Three movies in, audiences know the ‘Deadpool’ franchise is unafraid to be meta. In ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, it’s taken to a whole new level.
Something else that has remained consistent throughout all three of these films now, is the slickness of it all. If films were categorised into branches of fashion. . . ‘Deadpool’ is designer. It’s sexy, crisp. . . The stitching is tight, the detail is immaculate. This is a sparkling trilogy of films with some genuinely spellbinding cinematography for what it is.
The soundtrack of this film, again like its predecessors, is faultless. NSYNC never sounded better against an opening sequence which encapsulates 'Deadpool' in a nutshell.
When it comes to the plot, neither of the first two films were particularly gripping story-wise. Stakes get high here and there, but momentum and suspense never quite reach a satisfying enough crescendo. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ continues on this path – and when you reflect on what you’ve watched, you realise not a great deal has actually happened.
However, there are so many ingredients to this character and his escapades, that plot kind of takes a back seat anyway, without detriment to the film overall. Come on. . . Are we really going to a ‘Deadpool’ film for an intricate, multilayered storyline? No.
The addition of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine here is marvellous. Hugh is a phenomenal talent, and this pair is a joy to watch. Their chemistry is undeniable and they bounce off one another with excellent results.
Emma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova is another stand-out – effortlessly menacing with a terrifyingly devil-may-care attitude, she hits the mark each time she’s on screen. There are also some special effects concerning her, which are pretty headache-inducing. . . In the best possible way.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is lathered in silliness, meta references, a healthy sprinkling of comedic gore, and fan service. Seriously – Marvel fans are going to be drooling leaving the cinema. It’s kind of unbelievable. The audience at this particular screening cheered and whooped on multiple occasions. . . Ryan Reynolds knows exactly what he’s doing and boy does it pay off here.
Some of the best and most intelligent moments of ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ are in its total fearlessness. It’s a bold piece of cinema for just how ridiculous it is. This boldness stems from the fact that even through all the genuinely stupid, fourth wall-breaking humour – like references to Ryan Reynolds’ real life wife Blake Lively and even a jab at Hugh Jackman’s recent divorce – you as an audience member are still fully engrossed in, and believe, Wade Wilson’s world. There’s something really spectacular about this, and it makes for a great time at the cinema.
By now, we know the ‘Deadpool’ cocktail. And as long as it stays this way, audiences are going to continue to buy it. It does, however, beg the question of whether that mixture of meta humour and fan service has an expiry date in a film franchise. . . Especially one in which plot is not a particularly strong suit.
But why bother trying to answer that right now, when the going is so good?!
★★★★☆
