Deadpool & Wolverine Review: Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Team Up for Underwhelming MCU Introduction for Wade Wilson

   November 17, 2024

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has faced challenges since its peak with Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Public interest has waned, and while Marvel continues striving to recapture that magic, it often comes at the expense of patience and character development. This trend is evident in Deadpool & Wolverine, which prioritizes cameos, quick laugh lines, and flashy action sequences over meaningful storytelling or fully realized characters.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

In many ways, Deadpool & Wolverine isn’t much different from the original Deadpool or its sequel. The stakes remain low, with the movie showing little interest in its over-the-top plot. Instead, the focus stays on Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds – Spirited, The Adam Project), his signature quippy, adult humor, and his buddy-cop dynamic with Wolverine, played once again by Hugh Jackman (Logan).

I appreciate seeing Hugh Jackman’s grizzled Wolverine brought into Deadpool’s vibrant, chaotic world. While Wolverine’s brash, brooding nature has felt repetitive in past films, this new context offers a refreshing change. The fit isn’t perfect, but the contrast between their personalities works. Both characters are brutally violent, sharply funny, and unapologetically blunt, creating an entertaining dynamic.

Does Deadpool & Wolverine bring anything truly new to the Marvel franchise or even to the smaller Deadpool universe? Not really. Despite tying together various threads from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the story feels smaller than expected. The film incorporates elements like the Time Variance Authority (introduced in Loki Season 1), Charles Xavier’s twin sister Cassandra Nova (played by Emma Corrin), and surprise appearances from characters and actors spanning decades of Marvel adaptations. These deep-cut inclusions provide fleeting moments of fun, but the movie doesn’t reinvent the wheel—nor does it seem to aim for that.

Deadpool & Wolverine is a challenging film to critique meaningfully because it exists in such a heavily metatextual space that serious analysis feels almost out of place. It’s undeniably fun but so light and breezy that it drifts along without asking much of its audience emotionally. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have the talent to carry an MCU movie with more heart and sharper edge. While the film is decent by MCU standards, it falls short of its potential, lacking the originality and depth it could have delivered.

Score: 5/10

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