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'Deadpool & Wolverine's 5 Most Boring, Homophobic Jokes

Promo poster for 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios

Editor's note: This post contains major contains spoilers for 20th Century Studios and Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine

Is Deadpool & Wolverine the Marvel Cinematic Universe's gayest movie yet?

Well, if you measure gayness by how many times penises are mentioned and boners are joked about, sure. But if you measure it by how much genuine queerness is shown, or even considered, then the answer is simple: not by a long shot.

Deadpool is, ostensibly, a pansexual superhero. In the pages of Marvel comics, his queerness has been explored quite extensively. But so far in live-action films, his pansexuality is defined by actor Ryan Reynolds as "sexual tension with everything and everyone."

Throughout the newest movie, Deadpool is constantly making jokes about anal sex, boners, and men stroking each other's bodies, but he never once is serious about it, which is strange considering how genuine he gets whenever he talks about his attraction to a woman (namely his ex-girlfriend Vanessa).

Some critics have said that since Deadpool jokes about any and everything, of course he's going to joke about his sexuality from time to time. However, whenever he talks about his girlfriend Vanessa, he suddenly gets serious and earnest, and drops the jokes. Why can't he do the same for jokes about same-sex attraction?

In Deadpool & Wolverine, Deadpool's entire motivation is to show Vanessa that he can be serious, so accordingly, when he talks to and about her, he is geniune and mature. Then, he turns around and talks about his attraction to men, and it's purely jokes and over-the-top sex.

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

Jay Maidment/20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios

Other queer critics and fans have argued that it's only the average straight fans who are laughing at these lines, and that the characters and filmmakers mean them as genuine signs of attraction.

For that to be true, though, we have to assume that the people making the jokes are in on them, that they "get it," and that there is a layer of vulnerability behind these jokes. I do not believe for one second that Disney, Marvel, Kevin Feige, Shawn Levy, or Ryan Reynolds will ever "get it."

That's not to say that straight people can't be on the inside of jokes like this, but corporations can't, and the people who make self-referential nostalia-bait for those corporations apparently can't either.

These aren't the kinds of gay jokes my friends and I tell each other. These are the kinds of gay jokes that 16-year-old straight boys make when they play gay chicken. These are jokes about how "icky" and "laughable" gay attraction is. This phone call isn't coming from inside the house, it's coming from an episode of Family Guy from 2005.

It's not that these jokes are hurtful, or offensive, or even particularly annoying. They're just boring, unfunny, and uncreative. We've heard them time and time again. We're not calling on anyone to be canceled. We're just asking for writers and actors to write some better jokes.

It's also not that we don't love the Problematic Gays trope. In fact, queer characters who commit crimes, murder people, lie, cheat, steal, and are predatory are some of my favorite characters of all time. But the characters we love never feel like they're providing more entertainment for straight people laughing at their queerness than for queer viewers hoping to see something of themselves in their media.

Here are five of the weakest homophobic jokes from Deadpool & Wolverine that had us rolling our eyes.

1.) "FYI your tailor is a predator, but I love it!"

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

Jay Maidment/20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios

When Deadpool goes to the Time Variance Authority and gets fitted and equipped with his new suit, we see the tailor grabbing, groping, and slapping his ass and crotch repeatedly. "FYI your tailor is a predator, but I love it!" Deadpool quips at the end of the scene.

2.) "Not all of you was asleep."

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios

When Deadpool and Wolverine get captured in the void and are tied together, Deadpool asks "How long was I asleep?"

"Not all of you was asleep," Wolverine replies, referring to Deadpool's crotch.

This moment is an example of the kind of "sexual tension" the characters have throughout the entirety of the film: Wade shows attraction to Logan, and Logan gets mad.

3.) "Getting my knife out of your buttocks, pervert!"

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

Jay Maidment/20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios

After the pair escape from Cassandra Nova for the first time, they again are lying on top of each other.

"Get the fuck off of me," Logan tells Wade.

"Shh, shh, shh, almost done," he replies.

"Almost done what???" Logan asks, freaking out.

"Getting my knife out of your buttocks, pervert!" Deadpool replies.

4.) "...Take Wolverine's dick out of your mouth."

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios

"Hey when I want your opinion, I'll take Wolverine's dick out of your mouth," Kidpool says to Deadpool in a line that sounds like it came out of Cartman's mouth in a particularly unfunny episode of South Park.

