For a while, it looked like Deadpool was dead in the water.  Though the first two films were mega-successful upon their releases in 2016 and 2018, and a third film was all but guaranteed, after the Disney-Fox merger, the Merc with a Mouth fell into a strange limbo where no one at its new Mouse House home knew what to do with him.  Could the R-rated hero remain foul-mouthed and engage in blood-soaked battles while lampooning the studio that paid his salary?  Or would Disney show they had a sense of humor and recognize how integrating this adult-oriented audience favorite could enhance their ever-expanding supernova of comic book characters?

Managing to charm the pants (and who knows what else) off the execs, Deadpool has returned to screens after six years and brought a familiar face with him.  The third official Deadpool outing reunites audiences with Ryan Reynolds’ wisecracking Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman’s iconic Wolverine, a partnership last seen in the notorious X-Men Origins: Wolverine from 2009.  That movie was largely thumbs-downed by most who saw it (I liked it, go figure) and failed to launch Reynolds into a spin-off as Deadpool, which was probably a good thing because the character existed in a very different form then.

Clues have been dropped about a Deadpool/Wolverine mash-up over the past two films, but if you think about it, it’s incredible that it happened.  In 2017’s Logan, Jackman said goodbye to the razor-clawed mutant in an emotional, classy film that felt far afield from any “comic book” movie fans were used to.  To many, it was a graceful, controlled exit, and the film remains a highlight in the franchise and Jackman’s career.  Hearing that he had decided to return to the role felt a bit in the vein of Cher and Elton John going on their third or fourth Farewell Tour.  Didn’t Jackman want to try something else on for size?

From the first opening moments of Deadpool & Wolverine, it’s clear that we’re in for a little bit of what we’ve come to expect from the Reynolds series so far, but with a sizable helping of the dramatic heft Jackman is capable of bringing to the table.  It’s a cinematic rollercoaster of a film, blending the often rocky irreverence of Deadpool with the grizzled gravitas of the adamantium-clawed Wolverine. At a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in dire need of a shot of adrenaline, Deadpool & Wolverine isn’t acting just as a mere threequel but a hyperkinetic lifeline for a flailing franchise that manages to both honor and smugly subvert decades of X-Men lore.

I’d re-watched the first two films (BTW, if it matters, the first one holds up while the second one feels less critical to retain knowledge of) the night before the screening, but even I struggled a bit with finding the rhythm of the first half hour or so of the film. As with the previous films, the screenplay starts at one hazardous point for Deadpool and then rewinds to show us how he found himself in the predicament.  Again scripted by Reynolds & Rhett Reese with assistance from Zeb Wells and director Shawn Levy, the action is a bit frantic as we discover Wade has put away his Deadpool persona for a quieter life as a used car salesman. 

This has led to a fissure in his relationships, notably with his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin, Last Looks) and roommate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams, American Fiction).  On the eve of his birthday, he contemplates what comes next when he’s whisked away to a special division of the Time Variance Authority led by Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms).  Overseeing the upkeep of various universes, the authority figure lets Wade know that with the loss of Wolverine (i.e., the events of Logan), Wade’s universe is set for destruction.  This existential threat is compounded by Deadpool being offered the chance to leave his universe and join another…one with a team of, uh, avenging allies he’s long wanted to join.

What would happen if Wade/Deadpool could track down a Wolverine from another universe, though, one that wouldn’t miss him?  Could he save his universe with a heroic deed strong enough to win over the thorny iron hearts of hulking captains fighting for good?  There’s only one way to find out, which is when the movie finally kicks into a higher gear, elevating this from the third Deadpool film to the years-in-the-making collaboration fans have been clamoring for.  He finds a battle-worn Wolverine even more reluctant to join a fight than he was…and for good reason. 

That’s all I can divulge about the plot without risking a visit from Disney’s mutant enforcers.  Besides, the plot serves as a launching pad for jaw-dropping cameos, a few that are so unbelievable you may need to pinch yourself to confirm you’re awake and not dreaming.  I’m no Marvel superfan, but I was even honestly stunned at the level of surprise the filmmakers were able to pull off.  I purposely avoid reading too much ahead of time (and so should you) so these could be already rumored, but wow, did our press crew go wild.  If we went bonkers with our notebooks and pens flying in the air, I can’t imagine what will happen when you add a general audience to the mix, what with their popcorn, soda, and Skittles.  These appearances aren’t just fan service; they’re carefully crafted moments that add genuine value and variety to the story…while simultaneously blowing your mind.

Reynolds has found a groove with this role, and while his naysayers will find this film extra aggravating (no quip is left unclipped), I’m not sure who else could ever have filled this red suit so fully.  His ability to break the fourth wall keeps the audience on their toes, and whenever the schtick gets pushed too far to the limit, Levy pivots to Jackman, who has returned to his most famous part with vigor and verve.  In his tenth appearance of Wolverine, the Aussie actor is compelling, and his physical preparation for the role is strikingly evident.  Even after playing the character for over two decades, he finds new layers, a sign of Jackman’s lasting investment and versatility.  The on-screen chemistry between the two actors is electric and eclectic, making for one of the most unexpectedly perfect pairings in recent memory.

Of the others I CAN tell you are in the cast, Emmy winner Macfadyen is a highlight with his TVA agent bringing a droll sense of fun and complication to the lives of our leads.  However, I found the film’s main baddie especially fun.  Emma Corrin’s (Lady Chatterley’s Lover) Cassandra Nova is a deliciously wicked addition to the Marvel villain roster, one of the more memorable to be found after a series of dull shrugs that barely registered outside of grandiose prosthetic makeup or CGI enhancements.  Instead, Corrin channels a menacing charm with her ability to literally run her fingers through the minds of her adversaries.  How (and where) she fits into this mix is evident to fans, but she’s woven in nicely to the journey Deadpool & Wolverine are on to reset their dying timeline.

Having worked with Jackman in Real Steel and Reynolds in The Adam Project and Free Guy, Levy brings a unique comedic touch to the film previous that directors Tim Miller and David Leitch didn’t quite have a feel for.  Balancing humor with the high stakes required of these action epics, he walks that tonal tightrope the best when he allows Jackman and Reynolds to trade barbs that move their characters forward and is less successful when it’s just them trolling the other.  At 127 minutes, the film has many stellar moments, but a few that feel repetitive could have been more creatively conceptualized. 

The last several films in the MCU have felt, or looked rather, a little rushed in the visual effects department, but Deadpool & Wolverine has been given the deluxe treatment.  Couple that with longtime Marvel artist Ray Chan’s production design which creates a world that, although clearly manufactured, convincingly immerses us in a comic-book-esque reality, and there’s an energetic vibe to match its perfect needle drops.  A trademark of the Deadpool series, the music plays a massive part in the action.  So, while Rob Simonsen’s score is used wisely, it’s the recognizable hits that come at the right  moment you’ll remember most.  Of course, you’ve already gotten a preview of the slick costume designs from Graham Churchyard and Mayes C. Rubeo in the bountiful amount of marketing materials that have been released.  However, you haven’t seen the half of it!

A wild romp that promises a good time for adults (seriously, leave the kids at home for this one), Deadpool & Wolverine embraces its roots with every emotional twist and proves there’s still life in the superhero genre…or at least in this universe.  It’s a hell of a good time.  Grab your popcorn bucket (do you have your Wolverine one from AMC yet?), buckle up, and prepare for this R-rated rollercoaster.