In this post, I will attempt to summarize how we got here and more importantly, why we care. Movie Reviews and Spoilers included.
With Deadpool & Wolverine obliterating the R-rated box office records, currently grossing near $600 million and just now heading into its second weekend, it got me to thinking back to the beginning of the franchise. While the now three movies make up the core of the trilogy and are counted as the main appearances of Wade Wilson, several other projects have included the character and should not be overlooked. Before we jump in, let’s extend a hardy welcome to our newest member of the MCU!
Sadly, we cannot cover the history of Deadpool, without mentioning the much maligned live-action debut of Deadpool alongside Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
In 2009, as part of X-Men Origins: Wolverine’s ensemble cast came Deadpool’s first live action appearance. Portrayed by Ryan Reynolds, the character was clearly one of the worst aspects of the poorly made film. I am still at a loss for words on how or why X-Men: Origins: Wolverine decided to sew the mouth of the so-called Merc with a Mouth shut, inherently removing a major element of the character, but then it also provided Deadpool with needless powers of other mutants. From the laser beam eyes of Cyclops to the teleportation powers of John Wraith and even the retractable swords of Wolverine, Deadpool’s character was so drastically altered. Combining these elements with the lack of Deadpool’s iconic suit, saw his appearance in the film endlessly criticized and for good reason.
The appearance has since become a laughingstock for Ryan Reynolds as well, reflecting this in the self-referential humor of Deadpool 2. Regardless of this poor characterization X-Men Origins: Wolverine is notable as the first live-action portrayal of Deadpool.
Deadpool (2016)
It took seven years, but Reynolds finally fixes the issues with X-Men Origins in a rebooted movie.
This Deadpool is different, much more like the comics, talkative, quick-witted and with a fondness for breaking the fourth wall. Though the movie is set in the same universe as the X-Men franchise, it has an anarchic spirit that does not mind taking playful jabs at Bryan Singer’s oh-so-serious sensibilities. And smirking to itself as it does so.
We start the film with Wade Wilson already having chosen his super-name, in costume and midway through a scrap on a major freeway. This is interspersed with flashbacks showing him pre-disfiguring mutation, falling in love, being diagnosed with terminal cancer, on to being tortured by Ed Skrein’s main antagonist Ajax (yes, named after the cleaning product). This actually turns out to be a smart structure, one that neatly sidesteps the major issue with most origin stories; in that the suited-up main attraction being absent for the first hour.
Because you don’t have time to dwell on it as it’s playing out before you, it also disguises how slight the overall mission is; a fight, a kidnapping, a rescue attempt, roll credits. It is notable that Deadpool is the perfect example of a character who doesn’t need world threatening danger to foil. His counterpart in the newly released third act of the trilogy, Wolverine typically requires something more interesting to do, while for the most part, what Deadpool is up to is less important compared to the quips he’s making along the way. Of course, this means those quips had better be good.
And this is where the film shines, of course, at its best in moments of meta-humor; Deadpool wondering whether it will be James McAvoy or Patrick Stewart in charge at the X-Mansion, or bemoaning the budgetary reasons leading to him only meeting two X-Men, metallic giant Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and sullen youngster Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand). As long as we are in this territory, the comedic currency overflows. But there are times and an abundance of them, where the comedy is less cerebral and your reaction to the steady stream of jokes about masturbation and oral sex can be tested. For me, this is where the film falters in what is otherwise an enjoyable thrill ride.
In conclusion, with Green Lantern failing to ignite a franchise for him and the poor treatment of Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds finally gets his comic-book film story beginning done up right. And though it is a smutty voice, Deadpool’s voice is finally heard.
The Verdict: The sheer number of sex jokes can be numbing, but Deadpool delivers a fun, patchy alternative to the glut of over-serious ‘the world is about to end unless we do something’ superhero films. A Cute Film Addictive Rating 8.7/10
No Good Deed (2017)
In between the first two films comes this hilarious short film exhibiting the best of Deadpool’s character.
The No Good Deed short film, part Deadpool sequel and part Deadpool 2 teaser, is a hilarious meta exhibition showcasing the strength of Deadpool’s character. The short film shows Deadpool striving to save an old man being mugged and introduces one of Wade Wilson’s greatest live-action villains; a phone booth.
