‘Laughing In Tears’: Despite Deadpool And Wolverine’s Story Flaws, Critics Say Ryan Reynolds’ Jokes Are Ruthless As He Enters The MCU

There is a phenomenal comedic magic that Ryan Reynolds is able to conjure when he sinks into this character and throws on that mask, as his comedic timing is impeccable and with every breath comes some kind of ridiculous witticism, weird threat, or meta commentary that inspires hysterics. There will be value in a second screening for many reasons (there are tiny references and easter eggs hidden everywhere), but the greatest plus will be hearing lines that I missed while recovering from giggle fits.

The cameos are spectacular in a way that will resonate with anyone who’s been going to the multiplexes over the last 30 years (one of them left me laughing in tears), and the best of them are lovingly extended into genuine supporting roles. The logic is seldom coherent and the plotting never more than a thin excuse to put these characters in the same place, but Deadpool & Wolverine squeezes a ton of mileage from turning the memories of 20th Century Fox into an island of misfit toys — one that allows some of the biggest punchlines and abandoned promises in superhero movie history to get the second chance that no other genre could ever hope to give them.

In fact, so much of the fun — and if nothing else, this character is fun — there is absolutely nothing off limits coming out of his mouth, a crackerjack quipster who constantly breaks the fourth wall, letting nothing and no one off the hook including the studio paying for all this, even using a certain verboten sexual term to state, ‘I know what it means, but it certainly is new for Disney!’ The jokes come at you so rapid-fire this time, even more than in the first two Deadpools, that one viewing is way not enough.

Reynolds’ command of Wade Wilson’s whipping wit is wazor-sharp as ever – applying it to the current state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he’s able to bring the self-important franchise down to Earth. You can practically see Reynolds slamming a binder full of Kevin Feige-focused jokes onto a table and recording every single one. The self-referential material is unpredictable and incisive – enough at first to make this the most dangerous the MCU has felt since there were six Infinity Stones on the board.

While the story itself is a bit predictable, nobody cares. Superhero battles happens on both individual and mass levels, myriad Easter eggs leap from the corners, and more than anything, there’s Reynolds’ famous, incessant quipping. Cameos abound and are both surprising and contextual. There’s no chance to pause and relax in this film. Even the human moments are still punctuated by Deadpool’s irreverent humour. The focus rests with Wolverine but this is Deadpool’s film. Deadpool & Wolverine is enjoyable on its merits: R-rated, horribly violent juvenile fantasy loaded with nostalgic references from the glory days of comic reading that fans, new and old, will thoroughly enjoy as it drags you down to its irreverently funny level.