NEW YORK (OSV News) – Rampant slaughter interspersed with snark characterizes the Marvel Comics adaptation “Deadpool & Wolverine” (Disney). While director Shawn Levy’s film ostensibly conveys hopeful messages, spurting blood and joyfully dispatched extras litter the screen throughout its running time, blocking out any positive takeaways.
The plot plays on the worn-out genre device of multiple realities unfolding at once by having a chronology-controlling villain, Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), threaten to destroy the timeline within which the few people Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool cares about exist. To thwart him, the motor-mouth smart-aleck will have to team with Hugh Jackman’s dyspeptic Wolverine.
It’s not a winning combination.
The pair’s ensuing quest — which eventually has them going up against Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), a wicked mutant who can read minds, as well — seeks to peddle a bit of optimism amid the barrage of sarcasm. Specifically, viewers are meant to learn lessons about the value of teamwork and the possibility of redemption for guilt-ridden, booze-sodden Wolverine.
Like Deadpool’s aspiration to be a true hero, however, these glimmers of moral respectability are quickly quenched by sequences in which maiming, disemboweling and beheading are carefully choreographed to pop music ditties. “You’d better shape up,” admonishes the late Olivia Newton-John during one such interlude. If only.
The film contains hideous gory violence, degrading sexual humor, a recurring semi-blasphemous joke, several uses of profanity, numerous milder oaths and pervasive rough and crude language. The OSV News classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
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