It’s no secret that the superhero genre, particularly the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has been in a major decline since Endgame. I’ve written about that decline in the past. But when I saw a trailer for Deadpool and Wolverine featuring Madonna’s song “Like a Prayer,” I realized that superheroes are back.
Deadpool and Wolverine, the third installment in the Deadpool franchise, is Disney’s first superhero production after its acquisition by 20th Century Fox. It holds the prestigious title of the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, a remarkable achievement at both the international and domestic box office. Nearly six years after the incredible Deadpool 2, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) deliver a unique blend of fourth-wall-breaking jokes, heart-pounding bloodshed and fantastic storytelling that is the trademark of this franchise, guaranteeing audiences a thrilling and entertaining experience. But Reynolds and the rest of the writing team have taken this installment in the series to a new level.
The film is a reluctant buddy comedy about two superheroes who must team up to save their respective universes and finally get Deadpool into the “sacred timeline” — an MCU concept that denotes the main timeline of events — and join the MCU itself. As you’d expect from a Deadpool film, it opens with a barrage of jokes about their production company, the MCU, and the actors’ careers. The franchise is known for poking fun at Reynolds’ career, but with Jackman on board, there are a whole host of new jokes. The film cleverly references Jackman’s roles as Harold Hill in The Music Man and PT Barnum in The Greatest Showman, a treat for musical nerds like me. In Jackman’s first appearance as Wolverine in seven years, he brings an excellent emotional core to a film that contrasts nicely with Reynolds’ dry wit. This emotional depth resonates with the audience and makes the characters’ journey more captivating and exciting.
The dynamic between Reynolds and Jackson, whether they’re trying to kill each other or learning to work together, creates a strong connection with the audience and draws them into the characters’ journeys and struggles. This isn’t just a superhero story where the characters have to get as much as they can out-do the villain, but also a story of two men allowing each other emotional vulnerability. As one of the characters says, “Sometimes the people we save save us too.”
The music in this movie isn’t just good, it’s incredible. Not only is “Like a Prayer” the highlight, but the movie opens with “Bye Bye Bye,” which features Deadpool doing a version of the dance from the music video while killing people. In one of the fights between Wolverine and Deadpool in a Honda Odyssey (don’t ask), “You’re The One That I Want” from the hit musical Grease plays. This continues the current trend of using inappropriate background music in fight scenes (see the inclusion of “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” in Season 1 of The Umbrella Academy), which makes me laugh every time.
Overall, this film shows a tremendous amount of love and effort. There are several practical sets and exciting camerawork throughout. While the second half of the film falls into the usual MCU traps of unnecessary cameos and heavy reliance on CGI, this still feels like a film that has something to say, unlike many other films (like “The Marvels” or “Madam Web”) that were made just to push content through the production line. Furthermore, this film is not just a continuation of Deadpool’s story, but a love letter to 20th Century Fox’s X-Men films. “Deadpool and Wolverine” is a treat for Deadpool fans, X-Men fans, and anyone who wants to see a superhero film that cares about being a film.
