Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) – Film Review

Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Certificate: 15

By David Reid

The Marvel/X Men fans have been anticipating this summer release for some time. This is especially the case, given recent big screen disappointments featuring the Marvel universe – debatably since Avengers: Endgame, in 2019.

The premise for the film isn’t straightforward. Not least as Hugh Jackman’s Logan/The Wolverine character died at the end of the Logan movie, seven years ago. But this is sci-fi and even death can be overcome: here by a variant version of the same character. Wade Wilson/Deadpool is reprised by Ryan Reynolds.

The movie opens with Deadpool offering an update of the film franchise rights ownership changes. Although it could be said that this is not the strongest opening ostensibly aimed at the uninitiated, it is perhaps primarily designed to establish his credentials with fans of the Marvel Studios movies; ensuring they are onside from the start.

“Cartoonish”

At this point, Deadpool and The Wolverine are living mundane civilian lives. An existential crisis, created by Succession‘s Matthew MacFadyen, in supreme panto villain mode, leads to Deadpool recruiting The Wolverine. Viewers of either of the previous two Deadpool films will be familiar with the close to the knuckle wisecracks, often delivered through he fourth wall, directly to the audience, to good effect.

Arguably the best lines fall to Deadpool and it may be no coincidence that he also shares writing and producing credits on this outing. Our eponymous heroes soon encounter Marvel’s Cassandra Nova Xavier (twin sister of Professor X/ Charles Xavier), in what is the first filmic appearance of the Marvel Comics character, powerfully played by the British actress, Emma Corrin.

Director/Writer Shawn Levy has strong sci-fi credits, including Stranger Things. As the battle scenes unfold, he ensures that there are thrills and daredevil stunts aplenty. The special effects are spectacular, especially in the action sequences. There are multiple violent scenes, although much of it is of a cartoonish nature. Any intent to shock appears to be ultimately intended for comedic purposes. Many of the action sequences are spectacular, particularly as the movie builds to the final confrontation.

“Acerbic”

Many of the set pieces play out to a soundtrack of mainly late 1970s and 80s pop classics. This strengthens the thematic tongue in cheek approach to the storyline and the action sequences. Deadpool and The Wolverine also engage in acerbic banter, where no subject appears to be off-limits, including the actors’ real-life circumstances. The leads are clearly enjoying themselves here, in what is essentially a sci-fi buddy movie. It could be said that the story is not overly well developed, although I’m sure that is unlikely to concern true fans.

Is it as much fun for the audience, as it seems to be for the lead actors? The box office takings, so far, are extremely positive. The studio recouped the production costs by the end of the first weekend in the US. Thanks to a run time of just over two hours, it avoids the numb bum syndrome of many predecessors in this genre. The cinema audience seemed well-engaged – especially when it came to the in-house series references, of which there were many.

There are further treats for fans of the franchise, with additional scenes during – and at the end of – the closing credits. In that sense, although its likely to be one of the highest-grossing movies of the year, it may well be less enjoyable for the casual viewer, than was the the case with previous Deadpool films, for instance. You pay your money and you take your choice.