Deadpool & Wolverine Digital Review
Less than the typical three-month wait, Disney and Sony have partnered to release Deadpool & Wolverine on digital platforms for $29.99.
While I would normally take this opportunity to provide you with a link to the review I posted back in August, my opinion changed after rewatching the movie. Seeing both Deadpool and Wolverine back on screen was exciting. However, that excitement blinded me to the movie's major flaws.
First and foremost, the film's premise unravels under scrutiny. The audience is expected to believe that out of the countless universes in the multiverse, this particular Wolverine (who happens to be played by Hugh Jackman) would team up with a Deadpool he has no prior knowledge of. While exciting on paper for fans, when you consider the grander scope of telling stories set within a multiverse, it feels forced. Introducing a new Wolverine for future films like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars would have been more intriguing than clinging to nostalgia. This could have opened doors for a more creative story involving the two characters while staying true to the expansive possibilities of the multiverse.
Moreover, there's nowhere for these characters to progress after this film. I love a self-contained movie that takes place within a wider cinematic universe (Shazam is a good example), but as much as I hate advertising an upcoming movie, that was sorely needed here.
On top of that, the direction, performances, and writing are all in service of the fans instead of focusing on answering the question of why this team-up matters. By prioritizing fan service over the narrative, the film sacrifices emotional depth and character development. Although the characters are entertaining, their motivations often feel secondary to creating moments that will get applause rather than move the story forward.
Deadpool & Wolverine relies on keeping fans clapping for its two-hour runtime, without seeking more.
★
Video Quality
I've watched this movie three times as of this writing. Once on my local 2D theater screen and twice on my Dell 27" UltraSharp 4K HDR10 monitor at home. While the picture quality in theaters is unmatched, this digital copy comes close. Sourced from a HEVC encoded 4K transfer in 2.39:1, this is one of the best digital transfers I've seen. The visuals pop off the screen. If there are any gripes about the visual representation, I can't find any.
★★★★★
Audio Quality
The audio quality is equally impressive. Every sound felt accurate to my theater experience. Rob Simeonsen's score rumbles through the central channel, while action sequences use the left and right channels to help you keep track of who is where, and cues that sometimes come from below a subway.
The audio tracks are well normalized, so you won't need to adjust the volume constantly. Every sound felt accurate to how I experienced it in theaters, whether it was Rob Simeonsen's score rumbling through the central channel or the action sequences using the left and right channels.
★★★★★
Special Features and Extras
The digital release of Deadpool & Wolverine is downright abysmal when it comes to bonus features. You get a commentary track with director/producer/writer Shawn Levy and star/producer/writer Ryan Reynolds, featurettes covering the "Oner", the work of Ray Chan, the legacy heroes, Wolverine himself, a gag reel, three deleted scenes that add some context to the events of the film, and a "Fun Sack" of three short skits that involve Dr. Deadpool talking about getting tested for testicular cancer, a review of toys and trinkets from the franchise, and a fake promo for the movie.
Outside of the commentary, which runs the entire length of the film, including the end credits, that's a total runtime of 42 minutes and 48 seconds of bonus features. To put that into perspective, my digital copy of the 1996 film, Twister, has a bonus feature runtime of one hour, 14 minutes, and 12 seconds. That's 31 minutes and 24 seconds more in bonus features in a film released in 1996 on film than Deadpool & Wolverine, a movie released in 2024. That's inexcusable for a digital copy that costs $30.
The extras are underwhelming, offering little depth into the production and storytelling aspects of the film. For instance, the behind-the-scenes featurettes barely scratch the surface, with maybe one or two cool tidbits like the use of gold leaf in the 20th Century Fox logo in The Void. The audience doesn't get meaningful insights into the choreography of the action scenes, the blending of practical and visual effects, or the creative decisions behind Wolverine and Deadpool's team-up. Featurettes covering these aspects of the film could have been a reason to buy the film, for fans and filmmakers alike. Instead, these extras feel more like promotional material you'd expect to see released on YouTube, which leaves the offering feeling incomplete.
★
Score and Recommendation
Whether you're a fan of the film or want added context for the making of the film, do not buy this release unless you want to own it (as much as you can "own" digital copies of movies & TV shows these days) and don't care about bonus features.
If bonus features matter to you, I'd recommend waiting for the Disney+ release, which will likely include the IMAX ratio and be accompanied by an episode of Marvel Studios: Assembled that will go into much further detail about the making of the film.
Deadpool & Wolverine is now available to purchase from digital retailers like Amazon, Apple, Fandango, Google, Microsoft, and Movies Anywhere. On October 22nd, the film will be available to purchase on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target. It will also be released on Disney+ in the upcoming months.
★★
Additional Coverage
For my thoughts on Deadpool & Wolverine, you can read my initial review here, and listen to or watch my podcast discussion with Maxance Vincent here.
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