DEADPOOL VS. WOLVERINE #review #movie

Jack Kotarbinski, PhD
3 min readAug 25, 2024

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This movie got an “R” rating, meaning anyone under 17 needs an adult chaperone to watch it. That might raise some eyebrows, especially if a young viewer drags their grandma along. She’ll be left grappling with questions like, “What does ‘cocoa’ mean?”, “What’s that white powder?” and then, of course, the infamous line about the troop leader who’s about to show the scouts something big and thick. And that’s just the beginning.

I’ve seen the Deadpool series and am well-acquainted with his unique universe. When I first watched the second installment, my friends insisted I catch up on the first, which I did. But the fact remains: the hype around these movies is still huge. What puzzles me is what “Deadpoolness” will look like in the future. Are we heading into an era of films where the dialogue is just a never-ending stream of profanity, interrupted by graphic violence and generously drenched in fake blood? Maybe it’s a new form of stand-up comedy — with added gore?

“Deadpool vs. Wolverine” sounds like a reunion tour of two rock legends who decided to get back on stage years later to remind us why we should have let them stay in the glory of their past. If only they could have spared us this comeback…

Wolverine has embodied the brooding, hairy guy with claws since 1974. It’s like running into an old high school buddy still wearing the same flannel shirt and reminiscing about the good ol’ days. He’s the quintessential tough guy from the ’70s, mass-produced by America as if there were a shortage of aggressive men. He appeared in comics as a response to America’s disillusionment with the Vietnam War, a corrupt government, and a general atmosphere of disappointment. Picture somebody who’s just fed up with everything and everyone.

On the other hand, we have Deadpool — a hero who never shuts up, even when everyone around him is praying someone will pull his batteries out. At least he’s funny… or at least he thinks so.

Deadpool doesn’t stop talking for a second — that’s his charm. But how often can you hear the same chimichanga jokes before you long for peace and quiet? Wolverine… imagine being trapped in an elevator with somebody who just lost his job, girlfriend, and dog — that’s about the energy he brings.

“Deadpool vs. Wolverine” is precisely what you’d expect if you ever wondered what would happen if both characters went to group therapy, which then turned into a brawl. If you’ve been dreaming of watching two guys beat each other senselessly while one cracks terrible jokes and the other looks like he’s suffering from appendicitis, then you’ve found your nirvana.

Deadpool can be paired with anyone, anywhere. I’m now eagerly awaiting “Deadpool vs. Shrek,” “Deadpool vs. Snow White,” or maybe even “Deadpool vs. The Witcher.” That would add a nice Polish touch to this superhero mash-up.

Do I like Deadpool? As a character — yes, I’ve grown to like him, much like I’ve grown to like Venom.

But what about the script? I have this theory that Walt Disney Studios locked the producers — Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, Kevin Feige, Simon Kinberg, Lauren Shuler Donner — in a hotel room in Vegas, supplied them with gallons of Polish vodka, heaps of white powder, and various other stimulants, and out came this plot. It’s selling like hotcakes for now. But what’s next?

On July 20, 2012, during the premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises,” the third part of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, a mass shooting took place. The perpetrator, James Holmes, entered the theater mid-screening and opened fire on the audience. Twelve people were killed, and 70 others were injured. Holmes was later arrested at the scene. In 2015, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Holmes believed that by committing mass murder, he would gain the attention and significance that he felt was missing in his life. His notes and journals indicated an obsession with killing as a way to achieve some sort of “higher purpose.”

Does anyone still think pop culture icons and influencers don’t affect social behavior?

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Jack Kotarbinski, PhD

PhD, Polish economist, Keynote Speaker, Best-Selling Author, Marketing & Innovation Strategist, digital influencer, blogger, entrepreneur, kotarbinski.com