With the recent release of the third Deadpool movie, “Deadpool & Wolverine”, many people are comparing this one with its two predecessors. While many argue that all three films are equally incredible, countless others argue that the second film, “Deadpool 2,” doesn’t stand up against the other two. I believe that all three films are different enough that in comparing them you are doing them each an injustice because they each have different strengths and appeals.
The first “Deadpool” movie was unlike anything we had ever seen before. This film did a great job of introducing Deadpool and Wade Winston Wilson to the films (No, we aren’t counting “X-Men Origins Wolverine.” Sorry “Weapon XI”). Introducing “Deadpool” was a risky endeavor. He’s highly inappropriate and any true adaptation that he is involved in will inevitably be rated “R”. This fact deterred Fox from making a Deadpool movie at all. They attempted to circumvent this fear by adding Deadpool to the ensemble in “X-Men Origins,” but everyone who’s seen that knows that it was a mistake. Luckily, this mistake was mended thanks to Ryan Reynolds’ perseverance and care for this character in “Deadpool.” He pushed for the creation of an accurate and sincere adaptation of his favorite character, despite no interest from Fox. Ultimately, when it was released in 2016, “Deadpool” was the highest-grossing film in the “X-Men” series, despite its R rating. This comic-accurate and sincere adaptation laid the groundwork and proof needed to make more of these films.
The third and most recent movie in the series, “Deadpool and Wolverine,” featured the beloved character, Wolverine. After “Logan” in 2017, fans thought they had seen the last of Hugh Jackman’s character. While all were devastated at the loss of such a great character, most were happy about the strong sendoff. When it was announced that Jackman would be making a return and bringing his character back to life, many were concerned that this would cheapen his death in “Logan.” While one can argue that occurred in this film, I would disagree. Though Wolverine returned, it was a different Logan than the one that sacrificed his life. Deadpool used his classic fourth-wall breaks to mitigate this fear of degrading Logans heroic death. Deadpool and Wolverine managed to have interesting and relevant cameos, unlike the other Marvel movies that heavily leaned on their seemingly random cameos, that made sense in the story while also having a beautiful moment of remembrance for the beloved characters who had been tossed aside. While many people who aren’t avid Marvel watchers most likely disliked this movie the most due to it being mostly fan service, many view it as the best of the trilogy. Though the plot was shaky at times, “Deadpool & Wolverine” was a truly fun summer blockbuster.
Finally, we need to address “Deadpool 2,” the most underrated movie in the series. I believe that the release time between these three films plays a big role in the reaction to each one. “Deadpool” was a huge hit because it was different from everything else at the time. “Deadpool 2” was just as strong as the first, with a heartwarming story, strong jokes and great new characters. The plot was strong and the character development worked well. However, sequels are almost always viewed as subpar to originals and people often go into them expecting them to be such. It had only been two years since the first movie came out, meaning the anticipation wasn’t as built up as it was between “Deadpool 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Along with that, the marketing and budget of “Deadpool & Wolverine” was much higher than “Deadpool 2”. The excitement surrounding “Deadpool 2” was lacking. “Deadpool & Wolverine” came out after the series was transferred from Fox to Disney and “Deadpool” had the allure of leaked footage prior to the release date. “Deadpool 2” simply did not have the same circumstances to pull people in.
Overall, the three movies are great for different reasons. “Deadpool 2” has a strong plot and interesting characters driving it forward. It shows both heartfelt and serious moments, as well as noticeable character development. The first movie was a strong introduction to this character in the films, giving viewers a creative and hilarious history. The most recent release was fan service for all the “X-Men” fans who feared their characters were being forgotten and replaced. The plot was shaky and the development felt a bit forced, but the characters are all so beloved that it did not matter. Though the excitement around the third movie has fans claiming that it is the best in the series, “Deadpool 2” is overlooked and deserves to be recognized and rewatched.