This is one of the film's smaller jokes, but after we sat through a dozen similar tiny jokes where the punchline is "sucking dick or receiving anal sex is bad," we were worn down.

5.) "That's what scoutmaster Kevin used to say."

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

Jay Maidment/20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios

Towards the end of the movie, Logan and Wade are in the TVA again.

"I want to show you something… something huge," B-15 of the TVA says.

"That's what scoutmaster Kevin used to say," Deadpool replies to the laughter of audiences.

LFG. Watch the new trailer for Marvel Studios' #DeadpoolAndWolverine. Only in theaters July 26. ▻ Watch Marvel on Disney+: ...

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197 Best Dad Jokes That Are Actually Kind Of Funny

Out of all comedy sub-genres, there's none that get quite the reaction than that of dad jokes — not because they're necessarily funny but usually for their undeniable ability to provoke the most deep, profound level of cringe. Nonetheless, dad jokes are beloved (prized, even!) fatherly rite of passage. These cheeky little quips are the "dogs that are so ugly, they're cute" of jokes: they're unfunny enough that you can't help but laugh. (Albeit while you groan and roll your eyes... But laugh all the same.)

The key is in the anticlimactic nature of the setup and punchline. It's in the absolute reaching to make a pun fit. The overly simplistic humor is generally the most enjoyed by the joke-teller themself as they provoke defeated sighs out of whoever will listen.

If out-dad-joking your father, uncle, grandpa, or simply a dad-joke-loving friend is of high priority, here are some of the dad-jokiest of dad jokes to ever dad joke. These bad boys will earn the jokester either a sympathy laugh, a grimace, or even a slow-rolling tear down the cheek of whoever was unlucky enough to bear witness to such comedic disgrace.

Best Dad Jokes That Are Actually (Kind Of) Funny

Woman laughing at her own Dad joke in the living room

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As I get older, I remember all of the people I lost along the way. Maybe a career as a tour guide wasn't the right choice.

Went to the bar tonight. Good times. Only a 15-minute walk. But the walk home took 45 minutes, the difference was staggering.

I recently took a pole. And found that 100% of the people in the tent were angry when it collapsed.

Punniest Dad Jokes

Woman holding her phone and laughing at punny Dad jokes

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Son: "Dad, can you please explain to me what a solar eclipse is?" Dad: "No sun."

Why did the man fall down the well? He couldn't see that well.

I once submitted 10 puns to a joke competition. I really thought with that many, one was sure to win. Sadly, no pun in ten did.

Where do you take someone who's been in a peek-a-boo accident? The ICU.

Did you hear about the explosion at the cheese factory? There was nothing left but debris.

How does NASA organize a party? They planet.

Cringiest Dad Jokes

Woman and her father telling dad jokes on a boat

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Did you hear the joke about paper? Never mind, it's tear-able.

What's orange and sounds like a parrot? A carrot.

What did the blanket say when it fell off the bed? Oh, sheet.

What was even more useful than the first telephone? The second telephone.

I'm afraid for the calendar. Its days are numbered.

Went to the doctor with a suspicious-looking mole. He said they all look that way and I should have left him in the garden.

Worst Dad Jokes That Will Make You Laugh

Woman on the couch laughing at bad Dad jokes

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Have you heard of the new sport called quiet tennis? It's like normal tennis but without the racket.

Why did the god of thunder need to stretch his legs? He was a little Thor.

What's the least spoken language? Sign language.

What building in your town has the most stories? The public library.

Claustrophobia is the fear of closed spaces. For example: I'm going to the beer store and I'm scared it will be closed.

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims.

Silly Dad Jokes

Two dads are laughing over dad jokes with their child.

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What has five toes but isn't your foot? My foot.

What looks like half a tree? The other half.

Two guys walked into a bar... The third one ducked.

Why do dads take an extra pair of socks when they play golf? In case they get a hole in one.

Funny Dad Jokes

A dad and his daughter baking at home, laughing over dad jokes.

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What do you call a Frenchman who has been attacked by a cat? Claude.

My 6-year-old daughter has lined up all of her dolls towards the outdoor grill. Looks like she's preparing some kind of barbie queue.

How can you tell the difference between a crocodile and an alligator? Easy, one will see you later, the other will see you in a while.

Dad Jokes About Food

Father telling one-liner dad jokes to his daughter at dinner

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Someone told me that it's impossible to make a pun about vegetables. I said that's not nececelery true.

