In the history of cinema, there are more stories of the films not made than of the ones made — the stories deemed uninteresting or lacking an audience; the stories deemed unsellable or absent in creativity. Sometimes there’s a happy ending, such as when a nameless individual released the test footage for the terminated Deadpool movie online and it turned into such a sensation that the film was greenlit and turned into the 2016 action comedy hit for 20th Century Fox. Other times, no matter how much passion one puts into it, a certain ragin’ Cajun never gets the solo story actor Channing Tatum (Free Guy; Magic Mike) desperately tried to get off the ground. Then there’s the Shawn Levy-directed Deadpool & Wolverine, a film which headlines the nearly-cancelled Merc with the Mouth and retired-from-playing Logan as duel-leads in a narrative that explores the idea of legacy for these two characters directly, as well as 20th Century Fox and their stories on the whole. It’s a bit hit-miss as the saccharine and sweet get a little watered down by copious amounts of blood-letting and juvenile humor, but, where it hits, it leaves a mark. Now available on home video on digital with a physical release to come on October 22nd, fans of the film, or MCU completionists, can snag one of several variations that include a stock of bonus materials to further explore this world.
If you’re looking for a spoiler-free review, head over to EoM Senior Critic Hunter Heilman’s initial theatrical release review. Moving forward, we’re going to be spoiling secrets like we’re Marvel Studios’s social media on Night One Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con the night the film released wide in the U.S..
L-R: Actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman with Director Shawn Levy on the set of Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
After the events of Deadpool 2 (2018), Wade attempts to parlay the recent heroics into a seat at the big kid’s table with an interview to join the Avengers on the Sacred Timeline. When that fails, he takes it hard and basically gives up on being a merc, a choice that only makes things worse for him personally. But when he’s abducted by Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen), a member of the Time Variance Authority (TVA) tasked with overseeing Wade’s timeline on Earth-10005, and told the “bosses” think he’s ready to join the Sacred Timeline due to an unknown glorious purpose that leaves Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in tears, his frown turns upside down. But it comes with a catch — his timeline is not only set to expire, it’s going to do so in 72 hours. Refusing to allow his loved ones to die without a fight, Wade finds himself not only banished to The Void, but stuck between the beast that feeds on everything sent there, Alioth, or the mad woman who runs The Void as she sees fit, Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin). Lucky for Wade, he managed to snag himself a Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) before the banishment, but Weapon X may not be enough to save the day. They’re going to need a team.
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Paradox in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
There’s some neat stuff in Deadpool & Wolverine that deserves exploration before getting into everything else, but, first, let’s address something really specific: Marvel and its marketing bungled the hell out of the surprises in this film. Let’s presume for a moment that most folks who felt comfortable to go to the theater went on opening day, not the Thursday night screenings, but the day it opened. The big cameos got ruined by Reynolds and Marvel via their own social media accounts as either the former shared on-set stories and the later posted full videos from Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con. This, of course, was made worse by international fans posting full videos of scenes online involving legacy Fox actors/characters and even the Henry Cavill variant of Wolverine. This was treated as a big release, in part due to the writers’ strike reducing the number of films being released in 2024 and Marvel Studio’s own internal mandate to reduce the number of theatrical releases from 3-4 to 1-2, making the release of Deadpool & Wolverine an event *before* including the return of Jackman as Wolverine. And yet, all of the cameos got spoiled and mostly through official channels to the point where, when this reviewer finally got the theater a few weeks after release, there’s was nothing to surprise me beyond the context that binds them. No wonder the film has the perception by those who didn’t enjoy it as a meaningless cameo-fest meant to press on that nostalgia button in our brain centers rather than see the film for what it sought to be: a heartfelt goodbye to 20th Century Fox.
