I really gotta ask...  Disney couldn't pony up the cash to do a proper RickRoll?...)

My relationship to the Fox X-Men films is complicated. I never exactly hated them, but I never really found a reason to like them either. X-Men: Days Of Future Past was universally beloved and I just thought it was good. I liked First Class and X-Men and X2, but nothing else really did much for me.

Except for the Deadpool films. They are the only Fox Mutant-related films I love unreservedly. Why?

Because as violent they are, they are crowdpleasers. They are the ONLY Fox films invested in making the audience happy and giving them everything they want by the end of the movie. And in a saga overflowing with overwrought forced drama, it was a tonic to that. And yes, The MCU similarly went for a crowd-pleasing vibe early on, and lost its way once it decided to give that up. I think the Deadpool films were more successful there and we get the super happy ending here too. .

So to bring Deadpool into the MCU sounds like an interesting idea. I liked it, but not as much as Deadpool 2. Why? The first two Deadpool films were amazing because they refused to get bogged down in the Fox X-Men melodrama. It was irrelevant. Fuck, look how they used Cable! And you can call that an actual failing if you want, but shit, it's always quite refreshing to me at least.

The main problem I had with Deadpool And Wolverine is instead of the film sidestepping the Multiverse Arc, which even the film admits has lost its way, it's suddenly about it. I'm not saying the previous Deadpool films didn't have stakes. But they were tied to Wade's character pretty much exclusively. Disney does everything Marvel bigger and I'm not positive it's right for Deadpool.

To be honest, I didn't find it as funny as the first two films either. I will say the jokes in the second half were funnier. Maybe I was getting used to the humor. But I was sitting their during the opening sequence of Deadpool violently slashing the Time Agents to "Bye Bye Bye" and I was like, "I think I'm supposed to find this funny." But I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the joke was supposed to be.

I liked the tribute to the Fox films in the end credits. That was nice and feels like actual wrap-up in a way randomly having a few of those characters die in the final battle was not.

Let's go over these revisits of famous Marvel variants.

Johnny Storm. I'm not a huge fan of the Fantastic Four films, but if I were, I'd be pissed. I get the joke is they can fuck around like that because supposedly nobody likes those films. But they made a lot of money. Somebody must have. But no lie, Chris Evan's filthy monologue in the tag almost made it worth it. I think the funniest thing was after all that the screen cuts to black and says "Distributed by Walt Disney Studios".

Elektra. My favorite bit is when Deadpool offers her condolences over Daredevil's death, she's all, "Eh." It's funny because you know Jennifer Garner has similar apathetic feelings about Ben Affleck right now. Fuck, I think movie audiences do too. "Eh."

Blade. Deadpool makes the joke that Blade never liked him. Ain't that the truth. Wesley Snipes didn't exactly hate Ryan Reynolds, but I am well aware Reynolds essentially stole Blade Trinity right out from under him. If I were Snipes, I'd have been furious. It's really cool years later they've made a sort of peace over this. This was more the fault of David Goyer than anyone else. Although again, I would think fans of Blade's Universe would be a bit unhappy with its fate here. And the Blade films definitely had more fans than the Fantastic Four ones.

Gambit. I don't get the raves. When Deadpool asks him if he took dialect lessons from the Minions that was correct. I don't think I could stand listening to Channing Tatum talking in that voice for an entire movie. Plus as Wade mentions, it fucks up the exposition.

Dogpool is absolutely revolting. Deadpool being so enamored with him is funny for that reason.

Poor Nicepool. "The Proposal." "What the fuck was that?"

I like them poking the holes in Blind Al's name. That's not very nice, is it?

Deadpool mentions there have been five Punishers. I can only think of four. The three movies and the TV show. Who am I missing?

I love movie soundtracks but I normally only respond to original musicals. I might get the soundtrack for this though. It's pretty damn great.

How are Deadpool and Wolverine together? I thought it worked out fine, and I liked the idea of the variant Wolverine they used. Hugh Jackman seemed game for the foul language and dirty jokes, which is pretty much a dealbreaker in this franchise.

I love that Wade still love Yukio. I do too. Also props for seeing Negasonic Teenage Warhead again.

I'm glad the Time Bureau didn't give a crap about Wade's time traveling antics at the end of Deadpool 2. If Wade's entire mission here was protecting Vanessa from being put back into the original timeline, that would be a bit tiresome. I mentioned I prefer these movies with lower stakes having to do with Wade himself. But that would be sort of treading well-worn ground at this point.

I liked Laura's scene with Wolverine. It was so nice it almost felt out of place.

Love Deadpool making fun of the fact that Logan could move his neck in the mask. Granted, recent Batmans have been given that ability, but it is fucking RIDICULOUS that was ever a problem in the first place. After designing the Batsuit, once Tim Burton saw Michael Keaton couldn't move his neck, that should have been automatic back-to-the-drawing board right there. Instead we're stuck with it for four movies. The Bat-Nipples in the fourth film aren't technically the worst things about those suits. But they are pretty much insult to injury there.

Cassie Nova was a creepy villain, and maybe not the best fit for the franchise, because I found myself not liking her or sympathizing with her EVER. Even after Logan's mercy I was like, "Your mistake." She's a little too horrible of a villain for a comedy.

Lady Deadpool was Blake Lively? That both makes sense and is a total let-down. Those Taylor Swift rumors were nuts!

I am with Deadpool when he suggests maybe Marvel ought to cut its losses with the Multiverse stuff. And just because that's true and funny doesn't mean Deadpool And Wolverine redeems it. I think people declaring it a return to form for Marvel Studios are being WAY premature. It was a GOOD movie, not great, and certainly not Earth-shattering. I care less that they are playing with the Time Bureau and the Multiverse Arc, and more that Laura's appearance with Logan at the table at the end (as well as Vanessa holding Wade's hand) gives us the super happy crowdpleasing ending I love about these films. When Deadpool warily suggests Marvel is going through a low point, that doesn't mean Deadpool And Wolverine is the thing that will bring them out of that lull. Marvel's current problems are larger than a single movie. I wish more people understood that. 4 stars.

Deadpool's Fun Sack 3

Three promotional films. The second two are funny but the first is a dud. Overall: 3 1/2 stars.

Dr. Deadpool

Does this actually think this is a testicular cancer PSA? Because it's counterproductive to making men want to get checked. 1 star.

Product Review

I like the blur especially when it shakes. And the joke about X-Men '97 being Hugh Jackman's age is funny too. Dude's old. 4 stars.

Wade Is Back

Disney is different now. Also that Disney Channel bumper wand thing always bugged me. So did Green Lantern for that matter. 4 1/2 stars.

Bloopers / Gag Reel

These are less flubs, and more alternate improvised line readings from Ryan Reynolds, which makes them a hoot. Also I could listen to Leslie Uggams say the word "Motherfucker" all day long. 4 1/2 stars.

Deleted Scenes

Three brief scenes. All three deserved to be cut. Overall: 2 stars.

Elevator Ride

A wise cut. They REALLY don't need to explain all the Multiverse stuff to us AGAIN. Not after all this time. 1 star.

Do Nothing

Mr. Paradox sucks at his job. 3 stars.

Daddy's In Love

This would raise too many questions. That's not really what the Deadpool endings are for. Deadpool films are good because they actually end. I'm glad this was cut. 2 1/2 stars.