My friend Jack claims he can communicate with vegetables. Jack and the beans talk!

Where do fruits go on vacation? Pear-is!

What did Baby Corn say to Mama Corn? Where's Pop Corn?

What do you call cheese that isn't yours? Nacho cheese.

What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.

I tried all morning to cook up an egg-related pun, but I couldn't crack it.

How do you make an apple turnover? Push it downhill.

Dad Jokes For Kids

A dad telling his daughter some dad jokes for kids on a boat

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What's brown and sticky? A stick.

I used to play piano by ear. Now I use my hands.

Why did the kid bring a ladder to school? Because she wanted to go to high school.

I asked the librarian if she knew of any authors who wrote dinosaur novels. She said, "Yes, try Sarah Topps."

What did the ocean say to the beach? Nothing, it just waved.

What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the closet? Supplies!

Why can't a nose be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot.

I was addicted to the Hokey Pokey.... But I turned myself around.

Dad Jokes About Animals

A dog looking at his dad tell him animal dad jokes in the living room

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Why couldn't the pony sing a lullaby? Because she was a little horse.

What do you say when a chicken is looking at salad? Chicken sees a salad.

What do you call a dog magician? A labracadabrador.

Where would you find an elephant? The same place you lost her.

What's a dog's favorite super hero? Labra-Thor.

What do you call a rabbit with fleas? Bugs Bunny!

A man arrives at a costume party with a girl on his back. "I am a turtle," he says. "Who's on your back?" "That's Michelle."

Why aren't dogs allowed in bars? Because they can't control their licker.

What do you call a deer with no eyes? No eye deer.

Dad Jokes About Sports

A father telling his son a dad joke about sports while they play catch outside

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Why does a pitcher raise one leg when he throws the ball? If he raises them both, he'd fall down.

Where does a majority of a hockey player's salary come from? The tooth fairy.

I kept wondering why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

Why did the football coach go to the bank? To get his quarter back.

What does a sprinter eat before a race? Nothing, they fast.

Why don't football players were glasses? It's a contact sport.

Why couldn't the baby score in basketball? He was always dribbling.

What's the best animal in soccer? A score-pion.

Dad Jokes For Birthdays

A father telling his daughter some birthday dad jokes as she blows out her birthday candles

Ippei Naoi/Moment/Getty Images

What happens if no one turns up to your birthday party? You get to have you cake and eat it, too.

Why didn't the teddy bear eat any of its birthday cake? Because it was already stuffed!

Why don't kids remember their past birthday parties? They're too focused on the present!

What type of party do you throw for a dog's birthday? A ball.

What are you if you go to a ghost birthday party? The life of the party!

Dad Jokes About Candles

Birthdays give plenty of opportunities for dad jokes about candles.

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Do you know why I get heartburn when I eat birthday cake? I always forget to blow out the candles!

Why do people put birthday candles on top of a birthday cake? Because you can't put them on the bottom, can you?!

What kind of candle burns longer than others? None, silly — they all burn shorter.

Why do candles love birthdays? They like to get lit.

Dad Jokes About Weddings

A father telling dad jokes while toasting at his daughter's wedding reception

Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images

I went to a really emotional wedding last week, even the cake was in tiers.

My antenna married my neighbor's antenna. The wedding was not so good as this one, but the reception was fantastic!

Dad Jokes About Getting Married

Weddings create plenty of opportunities for dad to make jokes about getting married.

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What do you call a melon that's not allowed to get married? Can't elope.

Did you hear about the two spiders who just got engaged? I hear they met on the web.

Did you hear about the two florists who got married? It was an arranged marriage.

Two cannonballs got married this morning. I hear they're already expecting BBs.

I just saw two nuclear technicians getting married. The bride was radiant, and the groom was glowing.

Dad Jokes About Body & Mind

Dads can make jokes about exercising their bodies and minds.

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Dad: Well, you know what they say, the memory is the second thing to go. Son: What's the first? Dad: I forget.

Stop thinking of them as "hot flashes." Think of them as your inner child playing with matches.

I told my doctor I could only hear buzzing. He said don't worry, it's just a bug going around.

Dad Jokes About Getting Older

A senior couple being playful and active while telling each other dad jokes and laughing

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How is the moon like dentures? Both come out at night.

What do you call someone who enjoys Mondays? Retired.

If you lose something in a senior care home, don't stop looking until you've searched every nook and granny.

