‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Is the Ultimate Superhero Movie Inside Joke

Superhero films didn’t start with Robert Downey Jr.’s memorable line “I am Iron Man.” There were successful hits, colossal failures, and multiple comic-book cinematic universes long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) took center stage. The history of Marvel movies is diverse, filled with complex copyright ownerships and licensing deals, until the visionary Kevin Feige, with enough backing from Disney, unified everything under one corporate umbrella.

The agreement between Marvel Studios and Sony regarding Spider-Man has benefited both companies and thrilled fans eager to see the Webslinger team up with MCU favorites. With Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, enthusiasts have been dreaming of a crossover between the Avengers and the mutants.

Ryan Reynolds, having portrayed the beloved Marvel character Deadpool in three films across two different franchises, understands the fan’s anticipation. Deadpool, known for his irreverent attitude, quick healing, and relentless chatter, was already popular among X-Men fans before Reynolds’ 2016 solo film. The character’s depiction in 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” was less than stellar, but the rebooted solo film was a hit.

The Deadpool movies delivered the expected blockbuster excitement while also poking fun at the superhero genre’s predictability. They entertained audiences without underestimating their intelligence and allowed Reynolds to lean into his irony-laden persona. The films succeeded commercially and set the stage for a crossover with another popular antihero.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” marks the introduction of these characters into the larger MCU, bringing a new level of superhero synergy. The film retains the ultraviolence, shock humor, and nihilism characteristic of Reynolds’ Deadpool, but now with the ability to reference Thor and Kevin Feige openly. Additionally, it reintroduces Hugh Jackman’s Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine, who returns for what Deadpool calls “the fun, the chaos, the residuals.”

Jackman had retired the character after the critically acclaimed 2017 film “Logan,” considered a high point for superhero movies. But with the concept of the multiverse and presumably a lucrative deal, both the mutant and the actor have made a comeback, much to the delight of fans.

The plot sees Deadpool uncovering Logan’s remains in a quest to save his universe, needing Logan’s abilities in the fight against interdimensional soldiers. Deadpool’s character once auditioned for the Avengers but failed. Years later, he has retired from his mercenary life and lives as a car salesman. Enter Paradox, a bureaucrat from the Time Variance Authority (TVA) who informs Deadpool that because Logan sacrificed himself, their reality is ending.

When given a chance to join the main MCU timeline, Deadpool is eager but won’t abandon his friends. Armed with a device to hop between worlds, he searches for a living Logan and eventually finds one resembling the early 2000’s version but more troubled. They team up, but Paradox still plans to erase their reality, sending them to a desolate place where failed franchises go to fade away.

The film is filled with Deadpool’s signature antics, including slaughtering foes to N’Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye” and numerous alt-Wolverine appearances. It dives deep into the meta aspects and engages in a lot of in-jokes and cameos tailored for die-hard fans.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” is a mix of R-rated comedy and a road movie, taking full advantage of its characters to critique superhero tropes. While it aims for irreverence and self-awareness, it sometimes delves too deeply into industry in-jokes, bordering on self-obsession.

Other multiverse-based films like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” have adeptly blended characters from different timelines, but “Deadpool & Wolverine” focuses more heavily on trivia and nostalgia. Although it offers late-stage action sequences and the joy of seeing Jackman reprise his role, it often feels like it’s missing a more profound creative spark.

After two hours of snark and visceral humor, the film offers a sentimental montage with clips from Fox’s superhero archives set to Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).” This scene aims to evoke nostalgia for Fox’s contributions to the superhero genre as they get absorbed into the larger MCU framework.

Source: Particle News