Review | Deadpool & Wolverine: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are Marvel's new 'messiahs' 

Deadpool & Wolverine Reviews: It's been a while since Marvel Cinematic Universe came out with a big-budget superhero film and even longer since Deadpool came on the big screen and alarmingly long since we saw Hugh Jackman play the iconic Logan on screen, which makes the director Shawn Levy's Deadpool & Wolverine a highly anticipated film. It is also a film with the Merc with a Mouth anti-hero joining the Marvel universe at a time when the studio is desperately trying to get back on its feet amid superhero fatigue post the exit of the Avengers in 2018. Stakes are high naturally but does the film deliver? Let's find out.

Deadpool & Wolverine Reviews

The good news is that Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool is unarguably the funniest superhero we have got so far. This is the third film in the Deadpool franchise and Reynolds has not lost his sheen.

Reynolds serves as the writer along with Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Zeb Wells and the team keeps the essence of Deadpool- with self-deprecating humour- alive throughout. With innumerable pop culture references, taking jabs at almost every production house and recent popular films, Deadpool remains true to its style of dark and meta humour.

From 20th Century Fox to MCU to its current status amid superhero fatigue to Disney's decision to buy Fox, to Mad Max and IP infringement to even sly digs at competitor DC's Batman, Deadpool does not spare anyone and we aren't complaining. Playing ice to Deadpool's fiery jab is Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. A man riddled with guilt and one who prefers to drown himself in alcohol than listen to his partner's banters, Wolverine is strikingly different from Deadpool and perhaps that's why the frenemies click.

What is the story? (Deadpool & Wolverine)

Without giving out spoilers, Time Variance Authority's Agent Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) has summoned Deadpool to get the timeline fixed. He is told that his entire existence, including that of his loved ones, will cease to exist if he doesn't step up and fix it. Having been rejected by Avengers and X-Men from joining their forces, Wade Wilson is keen to make a superheroic difference and hence grabs the opportunity. He needs Wolverine to help him set things straight though. Deadpool travels multiverses in search of Logan and gets the most dejected version available. 

Reluctant at first, Wolverine aka Logan eventually joins Deadpool to save the world and also to redeem himself of guilt of his deeds from the past. But the frenemies find themselves at loggerheads more often than join hands and save the world. They need to fight not only together to save the world from extinction but also abort the evil plans of Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) who rules a dystopian Mad-max esque area called the Void but now wants to manipulate the timeline and use it for her convenience. 

Deadpool & Wolverine Official Trailer

The essence of Deadpool is still intact

It's been a while since I had fun watching a superhero film and laughed out at the innumerable. Since it is a superhero film with Logan as one of the main protagonists, there are certain emotional scenes as well but director Shawn Levy keeps it mostly light and simple which in turn makes Deadpool & Wolverine a blast. 

Reynolds still hasn't lost his touch as the Merch to mouth hero, desperately trying to fit in and be accepted. Reynolds's banters, with dollops of self-deprecating, snarky humour makes the film delightful. Hugh Jackman brings in heft with his Wolverine act once again. The two balance the film's narrative well. One with his motormouth, the other with his brooding silence. The two actors are known to be friends off-screen and thanks to their social media posts, one knows that the two share great camaraderie. It was just a matter of time till it was tapped by a filmmaker and Levy does just that, making Reynold the brat of course and giving the legacy-filled character sketch to Jackman. 

What does not work

There was a time when superhero films evoked all sorts of emotions within the viewers. The emotional highs and lows were an integral part of superhero films despite the predictability. Sadly, amid all the humour, and jabs at Marvel, Disney, and Fox, the emotional connect in Deadpool & Wolverine is much less in comparison to other films. There is no emotional high at any point of the story and the climax seemed too convenient and hastily put together. Levy, Reynolds, and a team of writers may have been aware of the huge responsibility they bore while they planned the third part of the Deadpool franchise. While the film addresses Marvel's dismal performance in the last few years and the hilarious project of Deadpool as the messiah, it never really goes the extra mile in storytelling. Moments in Avengers, and X-Men films always induced goosebumps, unfortunately, Deadpool & Wolverine do not do that. 

Apart from the jokes, the *NSYNC songs, the incredible cameos, the 1990s reference and a beautiful montage of all the X-Men movies right from the beginning till now - make Deadpool & Wolverine truly worth your time. The film works for these aspects- Reynold's comic timing and Jackman's overall presence. 

At one point in the film, Deadpool calls himself a Marvel Jesus. He isn't too wrong. Deadpool & Wolverine has the potential to bring back Marvel Cinematic Universe's lost glory. 

Deadpool & Wolverine releases in cinemas on July 26.