Smoke Signals

It has been a rough few years for Marvel fans. Recent MCU installments have consistently disappointed audiences with what felt like increasingly poor writing, mistreatment of characters, badly-received plot directions, and rushed, uncanny visual effects. Many fans have begun to feel that the age of epic, culture-defining superhero films has passed in favor of corporate cash grabs, but now, rising from the dust of another Disney acquisition, it appears that a savior has emerged: an old friend, the Merc with a Mouth.

Now, without further ado, it ought to just be said outright: Deadpool and Wolverine is fantastic. After what has felt like an eternity of lackluster experiences coming after that famous Marvel Studios logo, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman deliver a breath of pure, clean, redolent fresh air. In all its R-rated, fourth-wall-smashing glory, this movie never pulls a punch. It is relentlessly funny from the very start, and couples this with truly show stopping action scenes that’ll have viewers’ popcorn-filled mouths hanging open.

In all its R-rated, fourth-wall-smashing glory, this movie never pulls a punch.

The movie doesn’t feel overly weighed down by Disney censors (and when it is, it is unafraid to throw shade to the top), so the movie is able to retain the vulgar comedy and grit of the other Deadpool films, as well as Logan. These new characters are integrated into the modern Marvel Universe without any sacrifice of themselves, and—even more impressively—without it feeling clunky or shoehorned.

However, the movie isn’t all cheap laughs and f-bombs. Unlike other promising Marvel films of late, when the time comes, Deadpool and Wolverine can create an unapologetically awesome action scene. The movie is full of indulgent, gratuitous slow-mo, and never once does it feel forced or not as cool as the filmmakers thought. The fight choreography is first rate, the threats to the characters feel real, and their solutions to problems never fail to entertain.

What makes Deadpool and Wolverine truly great, though, is that it can do all this while knowing that it is a better movie than anything Marvel fans have sat through since Avengers: Endgame. This movie was made for the fans of these beloved characters, and takes great care not to besmirch their reputation. Deadpool assumes the role of “Marvel Jesus” as, over the course of two hours, he resurrects a hobbling cinematic universe. It takes advantage of every opportunity to be tongue-in-cheek, funny, and action-packed, because the people behind it knew that they were creating a masterpiece.

Deadpool assumes the role of “Marvel Jesus” as, over the course of two hours, he resurrects a hobbling cinematic universe.

The only criticisms that can really be made of this film pale in comparison to its strengths. There is a slightly noticeable decline from the mind-blowing visual effects that made Deadpool and Deadpool 2 stand out, but that is not to say that the effects in Deadpool and Wolverine are not as—if not more—creative, interesting, and cool as those of its predecessors. The need to catch up with the character of Wade Wilson following his hiatus from the screen and the continued march of the MCU meant that the expository part of the beginning of the movie felt a little hasty, but still brilliantly done.

Deadpool and Wolverine is an absolute grand-slam on its own, and is even more of one in its context of breathing life back into the MCU. Not only was this movie not a disappointment, it far exceeded what anyone could have hoped for. At last, the fans have a new Marvel movie that will be remembered, and remembered fondly. Now, with the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU as Dr. Doom in the upcoming Avengers film, there is finally hope again for superhero movies to come. Grab some chimichangas, popcorn, and friends, then put on your seat belt, because Marvel is back!