An old woman is sitting at a bar when an older gentleman sits down beside her. "So," he says, "Do I come here often?"

Dad Jokes About Being Old

Dads love to make jokes about being old.

Ippei Naoi/Moment/Getty Images

What is a prize old people can win for aging? Atrophy.

Now that I've gotten older, everything's finally starting to click for me. My knees, my back, my neck…

Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

Dad Jokes About Relationships

Have you heard these dad jokes about relationships?

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My wife found a spider in our house and told me to take it out, so I did. We had a few drinks, pretty nice guy.

My wife screamed, "You haven't heard a word I've said, have you?!" What a weird place to start a conversation.

My wife is mad I keep introducing her as my "ex-girlfriend". So I went with "ex-fiancé" instead.

Wife: "Our new neighbor always kisses his wife when he leaves for work. Why don't you do that?" Husband: "How can I? I don't even know her."

Why did Comic Sans divorce Times New Roman? He just wasn't her type.

Dad Jokes That Provoke A Good-Natured Eye Roll

These dad jokes can provoke a good-natured eye roll.

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1. I recently visited the "World's Tiniest Wind Turbine" exhibit. Honestly, not a big fan.

2. How do you follow Will Smith in the snow? You follow the fresh prints.

Dad Jokes About Haircuts

Dads can make jokes about haircuts.

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How does the moon cut his hair? Eclipse it.

"Dad, did you get a haircut?" "No, I got them all cut!"

Dad Jokes About Work

Have you heard these funny dad jokes about work?

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Why did the construction workers always bring a pencil to lunch? They wanted to draw their own conclusions!

Why did the sandwich get a promotion? Because he was the best thing since sliced bread.

Why did the employee get fired from the calendar factory? They took a day off.

I used to work for the paper business. But then it folded.

I got fired from my job as a taxi driver. It turns out nobody thought I was fare.

Dad Jokes About Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

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What did the baby computer say to its dad on Father's Day? Happy Father's Day, Data!

Why don't they have Father's Day sales? Because fathers are priceless.

Why did the kids give their dad a blanket for Father's Day? Because they thought he was the coolest dad.

Dad Jokes About Parenthood

This new dad has a lifetime of dad jokes ahead of him.

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"Today my son asked me, 'Can I have a bookmark'? I burst into tears — he's 12 years old and still doesn't know my name!"

What did the buffalo say to his son when he dropped him off at school? "Bison!"

When does a joke become a dad joke? When it becomes apparent.

Dad Jokes About Books

Dads will love these jokes about books.

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What has a spine but no bones? A book.

What would happen if you threw all the books in the ocean? It would cause a title wave.

Did you hear that I'm reading a book about anti-gravity? It's impossible to put down.

Dad Jokes About Music

Some dads play the guitar.

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What's the best kind of music to listen to when fishing? Something catchy.

What kind of music do chiropractors like? Hip pop.

What kind of music does a boulder like? Rock 'n' roll.

Singing in the shower is fun until you get soap in your mouth. Then it's a soap opera.

Dad Jokes About Money

Dads love to joke about money.

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Why did the man put his money in the freezer? He wanted cold, hard cash.

Where does 007 invest his money? In the bond market.

What did the comedian say when he walked into the bank? This is a standup.

Dad Jokes About Cars

Have you heard these dad jokes about cars?

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What do you call a Ford Fiesta that ran out of gas? A Ford Siesta.

I couldn't figure out how to fasten my seatbelt. Then it clicked.

What has 10 letters and starts with G-A-S? Automobile.

Dad Jokes About Laziness

Feeling lazy? There's a dad joke for that, too.

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Don't get mad at lazy people. They didn't do anything.

Interviewer: "Describe yourself in three words." Interviewee: "Lazy."

Want to hear a joke about procrastination? I'll tell you later.

Dad Jokes About Summer

Here are some dad jokes about summer.

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What do you call a snowman in July? A puddle.

What do you call a Golden Retriever at the beach? A hot dog.

Why don't fish go on summer vacation? Because they're always in schools.

Dad Jokes About Love

Here are some dad jokes about love.

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We're not socks. But I think we'd make a great pair.

Do you like vegetables? Because I love you from my head tomatoes.

Never laugh at your significant other's choices — because you happen to be one of them.

Dad Jokes That Make You Think

These dad jokes are so bad, they're good.

