption enabled) to catch all the jokes and cheap shots they take at Disney, other superhero franchises, actors, etc. as well as to see all the cameo appearances made by A and B list celebrities. And, as always, stay through the credits.
Grade: A-
