The Merc with the Mouth is finally back after six long years and this time he's willing to share the spotlight with none other than the fan favourite claw-popping mutant Wolverine. Is Deadpool really bringing salvation to the MCU with his third instalment as he promises in the trailers or should his words be taken with a grain of salt? While Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman return to their respective roles in one of the most fun, exciting and enjoyable MCU films in the past years and fully exploit the natural chemistry that has too long been left unexplored, as a chapter of the larger universe meant to course-correct the MCU, it falls flat.

Whilst the acquisition of Fox by Disney thankfully left no mark on the franchise's signature R-rating, Deadpool's specific register and depiction of violence, the antihero didn't leave this real-life canon event unscathed. Starting from the reduced screen time of the side characters that formed the backbone of Deadpool's universe to a much less precisely developed plot and impactful story, and shallow theme stemming from a contrived status quo - Wade wants to become an Avenger because he wants to matter. Because, apparently, he doesn't. His girlfriend leaves him after he saves her life twice, or after he sacrifices his own life to save a kid who's set to become a ruthless killer just because he believes in him.

Deadpool's own franchise has been consistently praised for being fresh, unconventional and the passion of its creators was palpable in every scene. And the character itself always mattered on his own. Each of the two original films added to Wade's character and made him grow. To overcome his own insecurities, to be more of a hero sacrificing his personal ambitions. On the other hand, the only real change of status quo in Deadpool & Wolverine is literally "& Wolverine". It looks like Deadpool indeed is the Marvel Jesus since he truly sacrificed part of himself for the new world he has found himself in.

For superhero fans, this film constitutes a guaranteed hit. It is a blast watching Reynolds and Jackman play off each other and the straight-man/funny-man dynamic is a very efficient trope (after all, we have already seen the same dynamic in Deadpool 2). However, it feels like the plot and the story are only there to enable this iconic pairing and other nostalgia-inducing cameos which were well-chosen and pleasant to see, but ironically (considering  the theme of the film) didn't really matter and were indistinguishable between one another in their lifeless action figure-like level of depth. Nevertheless, despite these drawbacks, the film is still a dream come true for fans who have long yearned for a team-up of this iconic duo and all the cameos, superficial or not, contribute to the satisfaction. 

Let us then answer the question from the article's title. Did any of it matter? Well, it depends. Did this film save the MCU? In a certain way it did. It's a proof of the fact that the superhero fatigue may very well just be a poor writing/agenda setting/patronizing/CGI oversaturation/flat comedy fatigue. Did the film course-correct the MCU? Sure, if you count Wolverine's presence in it as a game-changing move (wouldn't blame you) as it is the only real change of status quo throughout the film. Was it worth diminishing the impact Jackman's (not Wolverine's) farewell in Logan? Seeing Deadpool and Wolverine leading their own buddy cop film? It had to happen, but should have come earlier than Hugh Jackman hanging up claws (and Patrick Stewart his cerebro... wheelchair... before donning it again in Doctor Strange: Multivers of Madness). 

In conclusion, Deadpool was robbed of his sovereignty, continuity and groundedness, but nobody cares because it needed to happen.