ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Back in 2009, the world was introduced to Ryan Reynolds as the character Wade Wilson/Deadpool in the film “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” a cinematic effort that did not exactly pan out well, to put it politely, for many critics.
Since then, Reynolds has more than redeemed that effort with solo outings as the character in 2016’s “Deadpool” and then “Deadpool 2” in 2018, and most recently with “Deadpool and Wolverine,” just released last weekend. My younger brother had his birthday earlier this week and while I was home last weekend, I decided to take him to the movie as an early birthday present, and we both ended up agreeing it was well worth it.
In the movie, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is pulled from retirement by the Time Variance Authority (introduced in the Disney+ series “Loki”), re-dons his Deadpool mask and red spandex suit, and joins a very reluctant and world-weary Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) on a journey to save his universe and others from total annihilation in what can only be described as glorious chaos.
To start off, I know Ryan Reynolds has been wanting to work with Hugh Jackman in such a project for multiple years, and I could definitely tell they had an absolute BLAST finally coming together for this. Reynolds brings his quick wit and comebacks in full force during his first official outing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and seems fully at home again in the role, and Jackman seems to have slipped very easily back into being the tough and buff and growling Wolverine after stating he was retiring from the role after 2017’s “Logan.” The two work VERY well together and are able to play off of each other so, so well, and it was evident they both had a good time on the film. I also enjoyed Emma Corrin (best known to me as Princess Diana in season 4 of “The Crown”) as the film’s main villain, Cassandra Nova, the twin sister of Charles Xavier with other-worldly origins. I read a past interview where Corrin talked about being excited to take on a villain role after having not done many villainous roles before, and Corrin’s performance is just amazing. Corrin portrays Nova as someone who’s endearing and charming to the point where she could be your best friend only for you to realize too late how legitimately dangerous she can be. Corrin is able to strike that balance so, so well and much like Reynolds and Jackman, the fun of taking the role is very evident throughout.
Keeping with casting notes, there are also multiple cameos throughout, and EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. ended up throwing me for a complete loop, and as I said earlier, the final effort can only be described as glorious chaos – in a good way. Overall, the people who helped with the casting for the movie did an amazing job (and I feel like Reynolds had a hand in that aspect) and my hat goes off to the effort it must have taken to get everyone together for this movie. Whatever they were paid, I don’t feel like it was anywhere near enough.
Something else I liked about the movie was how, in a weird way, the overall message was about redemption. Wolverine is able to redeem himself from his past as the movie goes on (which culminates in a rather sweet and poignant moment near the end), and Deadpool (and to a smaller extent, Reynolds) is also able to redeem himself not only in the context of this movie, but also from his initial outing as the character that wasn’t received very well way back when. That also extends to the character cameos that come up throughout the movie, which I will leave EXACTLY at that, lest I risk venturing into spoiler territory. I’m not entirely sure if that’s what the writers were ultimately going for, but it was something I happened to notice as the movie went on. I also appreciated how the writers have been able to maintain the franchise’s overall sarcastic and witty tone without going completely off the rails, so props to the writers for that as well.
While I’ve been complimentary so far about how the movie can best be described as absolutely glorious chaos, I will admit there were a few times when I felt it was almost a little too much. If there had been JUST a bit of reining in to help make a few moments in the movie slightly more streamlined, I feel like the movie could have been truly great. There wasn’t any point where the movie went completely off the rails, but there were a few moments where it felt like the movie was just slightly overstuffed.
Overall, I enjoyed my viewing of “Deadpool & Wolverine” and would give it a “B-plus” grade. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are absolutely amazing in the lead roles and clearly had a blast returning to their respective roles, and they are able to play off each other so, so well throughout the movie, and I also enjoyed Emma Corrin’s performance as the movie’s big bad, Cassandra Nova. The cameos throughout the movie are also awesome and threw me for a loop, and I also enjoyed how nearly everyone in the movie gets a bit of a redemption arc. The only minor complaint I have is how there are a few moments throughout when things feel just a bit overstuffed. If you’re a fan of either of the other movies in the “Deadpool” franchise, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
