It has probably been a while since you have heard of a new Marvel movie, and that's not for lack of trying. The truth is, they've been coming out, you just haven't bee noticing. The vast majority of Marvel films from the past three years have been failures, whether that's in terms of critics, box office, or both. But recently, Marvel had the biggest success they've seen since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in the form of Shawn Levy's Deadpool & Wolverine. As a lifelong fan of Marvel and the two titular characters, I was eager to see what the studio would do with this highly-anticipated feature.
A few weeks back I attended the evening Thursday night screening of Deadpool & Wolverine on July 25th, and it was everything I could ask for and more.
This third installment in the Deadpool franchise was not only a monumental moment in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it was also a celebration of the Fox X-Men Universe as well. Countless films date back before the days of the franchise we know today, but a lot of which not many people grew up with — but with Deadpool & Wolverine, this is to help bring light to these classic superhero films and to celebrate what they established.
Shawn Levy, who has directed many movies and TV shows including Free Guy, episodes of Stranger Things, and Night of The Museum, did an excellent job with this film. Everything from managing an ensemble cast, to the action, and much more was spectacular. All of the fight scenes within this film were carefully executed with a clear vision for choreography, stakes, and even moments of laughter. Perhaps the best example of this lies in the opening credits where Deadpool takes out a group of Time Variance Authority officers by digging up Wolverine's Adamantium skeleton and using it as a weapon. I personally hope that Levy continues to direct future Marvel projects as he has a very clear vision for what is important to an MCU film.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman respectively continue to play with so much heart as Deadpool & Wolverine. With Jackman having come from Logan, I was skeptical at first how they were going to carry out the legacy he left. However, with Deadpool & Wolverine, they touched on it just enough where it was well executed in my book. Many, including Deadpool himself could argue that the multiverse route is an overused, lazy trope by now, but it was the best way to preserve the closure of Logan, while also creating a new, enjoyable movie for fans.
The true brilliance of Deadpool & Wolverine lies in one key detail, it doesn't take itself too seriously. All of Deadpool's previous films have primarily relied on comedy and didn't follow the same formula as the average superhero movie. It's no secret that people have grown tired of Marvel's PG-rated, cliché jokes, so maybe a raunchy, R-rated, self aware comedy is exactly what studio needed to propel it into a new golden age.
Overall this film is a fantastic ride for the superhero genre at large. The MCU still has a lot of work to do to keep this momentum going for future films to come, but I truly do believe that this film was a great start in the right direction! If you’d like to hear more from me about all things with film and TV, make sure to check out my TikTok page @JustReelFilms
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