The Marvel universe has solidified itself in the Hall of Fame, especially after years upon years of building and growing. But how big is too big? And how long can they go on like this? After many hits and a few flops, it seems as though the hype may be overshadowed by the true quality of the films, leaving some of us wanting more. Now, I’m not personally a huge Marvel fanatic (or an action fan in general), but when Deadpool made its way to theaters, I was encapsulated. This film is unlike any other feature under the Marvel umbrella, and it took the people by storm. With overwhelmingly positive reviews, Deadpool quickly became one of the most iconic anti-heroes. His controversial humor and unapologeticness won over audiences, as these aren’t traits we normally see in our typical superheroes. However, as the series continues to grow, it seems as though the films may be losing their initial essence. Although Deadpool was an immediate classic, and the second one followed close behind, the third movie in the franchise, Deadpool & Wolverine, felt like a spin-off that nobody asked for, as it lacked the authenticity and the unique feel of the others.
If you’ve seen Deadpool, you know it’s not your typical hero vs. villain trope, in fact, he even says it himself: “…this is a love story” as the majority of the film centers around his love interest, Vanessa. She and Wade (Deadpool) fall in love swiftly and unexpectedly, changing both of their lives immensely over the course of about a year, but their lives flip upside down when Wade is diagnosed with terminal cancer with only months to live. He then seeks experimental treatment through a man named “Ajax” (yes, like the cleaning brand), which results in him being permanently mutated and leaves his face extremely disfigured. This is his origin story and one that has never been seen before. His motivations are revenge on Ajax (who we later find out is really named Francis), but only so he can live in peace with his precious Vanessa once more.
Throughout the film, Deadpool has such a unique attitude that we’d never expect from a “superhero,” as he makes clever, yet inappropriate jokes constantly, tortures criminals for money, and even breaks the fourth wall. His support heroes, some of the X-Men, try their best to keep Wade out of trouble, as he refuses to accept the title of a “hero” until he has the liberty to do the job his way… A.K.A. going straight for the kill with no respect for anyone who gets in his path. These aspects of his personality, this unmatched attitude, are the reasons why Deadpool shines through the huge crowd of heroes in the Marvel universe. His humor combined with his ambition and trauma created such a beautiful balance between comedy and action, resulting in a quick classic that captured the hearts of many.
However, this all comes to a halt in the third film. To start us off, not only do they bait us with an optimistic opening scene that many people loved, but they immediately rip it away and put us right into the dumps. One may also note that this is extremely similar to the first part, as structurally they both start en media res which is Latin for “in the midst of things,” and is used to grab your attention. While this is a small detail, it’s one that I wish was a little more unique to the first film. As they bring our attention back to the true start of things, the unraveling story only brings us down more, revealing that Wade and Vanessa are no longer in a relationship. Not only did this shatter MY heart to pieces, but we can only imagine the pain our protagonist is in as well. This is a crucial aspect of the narrative, as it leaves Wade with next to nothing to work and live for anymore. He’s in what anyone would call a “midlife crisis” as he tries to find his purpose once more through the futile challenge of becoming an Avenger.
As if taking Vanessa away wasn’t enough, what irks me the most about the film is Wade’s willingness to conform. The 2016 Deadpool that I know and love wouldn’t bother giving the Avengers the time of day, let alone pour his heart into an empty audition. Throughout the entirety of the film, all Wade talks about is his desire to be a hero and the type to “save the world,” which is not like him at all. Clearly, the producers want to give him a sense of being lost to leave room for development, but this just doesn’t resonate with his original morals.
I would have preferred to see Deadpool and Wolverine do a much more grounded mission to bring them together, rather than an out-of-this-world-time-travel-multiverse plot, which is incredibly difficult to follow by the way. This brings us to my second least favorite aspect of the film: the fact that I had no idea what was happening. I like action movies and would love to indulge in the Marvel fan club like so many of my peers, but what I despise is the interconnected web of lore in which all the films partake, making it impossible to keep up. Here’s a list of entertainment you need to watch to fully understand the Deadpool and Wolverine plot:
- Loki (show – 2 seasons)
- Thor: Ragnarok
- X-Men
- Logan
- The Avengers
- The Avengers: Age of Ultron
- The Avengers: Infinity War
- The Avengers: End Game
Now guess how many I’ve seen? That’s right, none of them. Having so much going on in one movie takes away focus from the main character and his original motivations. Not only that, but it leaves me feeling like Wade is merely a side character amid all the chaos, which is disappointing in a self-titled film that should be centered around him.
With all things considered, it was an entertaining film that I’d say was overall worth the watch, but it definitely lacked some of the most important elements of a Deadpool film. I was once ecstatic to hear about a new Deadpool, but now I’m in fear that they will continue to produce more but with less and less quality. However, it still made me laugh and appreciate the rawness of Wade Wilson’s character, and I’m excited to see the unique heroism that he brings to the MCU.
