Can ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Save the Stagnant MCU?
Watch my non-spoiler quick review of Deadpool & Wolverine on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and follow me on Letterboxd.
How can they fix Marvel? At the height of the Infinity Saga, that question would have felt absurd, but after the disappointing performance of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels, which was the lowest-grossing film in the MCU, it was clear that the franchise was not actually invincible.
The declining enthusiasm was only amplified by what felt like a flood of forgettable Disney+ shows—I didn’t even remember Moon Knight until I started writing this review—and a jumbled focus on multiverses that lowered the stakes and diluted the brand.
So who could Kevin Feige and co. turn to to save their stagnating IP behemoth? Enter self-proclaimed “Marvel Jesus”, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool.
Ever since the 20th Century Fox merger, fans wondered how squeaky-clean Disney would incorporate the foul-mouthed, fourth-wall-breaking smartass into their family-friendly franchise.
Deadpool was one of the most successful R-rated movies of all time, followed up by a sequel that made even more money, largely because it stood as such a stark contrast to the quippy do-gooders of the regular MCU.
Deadpool was not a main character type of hero. He didn’t have to battle to save the universe, he didn’t have to have impeccable morals, he didn’t even have to nail the superhero landing. He just needed to be entertaining and funny.
Now the whole cinematic universe is resting on Deadpool’s shoulders. But he doesn’t have to carry it alone.
In Deadpool & Wolverine, Hugh Jackman returns to his iconic role as Wolverine after concluding his arc in one of the most well-regarded superhero movies ever, 2017’s Logan.
This film sees the duo team up to fix a broken multiverse and revive Marvel’s slumping box office returns along the way.
In classic Deadpool fashion, there are jokes. Lots and lots of jokes. In fact, sometimes it can feel like being bombarded by a machine gun fire of one-liners. Many are the typical “dick and balls” jokes we got from the first two movies, but there are a few more clever laughs as well.
The humor is at its strongest when it’s commenting on the film industry and the state of superhero movies. Deadpool acknowledges the Marvel slump, the audience’s distaste for multiverses, there are even references to casting rumors and projects seemingly trapped in development hell. If you’ve followed along with any Marvel news in the past 5 years, these jokes showcase a self-awareness that I can respect.
The primary goal of this movie, though, is not to appease snarky film nerds who read the trades, it’s to deliver the desires of the target demo. This is a “movie for fans”.
Most fan service feels low-effort and cynical. It typically means studios putting out low-quality films filled with recreations of comic book splash pages just to get YouTubers to cry about the trailers in reaction videos.
In Deadpool & Wolverine, there’s less underlying corporate cynicism—though there’s definitely a fair share of that too. This film feels more interested in giving hardcore fans big moments they’ve wanted to see on screen for a long time. And fair enough.
As I sat in the theater glazing over watching yet another gory fight scene, I could hear other people in the audience cheering and getting really into it. For fans of these characters, it’s a big deal, and it doesn’t feel like Shawn Levy, Rhett Reese, and Reynolds are trying to pander or look down on these fans in the way franchise films often do. They love these characters and they’re making this movie for people who also love these characters.
So while Deadpool & Wolverine doesn’t fully restore my faith in the MCU, I do appreciate that we can get Marvel products that don’t all feel the same. Variety is the spice of life, and I hope Disney remains open to letting creative teams step outside of the PG-13 formula every now and then. It might be just the shot in the arm they need to save this franchise.