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I burnt my Hawaiian pizza last night. I guess I should have put it on aloha setting.

Don't trust Adams. They make up everything.

What did the zero say to the eight? That belt looks good on you.

Dad Jokes About Houses

These dad jokes are actually kind of funny.

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How much does a chimney cost? Nothing, it's on the house.

Can a frog jump higher than a house? Of course, a house can't jump.

If your house is cold, just stand in the corner. It's always 90 degrees there.

Dad Jokes That Will Make You Laugh

These dad jokes are so bad, they're good.

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I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug.

I went to buy some camouflage pants, but I couldn't find any.

I was going to tell you a joke about time travel, but you didn't like it.

Dad Jokes About Technology

These dad jokes are so bad, they're good.

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What was the spider doing on the computer? He was making a web-site.

What did the computer have during his break time? He had a byte!

What shoes do computers love the most? Re-boots.

Why did the computer go to the dentist? To get his Bluetooth checked.

Corny Dad Jokes

These dad jokes are so bad, they're actually good.

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Why do seagulls fly over the sea? If they flew over the bay, they would be bagels.

Why can't a leopard hide? He's always spotted.

What's the best thing about Switzerland? I don't know, but the flag is a big plus.

Why did the orange lose the race? It ran out of juice.

What's red and bad for your teeth? A brick.

Cheesy Dad Jokes

These dad jokes are actually kind of funny.

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Why are pirates called pirates? They just ARRRR!

How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh? Ten-tickles.

Why shouldn't you tell secrets in a cornfield? Too many ears.

Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two tired.

Dad Jokes About Chores

Need a good laugh? These dad jokes are actually kind of funny.

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I'm really not into spring cleaning. Come to think of it, I'm not into summer, fall, or winter cleaning either.

I think I want a job cleaning mirrors. It's just something I could really see myself doing.

When you clean a vacuum cleaner, you become a vacuum cleaner.

My wife and I were having an argument about whose turn it was to do the laundry. In the end, I threw in the towel.

Dad Jokes About Families

These dad jokes are actually kind of funny.

Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision/Getty Images

My son has his BA and his MA, but his PA still supports him.

My daughter's fourth birthday was today. When she came to see me, I didn't recognize her at first. I had never seen her be four.

I spent a lot of time, money, and effort childproofing my house, but the kids still get in.

Dad Jokes About Social Media

These dad jokes are so bad, they're good.

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Why did the scarecrow join LinkedIn? Because he wanted to become outstanding in his field!

What did the dad say when he couldn't log into his social media account? "Looks like I'll have to face(book) the music!"

Why did the dad take a ladder to his Instagram profile? Because he heard it had a lot of posts!

What do you call someone who gets easily annoyed in the comments section? An insta-grump.

Dad Jokes About Reading

These dad jokes are so bad, they're good.

Ippei Naoi/Moment/Getty Images

I'm reading a book about mazes. I got lost in it!

I'm reading a book about submarines. It's super deep!

I'm reading a book about glue. I can't seem to put it down!

I'm reading a book on clocks. It's about time!

Let's make a reservation at the library before they're booked!

What's a librarian's favorite type of music? Shhh-mooth jazz!

Dad Jokes About Drinks

funny dad jokes

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Why did the coffee call the cops? It got mugged!

What type of coffee does a vampire drink? Decoffin-ated!

How did the hipster burn his tongue? He drank his tea before it was cool!

How does a coffee bean hit on someone? "Hey brew-tiful!"

Why is coffee so good at solving mysteries? Because it always has a latte clues!

What do you call a nervous cup of tea? Anxi-tea!

What's coffee's favorite type of music? R&Brew!

What do you call a sad cup of tea? Steeped in sorrow!

Why did the tea leaf avoid the hot water? It said, "I'm not ready to steep into that yet!"

Dad Jokes About Vacation

dad jokes about vacation

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Why don't oysters go on vacation? Because they're shellfish!

Why do cows love vacation? Because they can moo-ve freely!

Why did the math book go to the beach? To work on its tan!

What did the beach say when the tide came in? Long time, no sea!

Why did the computer go to the beach? To surf the net!

Random Dad Jokes

These dad jokes are so bad, they're good.

VioletaStoimenova/E+/Getty Images

Why don't skeletons get out of town during the Halloween season? They don't have the guts!

Why was the math book upset? It had too many problems.

How do you put together a space party? You planet.

