“Deadpool & Wolverine”

Like most comic book fans, I have been looking forward to “Deadpool & Wolverine,” but I need to get to something right off the bat: it’s a real disappointment. Director Shawn Levy tries his best to inject some R-rated life into what is now a rapidly dying genre, but he finds very little success in this messy, unfunny letdown of a movie.

This review will be as vague as possible in order to avoid any spoilers.

Relying on a story that builds its foundation around the multiverse (yes, really), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) crosses paths with Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds). With both of their worlds being threatened with being erased from existence, the two must team up to fight their common enemy. Alternate timelines cause the film to get bogged down with too much story and exposition, leading to an excessive amount of head-scratching moments that simply don’t make very much sense.

It’s impossible to reveal much more about the film’s plot without giving away some of its best surprises, but know that there are a lot (and I mean a lot) of fun cameos here that are going to delight comic-literate nerds. They’re unexpected and provide many of the film’s most enjoyable moments. The bulk of the fun comes from the well-directed and smartly edited fight sequences, some of which find Deadpool and Wolverine battling each other. Levy has a good sense of timing because every time the story beings to lag, he cuts to a bloody, entertaining brawl that is almost always set to a soundtrack that booms beloved pop tunes. It’s simultaneously lazy and fun, but these bloody pops of action are what fans are coming to see (at least in that department, Levy knows how to give his audience what they want).

The film’s greatest strength comes from its two leads, and both Reynolds and Jackman turn in undeniably great performances. Their real-life friendship and natural chemistry makes them the perfect pair for a buddy movie, and they deliver tenfold. It’s a pleasure to see them together like this, and I hope they will team up again for a better movie in the future.

Despite some things that are executed well (including eye-popping visual effects that are among the best in recent memory), there is an awful lot that doesn’t go right. The adolescent toilet jokes and gay wisecracks feel dated and apathetic, and the attempts at humor feel forced and desperate. Deadpool of course breaks the fourth wall time and time again, making hollow, mechanical quips that don’t land at all (I’m glad there weren’t any crickets in the theater, because you absolutely would’ve heard them singing).

The film crosses the fantasy world with present-day reality, which gives Deadpool an excuse to take jabs at 20th Century Fox, Disney, the current state of Hollywood, and even Jackman’s real-life divorce, among other things. This self-referential humor doesn’t work at all. Reynolds relies on his usual shtick that comes across as coy and annoying as ever.

Perhaps diehard fans of Deadpool will find enough to enjoy here, but I felt like things went downhill after the opening credits (thankfully Levy carries on that tradition, as the opener has always been one of the most iconic and enjoyable aspects of the franchise). I recommend saving your money and waiting for “Deadpool & Wolverine” to land on a streaming service where you can spend your time watching the handful of really fun action scenes instead of wasting two hours on a movie that’s ultimately going to let you down.

By: Louisa Moore