“Disney brought him back! They’re gonna make him do this ’til he’s ninety!”

Story: Since the events of 2, Deadpool has been [CENSORED] [REDACTED], and so when [REDACTED]? He [CENSORED] [CENSORED], then [REDACTED]. Who’s to say what will happen next? It’s probably gonna include a whole lot of [CENSORED]. {guest editor – Kevin Feige, probably}

Genre I’d put it in: Sequels That Just Keep Getting Better
Release Date: 2024
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on the Marvel character. The third film in the Deadpool…thing.

Gotta say: I’m keeping this review #SpoilerFree. Not because I’d face the Wrath of Feige (which I probably would), but because I really, really want you to experience the crazy, awe, and straight-up fist-pumping joy that I did when I finally got my peepers onto this film. D&W was always gonna be highly anticipated, with fans crossing fingers and toes that the movie would do their hopes and dreams justice. I’m here to tell you that it’s everything you never thought you needed. You may have believed you had a good grasp on what’s in store, but honey? Buckle all the way up.

Let me start by saying that the opening credits scene might be the best one yet. It’s a part of the action, it’s disrespectful, irreverent, and tasteless, and I loved every second of it. As Deadpool himself says? “That logo music gets you pumped!” Speaking of music, the soundtrack is a messy mélange that’s completely appropriate for this similarly styled story. My only quibble? Sometimes it’s just too loud, too in-your-face, it feels like overkill. Yes, I understand that D&W is supposed to be crazy. But the sound editing during several of the music-forward action scenes could be taken down a notch or twelve. Now, back to my simping.

The dialogue is it’s usual chaotic, no-holds-barred fantasticness, but there is one thing I need to address. I was really hoping for a Pride & Prejudice riff, as 2005’s Darcy Matthew Macfadyen is on board here. (Not a spoiler – he’s heavily in the trailers.) What can I say, I’m a Regency junkie. Outside of that obvious misstep that no, I will not get over? The script is tight, or as tight as it can be with Deadpool’s penchant for wandering off topic like a kid seeing his first butterfly. The film has one over-arching plot that it stays true to, but getting to the Endgame finale takes a whole lot of side quests that at once feel like strange tangents and wholly integral to the story. Think Quantumania, but if it’d been done right. I said what I said. (That chaotic mess has not aged well in this ol’ brainpan, enjoyable performances bedamned.)

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman play off each other as if born to do so. But then you already know that, at least you do if you’ve been alive any time during the past eight years or so. As with the OG and 2, the cast is amazing, from the old gang to the new recruits. I’d love to discuss exactly how awesome a few of them are, but I don’t want to spoil the experience of you meeting them for the first time yourownself. I will say that one of the original gang, Rob Delaney’s Peter, gets the special shout-out this time. He’s wonderful here, and a nice cluelessly happy foil for Deadpool to play off of. (But also because my real shout-out is a big ol’ spoiler, so I can’t say. But y’all. Y’ALL.)

With all the various variants, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are stealth cameos by other famous folks. Expect speculation to go batshit once folks really get a chance to ruminate on the who/what/where of it all. It’s me, I’m folks. I still wanna know who’s LadyPool. Fess up, Blake. Taylor? Bueller?

D&W is pandering taken to high art. It’s got a butt-ton of fan service, but you don’t have to know umpity-three-zillion films/shows/comic books to have a good time. The storyline is easy to follow, and even though n00bs may not reach the fist-pumping, horn-throwing heights that I did? The interactions between good, bad, and Other characters make this film worth a trip to the multiplex. The story is intriguing, and I’m definitely interested in seeing how bits of this film show up in future Marvel joints. (Especially as how this film does the multiverse better than just about anything else the MCU has had on offer.) But more importantly, this is just a plain-ol’ good time. Raucous, raunchy, and at times even sweet, this film brings a lot to the table. If you’re hungry – and I’m betting you are – dig in.

#Protip: Yes, of course there are mid- and post-credits scenes in this film. And yes, you’re gonna want to see them. The post-credits scene had me wondering what this could mean for future films, or if it was simply a thing they were doing… Enjoy!