Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) is offered a place in the MCU by The Time Variance Authority (TVA) as long as he does not kick up a fuss about the fact that his universe is going to cease to exist. This of course is never an option for the “merc with a mouth”. 

Seeking out an alternate universe Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to help him, the two self-healing invincible mutants head out on a fourth wall breaking, foul mouthed bloody romp to save the timeline. 

The plot of Deadpool & Wolverine barely exists and the time it takes to set it up is excruciatingly painful and mind numbing. The film treats us to multiple fights that have zero dramatic tension or meaning as neither of our heroes can die. And your entire enjoyment rests on two themes. 

The first is your level of enjoyment in watching “15” certificate fights where claws/blades slice through unimportant/unknown enemies and our heroes bodies. All whilst Deadpool makes quips in his inimitable style. 

The second is your level of knowledge on the subjects of; the actors involved private and professional lives and relationships with each other, general pop culture, one specific summer blockbuster from this year, DC superhero movies, 20th Century Fox superhero movies, announced but unmade superhero movies, Marvel comic books, Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox and The Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

I found the result a chaotic mess that featured the occasional knowing smirk amongst general boredom and overwhelming feelings of, “what is the point in this?” If someone watches this in ten years time when they reach the age of 15 are they going to have a clue what 99% of these jokes mean or will they need a guide to explain it all? 

The issue is not that you will not find some part of it amusing at some point. The issue is that it is not so much a film as it is a vast array of dick jokes and geek culture jokes smashed together with a violent facade draped over the top with a fairly great soundtrack. In fact without Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” and Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” I believe a number of crucial scenes would fall very flat. They do a lot of heavy lifting for the film! 

There are of course mid and end credits sequences and I have to say my largest unbridled enjoyment of the entire experience were the mid credits moments that speak to the only theme within the movie that I really enjoyed. But as I want to keep this review spoiler free you will have to watch it to find out what I am referring to.

Deadpool & Wolverine is not the lowest bar of the MCU, that honour still belongs to the Secret Invasion TV show. But it is the most frustrating waste of talent and opportunity.