Movies with Isaiah: Reynolds', Jackman's comedic chemistry in 'Deadpool and Wolverine' is perfection
The Marvel Cinematic Universe combined with Disney surged with record-breaking successes like an unstoppable juggernaut. All their theatrical outings with the Marvel logo displayed guaranteed, confirmed success in the box office and critical acclaim. It became quite conceivable to wonder if they were invincible, given there were no signs of any weaknesses in their foundation.
Years later the Marvel Cinematic brand began a gradual descent into a realm of unfamiliarity, coming face to face with a reality it has never experienced. The initial phase titled "The Infinity Saga" came to a satisfying conclusion with the release of "Avengers: Endgame" that tied up all revelatory storylines and brought closure to significant character themes, and as a result, fans and the public found themselves asking, "Is there anywhere else to go after 'Endgame?'"
Unfortunately, Marvel/Disney showed obvious signs of complacency with the approach of churning out products in quantity over quality. The result created an essence of burning out the core audience with storylines exhibiting no important stakes, character development concepts not resonating on an emotional level and without the key actors that made the Marvel Cinematic Universe work as a collective force of nature. It became painfully obvious there was no coherent plan in determining a direction after "Endgame" concluded.
July 26, 2024, marked the official debut of "Deadpool and Wolverine's" inclusion within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ryan Reynolds reprised his role as the unstable, vulgar, fourth wall breaking mercenary Wade Wilson/Deadpool, and Hugh Jackman reprised his iconic role as Logan/Wolverine. It is also ironic to note how the character of Wolverine received a beautiful and emotional swansong cinematic feature titled "Logan." Reynolds successfully convinced Jackman to return to the character and join the Marvel franchise. Fans rejoiced knowing that Wolverine appearing means the X-Men will appear in the future.
The storyline of "Deadpool and Wolverine" begins with Wilson retiring the moniker of Deadpool, living a nice, quiet life with his friends, working as a used car sales associate, until he finds himself called upon in repairing a fracture within the multiverse of existence. To successfully complete the task at hand, he must find and recruit Wolverine in his quest. The Logan he encounters is a far different version than the one from previous X-Men outings.
Reynolds' and Jackman's comedic chemistry is absolute perfection with their performances. Both of their naturally charismatic personalities capturing the essence of their respective characters are what propel the film into an entertaining spectrum with intelligent and humorous banter, important convincing facial expressions and scathing, witty dialogue audiences alike easily relate to based on their own experiences. Wade's representation is annoying little brother, refusing to take matters seriously, going out of his way to press the buttons of his ally and Logan being the gruff, blunt, outspoken mindset reeling from an exorbitant amount of grief in relation to the pain of his past.
What I always felt was missing from past comic book adaptations is the element of excitement and pure entertainment value. Deadpool and Wolverine bring forth a unique atmosphere, which I can only describe as pure comic book bliss. Witnessing Wolverine wear his comic book-accurate costume on the big screen was a dream come true. For years, debates echoed across myriad internet forums questioning how the overall look would translate into a live-action perspective. Audiences received their answer with how wonderfully the full-color scheme worked with the dynamic of this film. The action sequences provided a refreshing approach, resembling actual comic book pages coming to life in ways I did not believe were possible.
Statements from the past conveyed that brighter and faithful color schemes would be too distracting, providing no substance, which were effectively proven wrong with "Deadpool and Wolverine." It honestly disappoints me that the embrace of the faithful comic book costume approach came later rather than sooner. My advice is to pick up any X-Men comic from the past or watch the animated series from the '90s. Afterward, watch "Deadpool and Wolverine" to fully understand what I am articulating with the description of how visually this film captured the comic book atmosphere.
"Deadpool and Wolverine" offers surprise cameos I will not spoil for those who have not watched the film. This cinematic story is a love letter to the fans and overall audience that have followed the superhero genre from its inception. Surprisingly, this film also has sentimental moments touching the emotional core.
Is this going to revitalize the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Probably not, although it is a step in the right direction with providing true entertainment and excitement without overcomplicating the feature presentation. The action is gruesome, violent, bloody and fun. Reynolds and Jackman easily slip into their roles as if they never left, and in the end, "Deadpool and Wolverine" arrived at the perfect time with the correct approach.
Another way of viewing this film is to think classic buddy cop comedies like "48 Hours," "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Police Academy" intertwined with the world of Marvel Comics. I can safely say this was the most fun I had in a theater for a comic book presentation since "Spider-Man: No Way Home." I apologize for the vagueness of this review. It is important to experience "Deadpool and Wolverine" on the big screen for the full appreciation and effect of the story.
My final rating is a resounding 10/10 and two thumbs up for giving fans like me and the public what we had yearned for from our childhood into our adult years. Be prepared for violent, profane, humorous hilarity, graphic fight sequences and a truly entertaining adventure through memory lane.
To watch Isaiah Ridley's movie reviews online, find him @Izzy's Cinematic Escape on YouTube.