Susan Granger’s review of “Deadpool & Wolverine” (Marvel/Disney)
The cinematic summer of 2024 was saved by two cartoons (“Inside Out 2” & “Despicable Me 4”) and the irreverent live-action comic book adventure “Deadpool & Wolverine,” marking the return of wisecracking Ryan Reynolds’ fun-loving, red spandex-clad pansexual antihero.
Reduced to selling used cars after being denied by the Avengers, despondent Wade Wilson still shares an apartment with Blind Al (Leslie Uggams). While celebrating his birthday with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) and other friends, he’s abruptly summoned by Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen from “Succession”), the smarmy supervisor of the Time Variance Authority.
It seems that the death of Hugh Jackman’s ex X-Man “Logan” (2017) tilted the world the wrong way, so it’s up to Wade to time-travel to find the real snarling, steel-clawed Wolverine – from among many variants (including Henry Cavill) – and lure him into the multi-Marvel Cinematic Universe. So much for a coherent plotline.
But the nostalgic superhero splatter doesn’t stop with those two. There’s Jennifer Garner’s assassin Elektra, Wesley Snopes’ vampire hunter Blade, Channing Tatum’s card-tossing mutant Gambit and Chris Evans – not as Captain America – but as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch from “Fantastic Four” (2005).
And when Paradox banishes them into the desolate landscape known as The Void, they must take a few minutes off their bickering bromance to battle a bald British villainess called Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin from “The Crown”).
The screenwriters – including Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells and director Shawn Levy – toss out one raunchy jokes after another, along with sight gags and snide inside-industry digs at now-defunct 20th Century Fox…and wait for the post-credits montage of Fox’s Marvel movies, including an unexpected cameo.
FYI: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s children – James, Inez and Olin Reynolds – play Screaming Mutant, Kidpool and Babypool, respectively…Matthew McConaughey is Cowboypool…and, apparently, this is the first R-rated film released by Marvel/Disney. (Walt must be spinning in his grave!)
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is a sassy. crowd-pleasing, subversively satirical 7, playing in theaters.
