When Disney acquired Fox back in 2019, everyone knew big changes were coming to the MCU – and we’re not even talking about the X-Men or Fantastic Four. Rather, we’re talking about Deadpool. By the time the merger happened, Deadpool was an R-rated sensation. But, many questioned his ability to be included in a Disney-run MCU. Would he be too toned down for people’s liking, or stick out like a sore thumb compared to his counterparts? Well, we have our answer now that Deadpool & Wolverine has arrived, but it’s not exactly what you’d expect. 

After Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) used Cable’s time-traveling tech at the end of Deadpool 2, it wasn’t long until the TVA knocked on his door. However, they offer him a chance to fulfill his inner dream of joining the MCU. But, it comes at the cost of leaving everyone behind while their universe withers away. Without wanting to lose Vanessa (Morina Baccan), Peter (Rob Delaney), Blind Al (Leslie Uggams), or anyone else, Deadpool searches for his universe’s Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). Unfortunately though, he’s dead. So, Deadpool teams up with another Wolverine who is riddled with past failures to traverse the multiverse and save everyone. 

Now, with the inclusion of the TVA and focus on the multiverse, you would think that this Deadpool adventure would be closely tied to the MCU. Yet, it’s kind of not. Truth be told, it’s more of a true “Deadpool 3” than a fresh start for the merc with a mouth in the MCU. Overall, that’s not a bad thing, but it’s disappointing that Deadpool & Wolverine embodies issues that have been plaguing the MCU for far too long. 

Aside from some interesting lore surrounding an “anchor being” that keeps a universe whole, Deadpool & Wolverine doesn’t do much to push the multiverse narrative forward. There are rarely any moments that hint at what’s next for the Multiverse Saga and the titular heroes barely interact with any meaningful MCU characters. There isn’t even a post-credit scene that tells us when we’re going to see Deadpool again. This film doesn’t quell any lingering doubts that fans might have about Deadpool’s place in the MCU or if he could actually impact anything going forward – which is very underwhelming. 

The story, itself, also lacks any real creative depth or stakes that matter. There’s an over-reliance on old storytelling tactics that have lost their luster and, overall, the story structure is not as solid as previous endeavors. There’s no narrative direction whatsoever and the film makes up rules and ideas as it goes along. It’s legitimately a script written on the fly and isn’t nearly as sharp as other MCU or even Deadpool stories. The motivations that Deadpool and Wolverine have are also pretty bare bones and the heart previous Deadpool movies had for the supporting cast isn’t present. Most of them are a footnote here and it makes this sequel hollower as a result. 

Deadpool & Wolverine sadly doesn’t avoid a frustrating MCU trend either – lackluster villains. There are two main threats to Deadpool’s fun and neither of them ever amount to much. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), a TVA agent who’s looking to impress his superiors by ripping Wade’s world apart, is your basic corporate baddie. Despite his concept of doing underground work in the TVA being interesting, he doesn’t add much new to the organization’s lore. Macfadyen often delivers good laughs, but Paradox’s motivations are stale and he never establishes himself as an impactful threat. Outside of Paradox, there’s Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), the evil twin of Charles Xavier who runs the Void with her eerie telepathic powers. Like Macfadyen, Corrin delivers a good performance that fits the film’s comedic spirit. Plus, there’s some top-notch effects that’ll make viewers squirm every time Cassandra gets into someone’s head. But, she’s incredibly one-note and never leaves a lasting impression even though she’s tied to such a pivotal character like Charles. 

Somehow though, Deadpool & Wolverine overcomes most of its flaws through the sheer fun it provides. Although the MCU’s backing might not have sharpened up this entry on certain ends, it definitely gave Reynolds and company the resources to deliver a crowd-pleasing, must-see event like no other. What it might not do for the narrative of the MCU’s multiverse, Deadpool & Wolverine pulls off a celebration of Marvel’s cinematic history outside the MCU (mainly Fox). It’s the ode that Marvel fans didn’t know they needed and no one is prepared for delightful insanity that unfolds. 

The cameos alone – both of iconic characters and ones that never made it to the screen – will make fans an emotional mess. Seriously, there are some role reprisals that’ll have people in tears as they capture the good and bad of a formative era of comic book movies. But, it’s not just a simple appearance that makes the cameos special. Instead, the film goes the extra mile in how it rights past wrongs through meaningful screen-time – with unexpected character arcs, interactions, and jaw-dropping action included. It’s the exact way fans want to see these types of cameos done and crowds will roar with laughter and applause in a similar vein to Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home. With there also being tons of winks and nods to the comics and movies that continually influence the superhero genre, Deadpool & Wolverine does fan service perfectly – right down to the end credits that’ll have some totally misty-eyed. 

The film also delivers top-notch action, and it’s clear from the beginning that this isn’t PG-13. It’s a R-rated bloodbath and some of the best bits come from Deadpool and Wolverine going at each other’s throats. With the greenlight to cover the screen in blood and guts, Deadpool and Wolverine hold nothing back on each other or anyone that gets in their way. Wolverine’s aggression and Deadpool’s insane combat creativity are at an all-time high and absolutely drive the energy of the film. It’s exactly why the film features some of the most memorable fights of the franchise – both Deadpool and the MCU. 

What Deadpool & Wolverine does best though is rely on the natural chemistry between Reynolds and Jackman because they’re THE reason this movie is endlessly charming. The tease of Reynold’s Deadpool and Jackman’s Wolverine coming together has been fueling fan excitement for the film from the very beginning. After all, many dreamed of seeing these two on-screen together one day. Now, that dream is fully-realized and it’s absolutely magical. Their banter is filled with giddy cheap shots and brews with a palpable rivalry. The buddy road trip they go on is full of hilarity because of how they constantly run into trouble and are in a seemingly never-ending feud. Deadpool undoubtedly leads the comedy through his gut-busting one-liners, ability to poke fun at everyone (including himself), and trademark crude humor. But Wolverine doesn’t pull punches either and finds funny ways to give Wade a taste of his own medicine. Deadpool and Wolverine are a dynamic duo in many ways, and provide nonstop entertainment that everyone will love. 

More importantly though, their arcs in this film acts as a potential loving sendoff. The promise of Deadpool & Wolverine not meddling with the ending of Logan is fulfilled, but there are still things Wolverine deals with. His presence here is sort of an epilogue to the themes and impact of Jackman’s legacy as the character. It doesn’t have the same emotional depth as Logan, but Wolverine’s personal trauma is enough to pay homage to everything fans have experienced with the character. As for Deadpool, he gets the finale hero arc for this trilogy he deserves. It might be missing more personal depth that could really tug on the heartstrings, but it’s undeniable that seeing Deadpool reach a new peak is immensely fulfilling. He’s finally reached a stage that embodies the impact he’s made in this era of superhero films and you can feel him soak in every ounce of the spotlight. As a fan, there’s nothing more special than that, and if it is the end of him leading the charge, it’s awesome to see him go out on his own terms – and on such an unabashed high. 

Deadpool & Wolverine might not aid the MCU in dire times – making us wonder if the Multiverse Saga can be fixed – but damn is it a wildly fun adventure with two of Marvel’s best cinematic characters. Reynolds and Jackman are the dream pairing and embark on a hilariously gruesome, cameo-filled, ambitiously epic celebration tour that audiences will adore.

Watch the Trailer Here: