DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE

(NOTE: I started writing this review not long after seeing Deadpool and Wolverine the weekend of its release (you’re welcome, Ryan). The hate has ebbed. But I think my basic point holds. Thanks for reading.)

Sometimes it’s enough to love something just for what it is. I mean people do that all the time right? They generally don’t wish their dog was a different dog. “Ya know I love Max, but I’d love him more if he was a German Shepherd instead of a Chihuahua”. Or their kids, “I’d love Allison more if she was Alexander” (ok maybe if they’re horrible parents).

So why do we do that with movies? “Movie A would be so much better if it had ‘this’ or ‘that’ instead”. I’m not talking about the quality of the film. I’m talking about the “why didn’t they do this, or they should have done that” crowd. It drives me nuts.

So, when I see some of the reaction to DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE I roll my eyes. “What does this mean for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?” “Does this mean Deadpool will be in more movies or Hugh Jackman will be back more times as Wolverine?” Stop it!!

DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE does not live up to grand expectations some are placing on it. That doesn’t mean it’s bad. In fact, it’s anything but. It is an incredibly entertaining summer movie. It’s a hilariously funny R-Rated comedy with a ton of nods to previous Marvel films and TV shows and several incredible cameos. Do you need to know what all the references mean to enjoy it? Probably, otherwise you will miss conservatively half the jokes in the movie. Also, the plot is a bit convoluted, and it involves Marvel’s recent hobby horses, multiversal stories and protecting timelines. Try not to think too much about that and just go with the flow… the flow of blood and humor.

This is Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy’s sandbox. They came up with this and executed it to near perfection in the first Deadpool movie. They kept it going in Deadpool 2. Those were 20^th Century Fox movies. Then Disney bought Fox and the properties that studio owned (X-Men, Fantastic Four, Deadpool for example) got folded into the MCU. The good part about that is Reynolds and Levy have free reign to mine the MCU sandbox and bring in some X-Men properties that were never in the MCU.

I know some people have a severe Ryan Reynolds allergy. I’m not among them. I know his schtick is about the same in every movie. He’s the wise cracking, good looking male lead. Don’t hate him because he’s good at it. And if you don’t like him that’s fine too. I have a Adam Sandler comedy allergy. He’s a really good dramatic actor, but his dumb comedies are just not my thing. That’s ok. I don’t watch them or re-watch them.

I don’t expect this movie to be anything other than what it is. If I want deep and thoughtful, I’m not going to a Marvel movie. If I get that in addition to the entertainment, well that’s a win.

If you’re one of the few who have yet to see DP&W take a chance and check it out, or wait for it to hit Disney+. That release date is yet to be announced, but it’s likely going to be this fall. But if it’s not your thing, that’s fine too.