Deadpool & Wolverine

With Marvel struggling to keep its franchise afloat post Endgame in 2019, a new Deadpool film sounded like just the ticket to crack a few jokes at the expense of their new parent company with Disney having bought 20th Century Fox since the release of Deadpool 2. However, this was a foul-mothed character who murders his enemies with bullets and swords in a very bloody fashion and some wondered whether Disney would go down this route. But they now had two different Marvel universes to play with and with the Ryan Reynolds vehicle being so profitable, it would be foolish to water it down and so Deadpool & Wolverine was free to run wild in 2024. 

The story here sees Deadpool trying to save his universe from extinction by the Time Variance Authority with the help of Wolverine from another universe but they soon find themselves trapped on a planet /some form of limbo where it's occupied by more than just a few familiar faces. Now the "merc with a mouth" has to find a way back and save his timeline that contains everyone he cares about.

Directed by a newcomer to the franchise, Shawn Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine brings back many faces from the last film, packs plenty of inventive, violent action and some good jokes but it all feels very detached from the two films that came before. Deadpool's girlfriend is unceremoniously resurrected with a fleeting explanation and almost all the characters we had spent time with in the last two films are rarely seen in an exchange to see Deadpool finally fight with and alongside Wolverine. 

Despite diminishing a little bit of Logan's ending, Hugh Jackman is great as he reprises the role and works perfectly with Reynolds. Much of the supporting cast are a lot of fun to see in action too but the film loses points for me with a very forgettable villain. Deadpool 2 wasn't perfect but it had more substance than what we get here, which feels all too light and forgettable. There was an option to make this film happen and so Disney went ahead because money but they were missing some ingredients and didn't want this to interfere with their other projects so it feels like fast food. 

I did have fun watching Deadpool & Wolverine but it runs for too long and I just can't see myself wanting to rewatch this as I have done with the other films that carried more personality. This would make for perfect viewing on a plane or serve as background entertainment but I feel it had more potential.