Deadpool and Wolverine review: "An action-packed, gag-stuffed crowdpleaser that gives the franchise a much needed lift"

There's a lot at stake in Deadpool and Wolverine. Not just Wade Wilson's timeline – which finds itself on course for extinction – but also, on a meta-level, the Marvel Cinematic Universe itself, which has a hell of a lot riding on this one. This is the only theatrical release for the ongoing series this year. The cinema-conquering mega-franchise was unstoppable for more than a decade, minting billion-dollar franchises with what looked like ease, and culminating an unprecedentedly massive storytelling experiment with Avengers: Endgame, the second highest-grossing film of all time (and briefly holding the top spot before being nudged down by an Avatar re-release).

But following the culmination of the Infinity Saga, the MCU hasn't maintained that enviable hit rate. That's not to say there haven't been successes, but critically and commercially there has been a noticeable recent dip, which means Deadpool has more than just those katanas on his shoulders. It's a lot of pressure for a snarky, fourth-wall-breaking superhero outlier, who here appoints himself as the 'Marvel Jesus' of the sacred timeline. But as Deadpool and Wolverine proves, Pool's innate irreverence is ideal for, if not a full reset, a circuit breaker for the franchise. At its best, Deadpool and Wolverine is laugh-out-loud funny, with some killer action and a ton of in-jokes, nods, and cameos. Basically, all you could hope for an MCU movie at this point, even if it's more of a welcome respite than a new start.

Picking up some time after the events of Deadpool 2, Wade's hung up his red-and-black suit and is earning an unsatisfying living in car sales. He's also split up with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), having found himself stuck in a rut without a higher calling (or an invitation to join the Avengers). But as this film needs to bring Deadpool into the orbit of the 'sacred timeline' (Earth-616, or the canon MCU timeline), it's not long till he's unexpectedly abducted by the TVA (Time Variance Authority), as introduced in the Loki Disney Plus series: it certainly helps if you've done your homework, and the film certainly rewards those who know their MCU from their 20th Century Fox, and for whom Kevin Feige is a household name.

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Of course, Wolverine also plays a crucial role here, as the title suggests. Despite meeting a noble end in 2017's Logan, Hugh Jackman is back in his signature role, having been exhumed (literally, in one amusing early sequence) to help solve the problem that's going to wipe out Deadpool's timeline (aka, the Fox universe, where the X-Men existed before the Disney merger brought them all under the same banner). Of course, this is a variant Wolvie, but the key point of difference here is that he's rocking the classic yellow and blue suit, but otherwise, he'll feel familiar to fans of the X-movies. Although here, he's a little gruffer, a harder drinker, and even more angst-burdened than his previous iteration, for reasons that'll gradually become clear.

The chalk-and-cheese pairing of Deadpool and Wolverine – and, off-screen, banter buddies Jackman and Reynolds, who’ve earned their fees on the seemingly endless publicity circuit – is the key selling point here, and it delivers. Reynolds has the motormouthed clowning down pat, delivering an *NSYNC-soundtracked dance number/goon battle with gusto. Credited on the screenplay once again, Reynolds nabs the film's funniest lines – not everything lands, but delivered at such a ferocious rate, a self-reflexive zinger is never far off. Jackman, meanwhile, invests an unexpected level of gravitas into a role that could've easily been a cynical exercise. That he's still bringing so much to the character on his 10th appearance (12th, if you're counting archive footage/picture cameos in the previous Deadpool movies) is astonishing, and a testament to his acting (mutton) chops.

While the odd couple are the backbone of the narrative, key new players include Emma Corrin's Cassandra Nova – the Crown actor making an impressive impact with their relatively brief screentime – and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Paradox, the TVA suit tasked with guiding Deadpool towards his destiny. Macfadyen understands the assignment, delivering another nicely pitched corporate sleazeball, albeit in a different register to Succession's Tom Wambsgams. Rob Delaney's Peter again delights with fleeting appearances.

Directors rarely put a unique stamp on Marvel movies, tending to conform to the house style. New to the series, Shawn Levy has previous form with both Reynolds (Free Guy, The Adam Project) and Jackman (Real Steel), and corrals all the requisite elements with slick assurance, but also adds an undercurrent of heart that was absent in the previous Deadpool movies. Under the R-rated exterior, Deadpool's sweetness shines through (particularly where Dogpool is involved). There's also a sense of personal stakes, which often feels absent in franchise lynchpins.

The action for the most part has a pleasing comic-book dynamism to it. And despite this being the inaugural Disney Deadpool (or perhaps because of that), there are no holds barred in terms of cartoonishly over-the-top bloodletting and bone-snapping, and near-the-knuckle gags.

Despite some of the cameos being revealed in the deluge of pre-release trailers, there are surprise appearances here that will delight even the most avid followers. That's the biggest miracle that this messiah manages here, with some genuine jaw-to-floor coups. How the film will play on repeat viewings when the surprise factor is gone is debatable. And for all its brash swagger, there are punches pulled. Deadpool and Wolverine stays away from a hard reboot, and reminds you more than once that MCU movies like to have their cake and eat it. Enough plot strands are left dangling that you almost wish the TVA had've stepped in and had a tidy up. But in the moment, it’s a hell of a lot of fun squeezed into a runtime that’s lean considering the sheer amount of fan service that's packed in. LFG.

Deadpool and Wolverine is out in cinemas in the UK on July 25 and in the US on July 26. 

For more on the MCU, check out our guides to upcoming Marvel movies and shows, our breakdown of the Marvel timeline, and how to watch the Marvel movies in order.