Movie Review: Deadpool & Wolverine get 4.5 bagels

I’m gonna say it up front: “Deadpool & Wolverine” is definitely for the fans! If you loved the first two “Deadpool” movies this one will surpass it. Its star, Ryan Reynolds (back again as Wade Wilson) also co-wrote the script and co-produced it taking jabs at everybody in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) that, let’s be honest had gone stale and watered down from an overload of superheroes. Between the glut of lackluster movies over the past few years not to mention shows streamed on TV the over-saturated MCU hit bottom since the franchise exploded onto the scene with 2008’s “Iron Man.” But now with the first R-rated Marvel movie and bringing in Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) well, it takes it to a whole ‘nother level folks.

Yeah, the language is crude but again, if you’re familiar with those first two flicks this just follows suit. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is the third in the franchise and doubles as a sequel to the 2017 film, “Logan” which ended the character of Jackman’s Wolverine character. BTW, the first two “Deadpool” flicks rank as 20th Century Fox’s top-grossing superhero movies, ahead of “Logan” and the entire “X-Men” series!

I’ve always been a fan of the “X-Men” franchise so when Disney bought Fox (now 21st Century Fox for a colossal $71.3 billion in 2019) I cringed at the thought of what they were going to do the MCU from those in charge. I mean, c’mon look at some of the crap Disney turned out with their “Star Wars” offerings after acquiring Lucasfilm for $4 billion in cash and stock back in 2012. That’s a different story and not gonna go there.

You can thank Hugh Jackman for “Deadpool & Wolverine” even existing because he loved the “Deadpool” movies and is good friends with Ryan. He had called him wanting his mutant character with the adamantium claws to team up with Deadpool aka, the ‘Merc with the Mouth.’ Talk about great timing and yeah, this movie is going to be tough to beat when they do another sequel.

The narration by Deadpool at the start sets the tone and the inside references of too many bad decisions made by the studio execs regarding the glut of superheroes (not to mention cultural jokes) fly immediately and I was cracking up but trying not to laugh too hard for fear I’d miss the next reference. The wisecracking mercenary Wade Wilson character is at a low point on his timeline, no longer considered viable, and lacking in any hope of a relationship with the love of his life, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin).

Friends from his other “Deadpool” movies are with him but are seen only briefly. And then he takes it up a notch when the music kicks in and I’m wondering how much of Ryan’s scene was ad-libbed especially with some fine tracks from the 80’s and 90’s shaking that booty. From there, we’re transported to see Deadpool conferring with a Mr. Paradox (played by “Succession” star Matthew Macfadyen) who’s a corporate weenie of sorts bringing back Deadpool from his somewhat sedate life sending him on a mission to save his universe where he collides with Wolverine from another universe in the process. I wouldn’t say Mr. Paradox is a bad guy (he is) but more a guy in a suit who warns him he too could wind up with other dead-end Marvel characters. This is where we begin seeing cameo after cameo of superheroes and you might miss a few as they all seem to be in this movie it happens pretty quickly! It’s a geek’s heaven on earth.

I loved seeing The Fantastic Four’s Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) and Elektra (Jennifer Garner) in their cameos. I won’t mention anymore but suffice it to say you’ll have fun seeing them all. Oh, did I mention that there’s also the ‘timeline police’ of the MCU and the TVA (Time Variance Authority) who play a part in this alternate reality? This is where Deadpool and Wolverine are exiled together in The Void overseen by Charles Xavier’s quasi evil twin, Cassandra Nova (played convincingly by Emma Corrin). The Void is a place where the once great have been sent out to pasture. That’s where we see the 20th Century Fox logo buried deep in this wasteland of monuments and garbage conjuring up the Statue of Liberty à la “Planet of the Apes.” I gotta tell you I love the cultural and studio merger references and was actually surprised at some of the things said regarding those involved. Then again, the money made from this movie will just allow the next one (and there will be another one) to go even more over the top. Kudos to director Shawn Levy for keeping his stars on point even though there were a few times I didn’t know whose timeline I was on!

No one will accuse “Deadpool & Wolverine” of good taste and I found myself cringing in parts but hey, that’s okay because it fits into the woven thread of being both a comedy with a very hard R-rating. The gags were top notch and the movie offers up great entertainment, and again, fans are going to love it as it summarizes the Fox chapter of all things from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I will say this: “Deadpool & Wolverine” makes up for all those other ones that should’ve stayed on the shelf. And even though I don’t have to tell my fellow geeks out there, but to others, you must stick around for the entire movie. After the credits roll on (accompanied by behind-the-scenes footage from prior Fox Marvel projects) we rejoin Deadpool at the Time Variance Authority’s headquarters for a scene that involves Johnny Storm and Cassandra Nova. Stick around it is worth it!

“Deadpool & Wolverine” clocks in at 2 hours, 7 minutes and is rated R for language, gore, sexual references, and strong bloody violence.

I give the movie 4.5 bagels on the Howie rating system (where 5 bagels is tops!).