As John Williams’ Superman theme dramatically plays, the film with a note of humor shows Wade trying and failing to put on his Deadpool costume to save the old man, taking over a minute to do so in the confined spaces of a phone booth. Eventually succeeding in his long battle, Deadpool rushes to the old man’s aid. In true Deadpool fashion, he fails to save the old man’s life and instead lies beside his dead body, criticizing phone booths and Wolverine while eating the man’s Ben and Jerry’s. Altogether, this short film perfectly symbolizes everything that works about Deadpool, from the meta-humor to the dark, hilarious storyline. Notable as well, despite its short film nature, No Good Deed features a cameo from the late Stan Lee.
Deadpool 2 (2018)
The hugely-successful Deadpool gets a sequel.
When writing about Deadpool, it’s interesting to note that you are writing about a lead character that is so self-aware that he’s capable of reading said post, then cracking wise about it with mostly inventive offensive put downs. After all, Deadpool is a superhero with his own set of rules, in which nobody is immune to his peculiar brand of hyper wit, including and especially himself. And so it goes with this frantic sequel which opens with a comment on the box office numbers of the original, and ends with Wade Wilson facing his much derided X-Men Origins: Wolverine past head on.
Proving the premise—- mercenary-turned-mutant Wade Wilson shatters bad guys and the fourth wall, as relentlessly and irreverently as possible still had enough life in it for a second film, Deadpool 2 is just as entertaining as its predecessor. That’s to say, if you got on with the first movie’s always winking comedy and unheroic bloody violence, Deadpool 2 is a heck of a ride. The only thing that seems to be at stake here is Wade Wilson’s sanity.
Deadpool, himself, is depressed for much of the film, which is a brave choice for a franchise seemingly founded on extreme snark. But the script, which added Reynolds as co-writer, alongside Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, is able to juggle the surprising emotional diversions along with the standard-issue foolishness. Though he is the ultimate loner, Wade is now desperate for a family, and Reynolds is able to sell the bleaker stuff from beneath his red spandex and burn-victim prosthetics, usually before deftly undercutting it.
Wade does find a family in a plethora of new characters, mostly plucked straight from the comics. Some enjoyed their best screen time in the trailer, but does anyone really care about Shatterstar, anyway? The clear standouts are Domino (Zazie Beetz), whose ‘luck’ superpower makes her enjoyably invincible; and Josh Brolin’s Cable, depicted here as a souped-up Gears of War-esque future soldier. You might quickly forget Brolin was also Thanos, except Deadpool cheekily reminds us.
Despite the swollen ensemble, the show still belongs to Reynolds. Whether he is slicing up the bad guys in a pair of stilettos, or embarking on what is clearly the most ballsy Basic Instinct gag ever put on screen, this without a doubt cements Deadpool as his defining role. With John Wick’s David Leitch in the director’s chair, we get a sequel that’s just as much fun as the original, and action that feels more muscular and ingenious.
The Verdict: With the fun, filth, and entertainment on par with the predecessor, Deadpool 2 leaves no stone un-deconstructed. The naughty man-child of the X-Men universe manages to keep beating them at their own game.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 8.3/10
Once Upon a Deadpool (2018)
Just in time for Christmas 2018, a recut of Deadpool 2 to fit a PG-13 rating. Just what every parent wanted for their child.
A recut of Deadpool 2 titled Once Upon a Deadpool was released to theaters in December 2018. The filmed served as a way to make Deadpool 2 appeal to a wider audience by becoming somewhat more family friendly, with scenes being cut, added, and reworked to fit a PG-13 rating compared to the original film’s R-rating. The film adds some fun with a parody of The Princess Bride, by having Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool read the watered down version of the story to Fred Savage.
Deadpool and Korg React (2021)
In response to Disney acquiring the rights to 20th Century Fox in 2019, Ryan Reynolds and Taika Waititi teamed up in 2021 for Deadpool and Korg React, the first step to introducing the Deadpool character into the MCU. Also working as a promotional video for Free Guy, a film starring both actors and directed by Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy, the short film sees the titular characters reacting to the Free Guy trailer. Deadpool remarks on his resemblance to Ryan Reynolds while asking Korg what he thinks of Taika Waititi, retaining the self-referential humor of the franchise.
