Deadpool & Wolverine review: A foul-mouthed, bloody treat for Marvel fans

 Deadpool & Wolverine review: A foul-mouthed, bloody treat for Marvel fans

Our SPOILER-FREE thoughts here.

By Ian SandwellPublished: 24 July 2024

Play Iconpreview for Deadpool & Wolverine stars talk the movie's new villain and unexpected moments

It's finally here. Six years after Deadpool 2 and five years after Disney bought Fox, Deadpool & Wolverine arrives in cinemas this week riding a wave of early hype and spoiled cameos.

And we'll get it out of the way first. If you were worried that Deadpool has been Disney-fied, he has not. This is still the foul-mouthed, violent anti-hero of the first two movies, complete with copious puerile dick jokes, meta gags and fourth-wall-breaking as he slices and dices victims.

Hugh Jackman is also back as Wolverine, but think more Logan than X-Men. This Wolverine is as liberal with the bloodletting and F-bombs as Deadpool is. For Fox Marvel universe fans, this is their Spider-Man: No Way Home.

But is it any good? Mostly. Deadpool & Wolverine is terrific entertainment, two hours of fan service wrapped up as a summer blockbuster. It's not perfect and might not stand up to repeat viewings, but you won't care in the moment.

(Don't worry, we'll keep this review as spoiler-free as we can and won't assume that you – like us – have seen every trailer and TV spot going.)

ryan reynolds, hugh jackman, deadpool and wolverine

Jay Maidment//Marvel Studios

Six years after the events of Deadpool 2, Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) has hung up his suit to work as a car salesperson with the resurrected Peter (Rob Delaney). He's pretending that he's fine with it; he's got his friends, including now-ex Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), and that's enough.

Enter TVA agent Mr Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), who throws an existential spanner into Wade's dull civilian life. There's only one person who can help Wade with this new crisis: Wolverine. Assuming he can persuade him to help, that is.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

We'll keep the specifics of the how and why these two characters team up quiet even though it's revealed fairly early on in Deadpool & Wolverine. You might be expecting further developments as the movie goes on, but they never really come and the only surprises are who this duo run into on their road trip.

If you're after a deeper, more complex plot, one with repercussions for the entire MCU, you might come away disappointed. Equally, with a vast MCU sandbox to play in, it's refreshing to see that the movie ends up more interested in paying tribute to the Fox Marvel universe, retaining the low-level stakes of the previous two Deadpool movies.

hugh jackman, ryan reynolds, deadpool and wolverine

Marvel Studios

What the expanded MCU has given Deadpool though is more targets to aim at. Deadpool & Wolverine is packed with hilarious gags at the expense of the MCU, from its attempts to make the multiverse a thing to its so-called flop era and more.

As in the previous two Deadpool movies, not every gag lands, but there will be one around the corner that does. How much they'll have repeat value remains to be seen, especially with its pop-culture references (a Will Smith slap one already feels old), and it's sharper when it comes to meta gags about filmmaking.

The same could be said for the movie's surprises. Even though it feels Marvel itself has been spoiling the big cameos, trust us when we say there are some here that you won't see coming. It's not an over-the-top hit parade of countless characters, but once the surprise is gone, the movie doesn't give them enough to do.

In the moment though, that hardly matters as, much like the three Spideys teaming up in No Way Home, it'll be a joy for Marvel fans. From deep-cut throwbacks to genuine A-listers, each cameo will be met with a cheer at packed screenings and it's impressive they kept some of them quiet.

hugh jackman, ryan reynolds, dogpool, deadpool and wolverine

Marvel Studios

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Perhaps as much of a surprise is that the movie is genuinely as much of a Wolverine movie as it is a Deadpool movie. Hugh Jackman might be treading familiar ground – he can do Wolverine with repressed trauma in his sleep – but he remains so watchable, sharing strong chemistry with Ryan Reynolds, who remains a perfect fit for the role.

The no-holds-barred approach for both characters leads to some brutal set pieces, both between the two of them and against various enemies. One battle gets a bit too CGI-centric, but largely they're well-shot and choreographed. A stand-out sequence – both of the movie and the summer – is shot like a side-scroller video game in all its bloody glory.

Cassandra Nova's powers also add a gruesome edge to proceedings, even for a Deadpool movie. Emma Corrin might not get as much to do with the role as you'd wish, especially as they nail the charming and menacing tone, yet Cassandra still makes an impact with relatively little screentime.

emma corrin, deadpool and wolverine

Marvel Studios

Compared to recent MCU team-ups, Deadpool & Wolverine has a brisk two-hour runtime up to the credits and moves at a pace. So much so you might not even realise you're at the final act until you're in it.

It's an underwhelming finale that feels the most MCU-y with a MacGuffin and some nonsense about timelines. However, an excellent use of 'Like A Prayer' – one of several fun needle drops – redeems matters somewhat, and gives it an emotional edge if you care about both of these characters.

Whether the movie can stand the test of time remains to be seen, with not much going on under the surface. It's pure fan service, so knock off a star if you were after more, but Deadpool & Wolverine knows it's fan service – and it doesn't f**king care.