My spoiler-free review of Deadpool (spoiler alert: it rocks).

Wolverine is recovering from his injuries when he encounters the loudmouth Deadpool. They join forces to defeat a common enemy.

I’ll give a little background on this that some of you may or may not be aware of. Marvel is obviously in a tough spot. Since Endgame, they just haven’t brought as much energy as they did before. A lot of people expected this movie to be the one to “save the MCU” and set things right or whatever. Let’s get this out of the way right now: that’s not what this movie is, and that’s not what it was supposed to be. Like the previous Deadpool movies, it’s an irreverent, raw, and very funny movie. Here’s a quick, spoiler-free pros and cons list for you.

ADVANTAGES:

– It’s very, very funny. That was something I was a little worried about because when I rewatched Deadpool 1 and 2, the humor was a little awkward. I’ve realized that the comedy of these movies is just much more tied to the moment of their release than other movies, and that’s OK. There’s a lot of topical humor that gets a lot of laughs. And considering the state of comedy movies, this might be the funniest movie of the year. And yes, it’s very aware of the state of Marvel.

– The film has a well-deserved R rating. That’s what everyone was worried about after the Disney takeover, but it doesn’t lose anything.

– The action is just as cool as the previous films. Lots of cool kills and fights that push the boundaries of PG13 movies. Things that bend in certain ways. Organs that explode in other ways. Things you might discuss with your friends but would never see on screen.

– The cameos are awesome. I know the joke is that Marvel fans blow their money every time a new character named Murpo Blurpo is introduced or reintroduced, but I think the characters and people they chose were perfect. A great mix of more regular people that everyone will know and some stuff for the real kickass who follow comic book movies.

– The music selection is perfect. Lots of bangers with an emphasis on Madonna at her best. Also some very cool intros in the OST.

– High Jackman quietly delivers great acting in some fairly challenging scenes.

DISADVANTAGES:

– The CGI effects are a little wonky in places. In this film, it’s more forgivable due to the irreverent nature, but it’s definitely noticeable in certain places.

– Like the previous films, the film has a villain problem. The antagonist is probably the best of the three, but still pretty weak.

Again, to be clear, this movie is not meant to be a game-changer. If Marvel is an aging player on the decline, this is their retro game. Kobe’s 60-point shot or something. It’s an adrenaline shot, not a cure. There’s nothing permanent or reset that will make things right in the long run. BUT that’s NOT what it was meant to be. It’s meant to be a lot of fun, and it is! It also has some sentimental moments that oddly work! If you ask me, it ranks a tad ahead of Twisters as the summer blockbuster.

PS: There’s a really cool mid-credit sequence and a pretty decent post-credit sequence. Neither of them are very consequential.