In Marvel, there have been many characters to make an impact on the big screen; but very few have left an impression like the Merc with the Mouth-Deadpool. Since 2016, this X-Men character has made a name for himself on the big screen, and he become as iconic as the likes Iron Man, Spider-Man and even the X-Men.Yet in his past two films, there has been an underlying (or rather blatant) hope to see Deadpool team up with that beloved X-Man with the adamantium claws: Wolverine. The iconic Marvel character has been the backbone of the X-Men franchise with the character making multiple appearances over the years. Yet after the release of Logan, the character was retired and the chances of this pairing became unlikely. That was until Fox was bought by Disney, plans for the next Deadpool movie changed and with the character joining the MCU it was time for these icons to meet. So in the midst of Marvel’s Multiverse Saga, the series pivots into this long awaited installment-Deadpool and Wolverine.

The film centers on Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) who, after being abducted by the TVA, must find a way to save his world from being erased. To do this Deadpool seeks the help of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) who ,begrudgingly, joins him on this quest between realities. To bring this anticipated blockbuster to life, taking the director’s chair was none other than Shawn Levy (who last collaborated with Reynolds before in Free Guy). While the movie centered on Deadpool, the filmmakers aimed to make Wolverine’s involvement equally as important while not taking anything away from previous films (most notably Logan). Between this iconic pairing, and rumors of various Marvel characters making an appearance, Deadpool and Wolverine was indeed a must see blockbuster for me. Yet with so much hype, did this superhero movie live up to expectations? After witnessing this Marvel event, I can say that this unlikely X-Men film was indeed worth the wait.

Deadpool and Wolverine had a task ahead of itself as it not only had to bring these characters together but also fit them into the MCU. Blending these factors would be a challenge, but I think the movie made it work. The movie felt like a decent continuation from the Deadpool movies while meshing concepts from the Marvel series Loki in a way that made sense. As for the plot itself, the story was an absurd adventure that had my attention from beginning to end. The void was a perfect setting for the movie as it captured both the insanity and the complexity behind this journey. Yet if there was one thing that detracted from my experience it was, surprisingly, the film’s self awareness. Deadpool breaking the fourth wall is no surprise, in fact it is warranted, but I felt the movie being meta was at times off putting; and it led to some of the comedy to feel excessive in its delivery-though the movie was still amusing.

Yet at the forefront of this extravagant adventure was the team up of Deadpool and Wolverine. When it came to Deadpool, the Merc with the Mouth continued to be an unforgettable protagonist. Along with another energetic performance from Ryan Reynolds, Wade Wilson’s direction was solid as the film found a way to balance the character’s craziness with his serious side. As for Logan, while I made my peace of never seeing this take on the character again, Jackman’s return was nothing short of fantastic. Between Jackman’s engulfing charisma and the compelling tragedy of this Wolverine, this take on the Marvel icon was not only impressive but arguably one of the best takes on the character-which is saying something. Together these two were a phenomenal duo whose chemistry was not only worth the price of admission, but rivaled some of cinema’s greatest pairings.

Along with this dynamic duo was a cast filled with surprises; both in appearances and performances. When it came to the cast of the Deadpool movies, these characters had a minimal presence (which was no surprise) with the exceptions being Peter (Rob Delaney) and Blind Al (Leslie Uggams). Yet, like many, I expected the cast to feature returning Marvel characters, and it did not disappoint. The characters were undoubtedly there for the sake of fanservice, with the exception of X23 (Dafne Keen), but it was still a pleasure to see these characters as each of them got a chance to shine. As for villains, characters like Paradox (Matthew Macfayden) were just alright. However the one that took me by surprise was Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin). The twin of Xavier is not the most recognizable X-Men villain, but Cassandra was a noteworthy antagonist and Emma’s charismatic performance brought a lot of life to this estranged villainess.

Seeing that this is a movie featuring Deadpool and Wolverine, I expected this Marvel film to be an action-packed experience; and the film lived up to that expectation. The action did not feature many big-time sequences like its predecessors, but it was as gritty as ever with the best moments consisting of Wolverine and Deadpool going at each other with the most notable being the duo fighting in a car. Along with the crazy but subtle action was the movie’s visuals which, while not glamorous, captured the intensity behind this superhero film. As for the music, the movie’s soundtrack was filled with catchy songs while the score from Rob Simonsen was fair, though it was not the strongest part of the film’s presentation.

If there was one superhero movie to capture the concept of being one of a kind, it is Deadpool and Wolverine. The film promised an epic team up between two icons and it did not disappoint as its crazy adventure was only matched by the phenomenal chemistry between the leads. The movie was not without its faults as certain story beats and some supporting players did not leave the strongest of impressions; but truthfully these issues were minor and it did not take away from my enjoyment of this blockbuster. With its exciting action and sheer entertainment, Deadpool and Wolverine is in many ways a defining Marvel film that does justice to the legacy of the MCU and the X-Men franchise.