Superhero fatigue is a term that has been tossed around quite a lot recently. After years of dominating the box office, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) seemed to be hitting a rough patch. Films like ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ were released with high expectations but didn’t quite land as hoped.
The last superhero film to do well was ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 4’, which was released in May 2023. So, it was 15 months that the superhero scene was dead until Deadpool and Wolverine clawed back into the scene with their blades and katanas.
While the aforementioned MCU movies weren’t complete flops, they failed to resonate with fans and critics alike, leading to scepticism about the future of superhero films.
Abhishek Sanyal, a banker who was a Marvel fan until ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ said, “With all due honesty, I haven’t liked a single Marvel film since Endgame. But since ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 4’ had a very character-driven plot, with perfect comedy and great songs, it was a delight to watch.”
Enter Deadpool and Wolverine, a movie that many thought might be the nail in the coffin for the genre, but instead, it turned out to be the adrenaline shot that revived it. But how did this seemingly chaotic mashup of characters pull off what so many other recent superhero flicks couldn’t?
Aparna Mukherjee, a teaching assistant, said, “I loved this film and Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are the ones to thank for that.”
The MCU has had an unparalleled run, crafting an intricate web of stories that culminated in the epic ‘Avengers: Endgame’. But what followed was, to put it mildly, a bit of a slump. ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ was a classic case of trying too hard to recapture the magic of ‘Ragnarok’.
The humour felt forced, the storyline lacked depth, and it seemed more like a parody of a Thor movie than a genuine continuation of his saga.
Aparna added, “Thor 4 was not up to the mark. It was a straight up cringefest.”
Then came ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, a film that promised mind-bending visuals and a deeper dive into the multiverse. While it delivered on the former, it left much to be desired in terms of plot coherence and character development.
Rishi Ahuja, a student, said, “Multiverse of Madness promised us the Illuminati. However, that was a letdown. The characters were killed almost immediately. Talk about a weird exit.”
Fans were left scratching their heads, wondering if the MCU had lost its golden touch. The box office numbers, while not disastrous, weren’t the soaring successes that Marvel had grown accustomed to.
Amidst this uncertainty, the announcement of ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ was met with mixed reactions. Sure, both characters had their fanbases, but could they carry a film together? Would it be a desperate attempt to cash in on their popularity, or could it actually work? The scepticism was real, and not without reason.
It’s easy to assume that putting two of Marvel’s most beloved anti-heroes in the same movie would be enough to guarantee success. After all, who wouldn’t want to see Ryan Reynolds’ wisecracking Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s gruff Wolverine team up? But as we’ve seen with other star-studded projects, star power isn’t everything.
Deb Chakraborty, a journalist and a film junkie, said, “Deadpool and Wolverine is literally the package of an MCU entertainer that people missed.”
What the Shawn Levy directorial did differently was focus on having a simple story and giving time for character building. The film took the time to explore the tortured psyche of Wolverine, a man burdened by his past, and juxtaposed it with Deadpool’s irreverent, devil-may-care attitude.
Mr Gautam Dutta, CEO, Revenue and Operations, PVR INOX, said, “In India, the film’s remarkable box office success, grossing over Rs 89 crore within its opening week, is a testament to the enduring appeal of these beloved heroes.”
The result was a story that was both poignant and hilarious, with moments of genuine emotion balanced by the kind of off-the-wall humour that only Deadpool could deliver.
Asad Ayaz, Chief Brand Officer of Disney, shed light on how well the film has done in India. “The result has been amazing, especially the word-of-mouth, and shows the level of the fandom.”
The chemistry between Reynolds and Jackman was electric, but it was the script that truly shone. The film didn’t rely on flashy special effects or endless cameos (though there were a few memorable ones); it relied on a well-crafted story that kept audiences engaged from start to finish.
Aparna continued, “What an absolute delight it is to watch Ryan and Hugh on screen together! You can almost see that they are best friends off-screen.”
The makers understood that, at its core, a superhero movie needs to be about more than just superpowers—it needs to be about the people behind them.
Breaking the Mould: What Made It Work
One of the unique aspects of ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ was its willingness to break the fourth wall – literally and figuratively. Deadpool’s meta-commentary on the state of superhero films, including jabs at the MCU’s recent missteps, resonated with audiences who were feeling the same fatigue.
Mr Gautam also shed light on how Shawn Levy’s film brought back people to the theatres. “Their return to the big screen has not only revived the thrill of superhero films but also reaffirmed the power of cinema to bring fans together in theatres,” he said.
Vikas Singh, engineer at WIPRO, also mentioned how tiring it was to watch films, not knowing if they will be worth it or not. “When the studios said that they will be taking a step back to produce films or shows at a slower pace, I was happy,” he said.
Shawn Levy’s film didn’t just acknowledge the superhero slump; it leaned into it, making fun of the genre’s tropes while also reinvigorating them.
Wolverine’s presence added gravitas to the film, grounding Deadpool’s antics with a sense of seriousness that had been missing in recent MCU outings. The contrast between the two characters provided a dynamic that was fresh and exciting. Wolverine’s grizzled, no-nonsense approach was the perfect foil for Deadpool’s chaos, creating a balance that kept the film from veering too far into absurdity.
The promotional efforts and marketing strategies for this film were truly unconventional. From surprise appearances in K-pop music videos to cooking up chimichangas alongside famous chefs, Ryan, Hugh and Shawn embraced inventive tactics to connect with the diverse and hard-to-reach Gen-Z audience, as noted by Disney’s head of marketing.
Asad, while speaking at Disney’s D-23 fan convention, said, “We were very lucky and fortunate to have talent who are willing to do things that sometimes actors don’t want to do.”
The film also managed to strike a balance between action and heart. The fight scenes were brutal and well-choreographed, but they never overshadowed the character development.
Every punch thrown, and every quip delivered felt earned, contributing to the story rather than distracting from it. This was a film that understood its audience and delivered exactly what they needed – a return to form for superhero cinema.
Deb added, “This film became a simple dosage of ‘okay here you areâæ now giddy up for a ride to scream and laugh your lungs out’.”
‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ didn’t just succeed – it set a new standard. The film’s success was a wake-up call for the industry, proving that audiences were craving more than just mindless action and flashy effects.
“This was one of the movies that captivated people with its heart and spectacle,” concluded Mr Gautam Dutta.
People wanted stories that resonated, characters they could invest in, and a reason to care about the fate of the superhero genre.
In an era where superhero films were beginning to feel stale, ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ injected new life into the genre. It reminded us that, at their best, these movies aren’t just about the spectacle – they’re about the characters and the stories they have to tell.
Vikas, who also happens to be an avid Marvel fan says, “This film hits all the notes with its jokes. The characters and their stories will forever be etched in you.”
By focusing on what made these two characters so beloved in the first place and combining that with sharp writing and bold storytelling, the film managed to do what so many others had failed to do – revive the superhero genre.
So, while star power might not be everything, when combined with a decent story and genuine heart, it can still pack quite a punch.
‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ didn’t just save the day; it saved the superhero genre itself. And that’s a superpower worth celebrating.
