In her review of Deadpool & Wolverine movie critic Katie Walsh writes: “Plot? Nonsensical. Characters? Thin. Motivation? Eh. But get a load of these cameos!” Yes, Deadpool & Wolverine is full of other Marvel Cinematic Universe characters popping up all through the movie. Kyle Smith of the Wall Street Journal wrote “…meta-jokes in Deadpool & Wolverine are for the most part very funny, but they’re also pretty much all the movie has to offer. After a while it feels like a series of fan-service sketches with a parade of guest stars.”
My favorite character in Deadpool & Wolverine is the beautiful, powerful Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin) who wants to totally wreck all Universes. And, she has might to do it. But Deadpool and Wolverine are too busy fighting each other or generating piles of bodies of Bad Guys who are dumb enough to take them on to pay Cassandra much attention. When not fighting, Deadpool is cracking his snarky jokes and Wolverine is growling.
Kyle Smith also points out a glaring weakness with Deadpool & Wolverine: “Disconcertingly long stretches of the movie are devoted to explaining [the plot] in a script by Mr. Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb, and the film’s director, Shawn Levy, that at times seems like an operating manual for heavy machinery.”
Since Deadpool & Wolverine is the only Marvel movie of the Summer of 2024, beggars can’t be choosers. Diane and I found Deadpool & Wolverine mildly entertaining. The streak of weak and silly MCU movies continues. GRADE: B–
But, apparently, it is making big bucks, so Disney is happy. The dumbing down of movies continues. I do like Reynolds as Deadpool, though, and I’m sure we’ll see it.
Jeff, I like Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, too! His snarky comments light up these Marvel movies. But when you need FIVE screenwriters–Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, & Shawn Levy–something is very wrong.
A bad summer for me movie-wise if not for Hollywood. GHOSTLIGHT was the only movie I’ve really enjoyed. Hopes for SING SING if it even comes here.
Patti, Katie saw TWISTERS and really liked it. We may go see it next week. But, you’re right: Summer Movie Season has been a huge disappointment.
Oh, for the good old days of early Marvel (1961-63), when Stan, Jack, and Steve were at their crazy creative peak with villains like Asbestos Man, Paste Pot Pete, Egghead, the Toad Men, and the Ringmaster. From the reviews, it sounds like D&W has some of the same wackiness. I’ll see it eventually if only for that and for the cameos of the pre-MCU characters/actors. I think the Multiverse concept has worn thin, though.
Fred, I agree. The MCU is in trouble with weak characters and even weaker scripts. Before DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, we saw the trailer to VENOM: THE LAST DANCE coming in October. Yawn.