The Odd Couple
Directed by Shawn Levy
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Matthew Macfadyen
Released July 26th, 2024
Rated R
I am not a fan of the comic book character Deadpool, the “Merc with a Mouth”, created in 1990 by talented writer Fabian Nicieza and mediocre artist Rob Liefeld. The comics follow the fourth-wall breaking exploits of Wade Wilson, a healing-factor enhanced mercenary known as Deadpool. There are readers who love the jokey tone mixed with ultra violence in each issue, but what others may find edgy and cool, hit me as plain dumb.
Deadpool & Wolverine is the third film in this franchise, and I’ve decided I would rather watch Ryan Reynolds as the title character than read one of the comic books, purists be damned. I’m kind of embarrassed by how much I enjoyed the opening credits sequence. We see Deadpool massacring Time Variance Authority (TVA) soldiers while dancing to *NSYNC. It’s gory, bloody, violent, and ridiculously funny. It’s the commitment to the bit, with Deadpool mimicking the dance moves of the Bye Bye Bye video that got me laughing.
This is the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though the film references the Marvel television show Loki, as well as some of the 20th Century Fox superhero films of yesteryear. So Deadpool & Wolverine is more like the 60th installment in a long-running saga. I did not expect this film to act as a fond farewell to superhero movies of the past, but much like DC’s The Flash, we are treated to many cameos of multiverse versions of iconic characters.
After giving Wolverine a perfect ending in 2017’s Logan, it’s a bit surprising to have Hugh Jackman back as the iconic superhero. Jackman isn’t phoning it in. He takes the character so seriously and is so intense that sometimes it can be hard to watch! At times it feels like he’s in a different movie. He’s the straight man to Deadpool’s funny man, but he still manages to curse A LOT. And I mean a lot. You want to tell him to calm down. But before you can say anything, he’s got his claws in someone, and blood is spewing everywhere.
Now would be a good time to remind you of this movie’s rating. It’s R, as in Restricted. Do not take your kids to see this movie, no matter how many comic book films they’ve seen in the past. They will not have a good time. You may have a good time, if you leave your kids at home. In such an over-the-top R-rated jokey bloodbath, I found myself getting surprisingly emotional seeing Dafne Keen interact with Hugh Jackman after all these years. Keen is back as Laura Kinney, also known as the mutant X-23, a part she originated in Logan. Since that film, Keen has appeared in HIs Dark Materials and Star Wars: The Acolyte, and I doubted we would ever see her return as X-23. The fact that she was able to share the screen once again with Jackman made my comic book heart happy.
Is there a plot? Not really. Deadpool and Wolverine exists as a vehicle for jokes, fan service, and more jokes. There is a decent villain in Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrinn), Professor Charles Xavier’s half-sister who was banished for being powerfully evil, and a fun turn from Matthew Macfadyen, who plays TVA agent Mr. Paradox, a pencil-pusher up to no good that you know will eventually get his comeuppance. You don’t have to have seen any comic book movies to laugh at the sophomoric humor and enjoy the gratuitous violence (if that’s your thing) in Deadpool and Wolverine, but if you have been following comic book movies for the past 30 years, I imagine your enjoyment will be exponentially higher. In spite of myself, I had a good time hanging out with this violent odd couple. But I don’t think I’ll be picking up any Deadpool comic books anytime soon.