Ryan Shoots First: Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine is truly a once-in-a-lifetime movie. The various factors both within and out of the industry are key to it working. The swings it takes, the shots it takes, and the jokes it makes only land in the current time, in the current climate and in the current state of the MCU. If it comes out 3 years ago it’s too soon and in another 3 years, it will have been too late. It’s rare to be sitting in the theater and seeing something that is such a product of it’s time. Much of that is made possible by Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox. DP and Wolvy is a love letter to the early 2000’s Fox movies many of us grew up on. Before there was the MCU there was this mixed bag of good-to-trash X-Men films, bad CGI, Affleck Daredevil and Elektra, Reynolds in Blade and X-men and spin-offs that never really went anywhere… oh and that last Fant4astic film. Without giving too much away there are plenty of callbacks and cameos but due to the very notion of Deadpool and his fourth wall breaking they all work in the story and instead of taking you out actually add to the absurdity of it all.
But don’t think it’s all F-bombs and sexual innuendo (of which there is a lot) the story itself is full of heart and redemption for characters we’ve been rooting for for a while. Hugh Jackman is having a ball as Wolverine. While you know what you are getting with Ryan Reynolds DP, this is the Wolverine we always wanted to see Hugh play. Unburdened by a PG-13 rating he can slash, stab, and curse to his heart’s content. He and Reynolds have this amazing buddy cop dynamic and when you add that they are two of the biggest screw-ups, two of the most brutal heroes, and also two that physically can’t die, it makes for some entertaining scenes. If you were worried about how Disney would handle the R rating have no fears. This film exists in a Tasmanian Devil smoke tornado of blood, blades, and bullets (I hope they put that on the back of the Blu-ray).
It wouldn’t be an MCU review without talking about the greater story of the MCU and the fun part is this is kinda a self-contained story. It does require the current multiverse/timeline shenanigans of the MCU for the plot but other than some soft nods to what lies next no real stinger, who knows where we go next, and with this being the only MCU film this entire calendar year it feels like there is some talks behind the scenes about where to go next. And yes Deadpool makes plenty of reference to the perceived current state of the MCU. I would say the chaos of Deadpool with the careful planning of Marvel Studios makes a great paring. Fox wasn’t always known for really having much of a plan. Kinda like a pro wrestler who may have a ton of really good ideas but without an experienced booker to filter out the good ones and refine them you really just end up being Chris Jericho in AEW.
So it’s time for Deadpool to save the MCU, Wolverine, and the theatre industry with about 6 different popcorn buckets. Pick your favorite, hope some Gen Z kids don’t record the whole thing on their phone and see this film before social media ruins all the surprises.
