X-Men Origins: Wolverine – how do you disappoint like this?

The message to Fox Executives: Maybe put a pause on that Magneto script and step back from Deadpool. Trust me, I just stepped out of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and there’s a lingering feeling of disappointment. It’s not that the film was entirely awful, but it missed a golden opportunity to craft an origin story capable of rivaling the greatness of Batman Begins.

First things first, Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine portrayal is spot-on. He embodies the character flawlessly, his raw physicality truly capturing the essence of Wolverine. Yet, being an Executive Producer on this film, he shares some responsibility for what mostly turned out to be a rather lackluster experience.

When diving into an origin story, stringing together action sequences won’t suffice. You can’t simply relegate the pivotal moment of Wolverine’s story—the implantation of Adamantium—to a subplot about lost love. And for the sake of cinematic integrity, casting someone as brilliant as Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/Deadpool and giving him a mere five minutes? That’s a missed opportunity.

Remember in X2, when Colonel Stryker hinted at the dark, tangled history shared with Wolverine? We caught a glimpse that Logan wasn’t exactly a saint. Yet, Origins decides to hand that trait over to Sabretooth. (Liev Schreiber nails it, by the way, and deserves immense credit for relishing his role.) It’s disheartening to fall back on the same old storytelling trope – the good guy seeking redemption, trying to flee his past sins, only to be dragged back in by vengeance.

This was a chance to create something groundbreaking, to push the boundaries and gift fans with a narrative etched into their memories, revered for years (think The Dark Knight). Instead, we got a lackluster, revenge-driven action flick that doesn’t even fulfill on the revenge aspect. Disappointing.

There were some standout moments in Wolverine, though:

• Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/Deadpool was absolutely stellar.
• Gambit showcasing his card-throwing prowess.
• Professor Xavier’s appearance was a welcome surprise, no doubt about that!