Review: Deadpool & Wolverine is fun as f*ck

Deadpool & Wolverine proves that sometimes all you need to keep things fresh is to completely ignore the rules and embrace the chaos. Coming at a time when superhero fatigue is real and audiences are weary of cookie-cutter plot lines, this film stands out by letting its two leads—Deadpool and Wolverine—go completely wild, without worrying about fitting neatly into the MCU.

Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) revels in being the rogue of the Marvel world. His unapologetic raunchiness, violence, and meta-everything make him an odd fit under Disney’s umbrella. Yet here, the studio doesn’t try to rein him in. If anything, they double down. Right from the get-go, Deadpool is dropping fucks left and right, reminding us that even under the Mouse’s watchful eye, this franchise hasn’t lost its edge. In the first five minutes, we REALLY see where the R-rating was for —and it just keeps going. Is it excessive? Absolutely. Does it work? Surprisingly, yes. Part of the charm lies in the sheer audacity of it all, the shock that this is technically a Disney movie.

But Deadpool isn’t alone though. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, fresh from his iconic farewell in Logan (this is what it feels like..), is back and, well, he’s as gruff, violent, and cigar-chomping as ever. Despite the years that have passed since we last saw Jackman wield his claws, he slips right back into the role like he never left. The movie gives him just enough narrative justification to return without stepping on the toes of Logan’s emotional send-off, though fans of that film might still feel conflicted about seeing him in action again. Nevertheless, Jackman’s chemistry with Reynolds is undeniable—Wolverine’s surly demeanor plays perfectly against Deadpool’s manic energy, and their back-and-forth is a joy to watch.

The movie shines brightest in its self-awareness. Deadpool, as always, breaks the fourth wall with reckless abandon, poking fun at everything from the X-Men timeline to the state of the superhero genre. Cameos pop up in surprising places, but unlike other Marvel films, they don’t feel like obligatory fan service. They fit the absurdity of the story and bring a sense of interconnectedness without overshadowing the main characters.

That said, the film isn’t without its flaws. The pacing drags at times, and while the villains (led by Cassandra Nova) do their job, they don’t leave much of a lasting impression. They’re serviceable, but not particularly memorable, and they don’t quite reach the level of menace we’ve seen from Marvel’s best antagonists (please bring back Mads). It’s clear that the focus here is on the dynamic between Deadpool and Wolverine, and the villains take a backseat to that relationship.

Still, Deadpool & Wolverine is just plain fun. It’s loud, fucked up, bloody, and completely unapologetic about what it is. It might not be the film that revitalizes the superhero genre, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a breath of fresh air in a landscape cluttered with self-important blockbusters. More importantly, it delivers exactly what fans of these characters want—thank you.

At the end of the day, that’s what makes this movie work. It’s Deadpool and Wolverine being exactly who they are, in a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. And honestly, that’s enough.