Toward the end of the short film, Deadpool asks Korg about his chances of joining the MCU. Korg responds, telling Deadpool to await an email from Marvel Studios, clearly setting up the future involvement of X-Men characters in the MCU. Now we know, this was a direct tease at Deadpool & Wolverine, the character’s giant leap into the franchise.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Just released, the Deadpool movie that introduces our character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Okay, how do I warn you all that are deep, deep Marvel fans. Let’s just say you may want to attend Deadpool & Wolverine with several changes of tighty whities and a responsible buddy to make sure you arrive at home safely afterwards. Maybe, pre-book your general practitioner to be on standby. Because this film goes hard on the in-jokes and wish fulfillment. The relentless onslaught of surprises from cameos to background Easter eggs to long-fan dreamed meet-ups is designed to get audiences screaming and throwing their popcorn in the air.
If you’ve been avoiding the Marvel Universe like it’s the plague and currently rolling your eyes at me, one, I can’t see you (or can I?). Two, there’s no need to worry. The delightful thing about this movie, which is an overwhelming delight itself, is that it’s not just for the franchise faithful. Certainly guilty of that in the past, the studio has a history of creating material labeled for the fans, leaving the rest of the audience feeling like an afterthought. The guy next to you is whooping and howling over the moment and you’re wishing you could pull out your phone for a quick Google search of “who blue guy credits”. But Deadpool & Wolverine attempts to bring everyone along for the ride, including those who don’t know their Magneto from the color magenta. Overall it works, as the self-referential stuff is mostly for decoration. At the core, the film is an extremely affable buddy movie and it’s played to near perfection by real life buddies Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
If the movie has a failure, it’s in the slightly clunky setup, which is somewhat baffling unless the TV series Loki had your full attention. Wade Wilson, aka, Deadpool for some reason is convinced his life will never have purpose. He finds himself in the Time Variance Authority (for clarity, just think of them like a timeline management agency) and is told his universe is going to collapse because of the loss of an “anchor being” that has triggered chaotic ripples throughout the entire world. Believing he can save his timeline, and gain some importance along the way, Deadpool goes to a different reality to grab a replacement version of said anchor being; Wolverine (Jackman). Of course, things do go awry and they wind up in a wasteland full of banished super beings, overseen by the very bald, very bad and telekinetic Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin).
Narratively, it is a bumpy start, but once Reynolds and Jackman are united, the plot smooths out, becoming a quest to get home, and lets their chemistry (bickering) take center stage. They are enjoyable, both immensely comfortable in their respective roles and apparently willing to do just about anything to give the audience a laugh. Reynolds delivers gags at a mile a minute, affectionately poking fun at everything on screen, and frequently off screen, while pushing at both the fourth wall and Marvel’s boundaries. For Jackman, I got to say bringing his career defining character back for a comedy encore was definitely a risk. After all, he ended his Wolverine journey with Logan, without a doubt, as effective a superhero sign-off has ever been filmed. Thankfully, this is a triumph. While the movie is ridiculous, Jackman plays Wolverine just as he always has; brimming with emotion and self-disgust. In a film franchise that doesn’t want to take anything seriously, he manages to deliver a character arc that’s genuinely moving, achieving the highest honor of a second worthy bow-out.
I don’t want to speak about too much of the specifics of Deadpool and Wolverine’s journey as it would spoil some of the enjoyment, but I will say, the film plays all across the Marvel toy box. The tone here is expertly set by director Shawn Levy. There are a ton of scenes he could luxuriate in, preening over just what he has managed to pull off, but he keeps it brisk and swiftly punctures anything that looks like it might get too self-regarding. He lands almost all of the gags, including one which has to rank as the best use of a Marvel cameo ever (mic drop). Whether on screen for seconds or hours, everyone appears to be all-in for the ride.
As the film itself acknowledges (pre Jamie Lee Curtis comments), Marvel is currently “at a low point”, after a string of misfires. To answer the question of whether the franchise still has life in it, Deadpool & Wolverine delivers a statement of a confident yes, and does so by putting character first and Universe second. The movie is laser-focused on the title pair and everything we love about them. There’s no eye on the next chapter, no teases of what’s to come. It’s all about right now and ensuring the audience has the best time possible.
The Verdict: Even with the few early narrative bumps, it’s hard to imagine that you could want more from a movie with this pairing. Marvel definitely hits the mark again.
A Cute Film Addictive Rating 8.9/10
I hope you have enjoyed our journey through the Deadpool franchise. If so, please share, like and comment away! And if after seeing Deadpool & Wolverine, you thirst for more, there is good news. The duo will be back, with the characters now vital to the future of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.
