When thinking about Deadpool in general, I always return to this Bo Burnham quote,
"Deadpool is so deeply troubling to me, because it's like a billion dollar corporation winking at the audience, and everyone is just totally cool with it. It's a 200 million dollar movie with a guy being like, 'Here is the trailer for my stupid movie, watch it you idiot.' And everyone is like, 'Yeah, he gets it.' I'm Like, 'Does he? Does Deadpool get it?' That makes me look at stuff and go, man, like, irony is...and all that stuff...is just toothless."
This quote was always valid but slightly harsh on the first two Deadpool films. I enjoyed the first two Deadpool movies and had fun with the 4th wall breaking and zany bloody nature of it all. The superhero genre of film needed some formulaic mix-up, and Ryan Reynolds was perfect to step into the red costume and encapsulate the Merc with a Mouth. Though now featuring the return of the beloved Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, this most recent outing feels as though Mr. Burnham's quote is ringing more accurate than ever. I had fun here and there during the screening of Deadpool & Wolverine, but as I drove home, apathy set in. I felt I had been disrespected as an audience member and that I had been reduced to a baby having the keys jingled in front of my face for 2 hours. Here's a quick plot summary before I understand my thoughts and feelings about the film.
Deadpool & Wolverine picks up years after Deadpool 2; Deadpool is retired and searching for meaning in his life. The Time Variance Authority (TVA) arrives at his door to tell him his timeline is ending because the Wolverine in his Universe sacrificed himself. Without an "anchor being," his Universe will deteriorate. Deadpool then takes it upon himself to find another Wolverine in a different timeline and bring him back to his own to save the people he loves. He finds a Wolverine, and they go on a bloody quest to save both worlds.
One aspect of the film that did work for me was the undeniable chemistry between Reynolds and Jackman. Their real-life friendship translated into some of the most entertaining moments of the film, adding a layer of humor and emotion that was a joy to watch. The creators wanted to make a love letter to the 20th Century Fox superheroes, which felt sincere. The costumes were excellent and authentic, which I appreciated as a Marvel nerd. CGI, for the most part, was alright, but too much of it in the action scenes hindered the impact.
The humor of Deadpool & Wolverine was hit or miss for me, and by the end, I was just so worn down by the Ryan Reynolds style of over-the-top vulgarity. Reference after reference and 4th wall breaking that it felt like I was watching a Family Guy writing room of just the vignettes. The action is where I am the most disappointed. I never felt the weight of any of the hits like it was floaty. The stakes for any fight never felt there, and it's edited so choppy that you can't appreciate any of the choreography they were attempting. There are some solid kills and thrills here that you'll see from your Mortal Kombat video games, but never the crunch that those games deliver.
What I find so fascinating about Deadpool & Wolverine is that it swung so hard towards the fans and what they "wanted." It's filled with a million cameos, including those of past Fox properties, fan casting, and overall just Reddit thread fanfiction theories. It's so chock full of them and startling. You have Ryan Reynolds essentially shitting on everything Marvel post-Endgame and proclaiming that he is giving the audience what they truly need. As Bo Burnham would say, "Is he?".
I understand and agree with the critics' visceral hate for this movie. Some have said it's empty, just here solely to make money, and deprived of creative juices. What I find more disturbing is just how empty the movie made me. The film's reducing its audience members down to clapping monkeys ready to go nuts after every cameo or reference seemed demeaning. At least Guardians of the Galaxy 3 treated its audience respectfully, a film I loved. Also, I appreciate the love letter to the Fox superheroes, but Days of Future Past and Logan already did that and way better.
I am not the fun police. If you expect to have fun watching Deadpool & Wolverine kill each other and say dick jokes in between, that's cool. I am not here to Yuck your Yum. I believe that you should be treated with some type of respect. Reynolds and Jackman together can be super entertaining, and the fan service to some will be appreciated, but it's just left me numb to where we've gotten to. As J.K. Simmons says at the end of Burn After Reading, "What did we learn, Palmer? "I don't know, sir." "I don't fuckin' know either. I guess we learned not to do it again."
Final Score: 6/10
Written by: Kevin J. Pettit
Love to see Bo Burnham quotes.