KSL Movie Show review: ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ was entertaining but your experience may vary
Jul 26, 2024, 7:00 AM | Updated: Aug 5, 2024, 1:42 pm
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SALT LAKE CITY — Talk about a bromance! Ryan Reynolds has been trying to get Hugh Jackman to come play superheroes with him for years.
The only problem was Logan/Wolverine bowed out of the X-Men world in 2017. Bowed out as in mostly dead. Like really, really dead.
So how in the world is that going to work?
Well, it’s going to require some multiverse magic with a touch of the TVA — Time Variance Authority.
What?
This is the bureau that the Marvel/Disney+ Loki TV series was dealing with, monitoring several worlds where maybe another Wolverine can be found to possibly save Deadpool’s world.
I know, it feels like cheating, but it does open the door to bring back other Marvel peeps that maybe the suits shouldn’t have killed off, so they can bring them all back for future Marvel movies.
Why? Seriously? You know the answer — money.
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That doesn’t mean that I don’t wholeheartedly appreciate what Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool is trying to do here. He loves his character, he loves Jackman’s character, he knows people want to see those two have a Battle Royale — they actually have three — so there’s a ton of fan service going on here.
But you know what? Based on the last three awkward Marvel movies, I’m going to allow it.
Here’s the rub. It is ultra-violent, but it is cartoon violence, so kind of a pass. And the language is blistering, but you’ve come to expect that from Deadpool.
In fact, if anything’s apparent, it’s that Reynolds is determined to stick it to both Marvel/Disney and Fox because he’s an adorable rebel without a cause (however, it is hilarious).
Oh, and then there’s the cameos.
Even if I told you who shows up, you wouldn’t believe me.
It might even be a master class in cameo inclusion — you’ll see.
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On top of all that, there are a ton of references that will require a vast amount of foreknowledge of the characters and even the personal lives of the people who play them.
It’s basically “Inside Baseball” — nothing to do with the sport but everything to do with everything else. It’s definitely not required, but there are so many insider jokes, it will help immensely.
So who should see this?
If you’ve seen the other “Deadpool” movies and survived, you’ll likely want to see this one as well. Just be prepared for pretty much everything being ramped up.
Probably the biggest reason to see this is if you’ve missed Wolverine, but didn’t realize it. Hugh Jackman is really quite good in this, especially if you’ve noticed that he finally dons the signature suit.
There are two closing credit scenes, but by now, if you leave early you’ve got to be aware that you’re probably going to miss something and likely regret it — even if it isn’t a big deal or game changer.
For me, I was in chuckle mode throughout most of the film — some of them of the belly laugh variety and some in more of the cringe motif.
But entertained, I was indeed.
And as I’ve said before, your experience may vary, but if you’ve paid attention to the red flags I’ve mentioned and you still want to go, you should find much joy amidst this movie’s mayhem.
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (B+) Rated R for strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore and sexual references. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Leslie Uggams and Morena Baccarin. Directed by Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum” “Real Steel” “Free Guy”) – filmed in the UK and Canada. Running time: 127 minutes.
