It’s not a good sign for a movie’s longevity when my biggest takeaway from a film is that I really enjoyed some of the other films that it referenced.

After watching Deadpool, I was tempted to watch it again. Watching this movie, all I could think of was how I might want to go back and watch Logan, or maybe X-Men: First Class. I would even enjoy watching some of the other X-Men movies.

Previous Deadpool movies have managed to simultaneously deliver snarky commentary, cheeky references, large quantities of superhero movie violence, and plots that feel emotionally grounded enough and central enough to give me a sense of continuity and investment. This movie…

…does the first three of those. I wanted it to do the last one too, but what I really got from it was a reminder of how much more I’d loved other Wolverine and Deadpool stories.

I wanted to love this movie. I enjoy Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman playing across from each other. By all rights, this felt like it should have been an easy win.

It’s too bad, really. I think that the emotional beats of this story could have been really potent, if they’d landed for me. Maybe I just watched the movie at the wrong time. Maybe I wasn’t ready to be invested in its story. Regardless, I didn’t lose myself in the movie the way that I wanted to. 

Yes, I laughed. Yes, I enjoyed myself. I might watch it again, at some point. I just won’t go out of my way for it.

Given the positive reviews I see this movie getting, I have to wonder whether I missed something. Maybe I was in an off mood, or expected too much. If you want something full of superhero stabs and fourth-wall breaking wisecracks, this movie has you covered. Just don’t expect genius.