Deadpool & Wolverine

Okay, I was not expecting to write this particular post this week, but I was surprised on the weekend with an invitation to see Deadpool & Wolverine with my dad and his girlfriend. Of course I said yes.

And I'm so glad I did.

I can't write much for fear of spoiling this one, so I'll try and keep it vague. Needless to say, I really loved this movie.

It's easy to win me over in this case. I have loved Wolverine since I was a kid, watching the Saturday morning X-Men cartoon (can still sing you the opening theme) in the 90s. It's cliché, I suppose, to love the gruff "tough-but-ultimately-has-a-soft-heart" short king, but I have loved Wolverine forever all the same. Cool factor be damned.

When I heard they were finally doing a live-action X-Men, I was the usual mix of nervous and excited whenever I hear that something I love is being adapted. The first X-Men film was fun, and I loved it. And Hugh Jackman did an excellent job as Wolverine.

However much I feel the rest of the franchise could have been better, the continuation of Wolverine's story in independent films with The Wolverine and Logan were both excellent. As I recall anyway. I haven't rewatched The Wolverine yet. I remember liking it, though.

I wasn't a Deadpool fan initially. I knew precious little about the character, other than he was a tongue-in-cheek, fourth-wall breaking sort of character. Until I watched his stand-alone film. It was so damned smart, fun and funny I couldn't help but get excited for the next installments.

When I heard this movie was being made I was over the moon.

And it did not disappoint.

There is, of course, the signature Deadpool fourth-wall breaking, quips and pop-culture references. But, as is the case with these movies, there is a great deal of heart in the movie. Jackman, of course, portrays the angry, broken man that is Logan exceedingly well, creating an incredible juxtaposition between the silliness of Deadpool's entire MO, and the pathos of Wolverine's tragic hero/anti-hero persona that fits so very well together.

Couple that with a few extremely surprising cameos (one literally made accidentally curse out loud, followed by some serious surprised laughter) and some absolutely hilarious gags, this movie delivered everything I had hoped for and more.

Be warned, it is R-rated. There is a lot of blood and a lot of swearing. But if that doesn't offend you, you will have a brilliant time watching this movie. I did.

Six out of five stars. Go see it.