Caiden’s review published on Letterboxd:
What just happened, lmao? As Deadpool and Wolverine ended, my head was spinning. Not only because the film was insane, but I walked out to 13 missed messages and 6 missed calls. What could possibly be so important? RDJ is coming back as Dr. Doom?! WHAT. I feel like making this entire review just a discussion of the MCU as a whole because it’s a crazy time to be a fan, current or previous. But I will spare you that and review a really fascinating film instead.
Deadpool has always been hit or miss; either you like the humor or you don’t. In some cases, you liked it for one movie and were fed up 20 minutes into a second one. The simple truth is Deadpool and Wolverine does not change any of that. If you didn’t like the first two, you probably won’t like this one. But what Deadpool and Wolverine succeeds at especially well is being a total self-admission of MCU failure. Deadpool now being transferred into Disney means a floodgate of self-awareness and 4th wall commentary on the current Disney and Marvel administration is all but unavoidable, and that is the entirety of this film's punchline. And…..it works frustratingly well. Leave it to Marvel to realize the one way to separate itself from half a decade of mediocre films is by making a 2-hour apology, making fun of itself, and honoring the superhero films of the early 2000s, as shitty as they may have been.
Aside from the great commentary, Deadpool and Wolverine has some of the funniest and most satisfying action scenes in probably most of the MCU. It’s electrifying seeing Hugh be so energetic, endearing, and gruesome as Wolverine after almost two and a half decades of playing the character. It’s truly next level. He also brings some very grounded and emotional scenes to the film, mirroring Logan. Ryan is similarly great; he’s a funny ass mouth like he always has been, albeit slightly annoying, which is sometimes hard tell if it’s how the character should be or the writing.
Deadpool and Wolverine succeeds at everything it sets out to do: a blast of an adventure with two of the most loved characters of the superhero medium, a well-deserved hard-pushing R rating, and insane action, all while making a statement that Marvel acknowledges its shitty drop-off in a fun but corporate way. In the end, does Deadpool and Wolverine do the unbelievable and magically revive the MCU? No, but I think the film knows that too. This is Marvel saying, "We know, we can do better," and Deadpool was the perfect one to say it.
Check out my 2024 Ranked here
My last Letterboxd review here