What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta

I wish I could tell you a joke about an elevator, but it's an uplifting experience.

Why don't airplanes ever get lost? Because they always wing it!

Why did the ghosts go to the party? It was all for the boos.

I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough dough.

I used to hate facial hair... But then it grew on me.

Why did the bicycle go to bed so early? It was two-tired!

Why are scientists so skeptical of atoms? Because they make up everything!

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Hugh Jackman's Performance Is The One Sincere Thing In Deadpool & Wolverine

Deep beneath all the layers of sarcasm and meta jokes, the Deadpool movies' biggest strength has always secretly been emotional sincerity. That's also the biggest missing element from the latest installment, Deadpool & Wolverine. But what Deadpool lacks in heart this time around, Hugh Jackman more than makes up for as Wolverine.

Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) has a winning vulnerability in his first two movie outings, even though he disguises it under layers of snark. He loves his girlfriend Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). He appreciates his friends. He has empathy for Russell (Julian Dennison), a lonely kid with mutant powers. His heart carries the Deadpool movies and makes them more than a series of gags. The movies' most important joke is that even though all of this is clear, Deadpool himself would never really say any of it out loud, preferring to disguise it under a mountain of sarcasm. In his first Marvel Cinematic Universe outing, however, surface-level cynicism is as deep as the character goes.

Sure, the movie technically revolves around Deadpool trying to save his timeline so he can save his friends. But that motivation feels more obligatory than like a true character motivation. He talks about his friends when the plot demands he care, but the intervening moments are too stuffed with irreverent banter and franchise IP jokes to make room for Deadpool to have any real emotions — or even a cursory mention of why he likes the people around him. Now that he's Disney's Deadpool, he saves people because that's what a Disney hero does, not because he actually loves them.

But for all the ways Deadpool & Wolverine strips its main character of the emotions he once had, director Shawn Levy and the writers (Reynolds among them) aren't completely allergic to feelings. They just assign them all to Wolverine instead. And Hugh Jackman absolutely makes the most of that responsibility.

Jackman is 24 years into playing Logan at this point, and he's done just about everything the live-action version of the character could. He's been in silly time-travel movies, survived at least three different attempted universe reboots, led a superhero Western, and passed the baton on to the next generation of heroes — or at least tried to. And through every variation of the X-Men universe, and every false start, Jackman has remained solid as a rock, consistently delivering the best superhero performance in any universe. His MCU debut is no exception.

Deadpool & Wolverine brings Jackman into a slightly different version of the character than he's ever gotten to play before: a Wolverine relieved of the pressures of heroism by his own failure. Everyone he loves and cares about is dead, and he wasn't there to fight for them, so all that's left is despair. It's a bleak vision of the superhero genre's most stabilizing force, and Levy and company are willing to milk it for all the drama it's worth. Thanks to Jackman, that decision is one of Deadpool & Wolverine's saving graces.

Jackman is a born showman, and he's tremendous at translating extra-big emotions into extra-big monologues. The movie repeatedly lets the Tony-winner and Oscar nominee loose to fill the movie's emotional void with tales of his sadness and loss. It's clear showboating, and a complete tonal shift from the rest of the script. But with Jackman selling, it's hard not to buy, no matter how clearly and blatantly the writing is manipulating the audience.

When Jackman's failure-Wolverine sits down on a log for a discussion with his criminally underutilized Logan story partner X-23 (Dafne Keen), he brings the whole movie to a stop, with a performance that's so sincere, it temporarily feels like it's breaking the movie's rules. The scene is just a pale imitation of what makes Logan great, but it's still remarkable — a sudden burst of emotion in what's otherwise just been a hollow exercise in IP mocking itself for cool points.

That's the power of Jackman's Wolverine, though: a selling-it-to-the-cheap-seats performance that sings on screen and makes audiences believe this musclebound killing machine feels every second of his own semi-immortality like a fatal knife wound. He's cruel and kind and heartbreaking in the same breath, and even his silliest lines feel worked into the fabric of the performance rather than like out-of-character additions.

It's the same pathos and pain Jackman has brought to the character for 24 years, and the very reason he survives every iteration of the live-action X-Men. It's simply impossible at this point to imagine taking Wolverine's live-action character out of Jackman's very capable hands. And for all Deadpool & Wolverine's faults, at least it gives Jackman a fitting encore and victory lap after the character's perfect curtain call in Logan.

Deadpool & Wolverine is in theaters now.

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