L-R: Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, and Randall Reeder as Buck 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
The fact is that Blade (1998), starring Wesley Snipes as the titular Daywalker, released first, therefore kicking off the modern Marvel Comics cinematic universe. It’s X-Men (2000) that serves as the basis for Earth-10005’s cinematic universe stories. Blade being released by New Line Cinemas/Warner Bros. Pictures (therefore making it outside the Fox-constructed films) is why it stands alone from X-Men, Daredevil (2003), and all the films that Fox would eventually release (Fantastic Four (2005); Ghost Rider (2007); Elektra (2005)). Due to the purchase of 20th Century Fox by Walt Disney Company, the merging of Disney’s MCU and Fox’s Marvel stories meant that only one would survive the incursion. Of course, these films will always reside on the shelves of those who purchased them, but such a merger requires that some universes won’t continue forward with their stories. To that end, Deadpool & Wolverine, in its usual obscene style, seeks to pay tribute to the universe from which it spawns, making sure to highlight a few of the stories that some may have forgotten since Robert Downey Jr. first declared himself Iron Man at the end of the 2008 release from the then-fledgling production company Marvel Studios and its distribution partner Paramount Pictures. So not only does the script by Rhett Reese (Zombieland films), Paul Wernick (Zombieland films), Zeb Wells (Hell & Back; various Robot Chicken specials), Reynolds (Deadpool 2; Once Upon a Deadpool), and Levy explore legacy through the lens of Wade’s personal disillusionment and Logan’s sense of failure, each on a collision course journey that holds the fate of Earth-10005 (and the others) in the balance, but it does through a backwards look at the stories sent to the figurative and cinematic Void and the collective legacy of Fox (now-Disney).
L-R: Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
Effectiveness is, of course, based on the beholder. Is it a fantastic feeling to see Chris Evans redon the persona of Fantastic Four’s Johnny Storm? Or Snipes as Blade, Jennifer Garner as Elektra, or Dafne Keen as X-23/Laura? Absolutely. Even despite the options-may-vary Blade Trinity (2004) or dismal Elektra solo outing, these two were so perfectly cast in their eras that the films built around them stand on their shoulders. But there’s a difference in emotional resonance between seeing Laura put the same glasses from Logan (2017) on her face pre-battle (all the feels) and Blade regurgitating a stand-out line from Blade that makes less sense in the new context. Or hearing Gambit (Tatum) continually making meta-jokes about his never-to-be-completed film. Much like the first two Deadpool films, there’s a powerful amount of sincerity within Deadpool & Wolverine and all of it is undercut to varying degrees of annoyance by hammering the same jokes, shoe-horning in references, and Deadpool’s excessive vulgarity. Look, author Bruce Coville’s Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher taught me that “you can’t blame a dog for being a dog,” which translates here to you can’t blame Deadpool for being Deadpool, but even the comic version understood when to pull back a bit. The murder of Nicepool (credited to Gordon Reynolds, Ryan’s “twin”) is hilarious because it’s a payoff to a comment made in their first meeting, solidified by Deadpool’s long glance at the camera upon lifting up those beautiful gold-plated IWI Desert Eagle Mark XIX 50.AE handguns. That’s hilarious and speaks to Deadpool’s loose morality, but the continuous jokes about Jackman playing Wolverine into his 90s loses steam quickly, as do the incessant cracks about not understanding Gambit’s accent (this is Deadpool, why does he not know who this is or understand him?), among many other jokes that don’t play on repeat watches. It’s the understated references that make the most impact and align with the narrative’s intention that work the best. Like the aforementioned examples or things like using “Bye Bye Bye” in the opening, which is, itself, a reference back to X2: X-Men United (2003) in which Wolverine expresses a disdain for the song when Aaron Stanford’s Pyro (who returns in Deadpool & Wolverine) tries to play music in a car. These types of references enhance the connective tissue of the Fox universe, a call-back that doesn’t bring attention to itself, but is allowed to exist in the space to be found and explored. The constant pointing at them reduces the effectiveness and overall enjoyment. And there’s plenty to enjoy, including a “sex scene” in that incredibly spacious Honda Odyssey.
Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
Ok, ok, ok — enough of all that. Let’s get into the home release materials and the various formats. Pay attention because, y’all, they’ve started up with the retailer-specific bonus features again. Here’s the good news, all the listed materials at the bottom of this home review are included on the digital editions available through iTunes and MoviesAnywhere and seem to be the major set of materials. These include a brief look into the oner of Deadpool and Wolverine fighting the Deadpool Corps; a tribute to production designer Ray Chan who worked on this, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) Disney+ series, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023); a featurette centering the characters of the Fox Universe; a look at Jackman taking on a more classic comic book approach to the character he’s played for more than 20 years; a commentary track with Levy and Reynolds; plus a gag reel, some promo shorts, and deleted scenes. If you’re good with all of that, this seems also accessible on the standard Blu-ray and 4K UHD (regular or steelbook variations) editions coming October 22nd.
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE steelbook options.
However, it appears that Prime Video, iTunes, Fandango will receive retailer-specific materials as explained from the press release:
Moreover, a maximum effort has gone into Amazon Prime Video’s Bonus X-ray Experience. More revealing than red spandex, it includes featurettes you can’t get just anywhere including Deadpool doodles, character pros and cons, and trivia that’s been fact-checked by the Merc with a Mouth himself (pinkie swear). And there’s a carousel of fun on Fandango at Home and crisp, juicy bits on Apple TV for pumpkin-pie lovers and everyone else, including those who are Avengers-adjacent, to enjoy.
Oddly, using the digital version via iTunes that was provided by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment to create this review, there’s no listing for the materials the press release states. Perhaps it’s something that will unlock later, timed to the physical release. If so, this review will update to include what it is and where to find it.
L-R: Director Shawn Levy and actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman on the set of Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
Ultimately, Deadpool & Wolverine is both the film you expect based on the past two Deadpool experiences — full of crude humor, bloody action, and stunted emotional growth — but it’s also a strangely moving button for the Fox Universe. Minus the Deadpool Corps oner with its atrocious-looking CG, the action set pieces are exciting and often hilarious, one even delivering a surprising amount of pent-up satisfaction. It even manages to take two villains that are a little paper thin and make good use of them by providing simple motivations (Paradox wants to bring back the old ways of the TVA; Cassandra decides that destroying everything is more fun than ruling The Void). All of this could’ve been avoided if Paradox followed procedure or if Deadpool was as dumb as Paradox presumed, but sometimes being a Merc with a Heart of Gold trumps bureaucratic ambition, and we’re all winners as a result. Is there space to argue about the desecrating nature of its opening? Sure. But it wouldn’t be Deadpool if it was being safe. That’s why the film ends up winning people over, because it’s willing to take a few more risks than recent MCU films. With luck, when we find out why Thor’s crying, it’ll come with a bit more restraint so that it won’t be just Deadpool fans who win, but all of us.
Deadpool & Wolverine Special Features*:
- Filmmaker Commentary — Listen to audio commentary by director Shawn Levy and actor Ryan Reynolds. (2:07:47)
- Finding Madonna: Making the Oner — Director Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds break down a historic scene in the film: the “Oner,” which highlights the first fight in which Deadpool and Wolverine finally unite. (6:24)
- Practical Approach: Celebrating the Art of Ray Chan — A tribute to longtime Marvel Studios collaborator Ray Chan, who sadly passed away in 2024. The cast and crew recall anecdotes and echo the resounding positive effects of filming on the set he helped design, full of intricate details and Easter eggs. (9:44)
- Loose Ends: The Legacy Heroes — Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, and the cast and crew go through some of the mind-blowing cameos and the characters who finally get their deserved endings. They cover the intensive choreographed sequences, updated costumes, and assembling the iconic team. (10:11)
- Wolverine — Hugh Jackman describes the return to his iconic role as Wolverine. Cast and crew discuss how he picks up his yellow and blue suit for the first time, brings variety to the role, and continues his legacy from previous films. (6:10)
- Gag Reel — Watch some hilarious outtakes on set with the cast and crew of Deadpool & Wolverine (4:40)
- Three (3) Deleted Scenes (2:18)
- Three (3) “Fun Sack” Videos (3:24)
*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer
Available on digital October 1st, 2024.
Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD October 22nd, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Marvel Studios Deadpool & Wolverine webpage.
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5.
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Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming
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