Deadpool and Wolverine is not just your regular Marvel movie or even your regular Deadpool movie. Contrary to what you may expect, this new blockbuster might be the movie that saved Marvel. The new movie Deadpool and Wolverine, released on July 26, was highly anticipated and long awaited. Many longtime Marvel fans had been waiting for a movie to revive the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). For the longest time, if you follow or watch many Marvel movies, you have probably noticed that due to many failed attempts by recent writers to appeal to the older fan base, Marvel movies have been on a steady decline. People started to see them as repetitive or boring. Marvel needed a movie to bring fans back. Marvel needed a movie that spoke to the audience. Marvel needed Deadpool.
Being a huge Deadpool fan, I was super excited for the third installment of the Deadpool franchise. I was most curious about how they would connect some of the dots between the characters from past movies and integrate them into this one. After watching the movie, I can say that it exceeded all expectations by far and could very well be named movie of the year. If you’ve seen any previous movies, you know that during the runtime, the movie is meant to be comical while delivering a unique experience where Wade speaks directly to the viewers. In this movie, it’s no different. Throughout the movie, Wade makes references and speaks to the people in the theater. Because of Deadpool’s character, Marvel can be experimental, making this movie exciting. For instance, in the introduction, we see Deadpool dancing to the song “Bye, Bye, Bye” by NSYNC. This delivers a juxtaposed view of Wade—a character who kills people dance to a song that would have made no sense in any other movie or setting.
If you missed this movie in theaters, the plot follows Wade Wilson (Deadpool). In the beginning, Wade finally lives the peaceful life he has wished for. He has set aside his days of fighting as Deadpool and is now trying to slowly heal mentally. Everything comes crashing down when he is kidnapped and allowed to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But taking this deal would ultimately lead to the dissolution of his universe. Wade is forced to return as Deadpool again and fight for his world. But to do this, he needs to find Wolverine. Wade eventually finds Wolverine, who reluctantly agrees to help fight.
At one point during the movie, Deadpool looks into the camera and jokingly says to the audience, “I’m Marvel Jesus.” This line feels like Marvel’s acknowledgment that they know their recent movies have struggled to meet fan expectations, and they’re hoping Deadpool and Wolverine is finally here to turn things around for the better. But did it? Deadpool and Wolverine certainly have the potential to be the “Savior” Marvel truly needs. But whether it’s enough to truly “save” the MCU remains a lingering question. One thing is clear: this film has revived Marvel’s fanbase. It’s just a test of time to see if it will last.
The question still remains: Is Deadpool really “Marvel Jesus”? Or is he just the start of a comeback for Marvel? What do you think? Is Marvel coming back? Or is there still much work to be done?
