Some Fans Believe ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Is a ‘She-Hulk’ Rehash: “Everything ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Did, She-Hulk Did Better!”

After much anticipation, Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, has finally hit theaters, and fans are thrilled. The long-awaited pairing of these two iconic characters is now a reality, and the film is receiving rave reviews.

The movie is performing exceptionally well at the box office, drawing large crowds and earning praise as one of the greatest Marvel films ever made. However, as with any major release, there are some dissenting and controversial opinions, including one we’re about to discuss.

Our colleague Richard Fink from MovieWeb recently penned an intriguing opinion piece in which he argues, essentially, that “Everything Deadpool & Wolverine Did, She-Hulk Did Better.” In this thought-provoking article, Richard presents an alternative perspective, suggesting that Deadpool & Wolverine followed a similar formula to She-Hulk but executed it more effectively. To find out the full argument, you’ll need to read the article yourself!

The central thesis of the linked article is that Deadpool & Wolverine lacks originality and relies on the same formula used by She-Hulk. The article suggests that She-Hulk was more successful in that regard.

“Deadpool & Wolverine is treading a lot of familiar ground, and a large portion of the praise that fans have given it seems to be ignoring that the MCU already did something similar in tone and format and did it better. That is, of course, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law ran for nine episodes in 2022 and, despite getting reviewed and bombed, garnered praise from critics and some high-profile fans. She-Hulk, both the character and the series, was criticized for a lot of the same things Deadpool & Wolverine is doing and getting a lot of praise. Is it as simple as Deadpool & Wolverine doing a bit better, or is there something else at work here?”

In his analysis, Fink argues that both Deadpool and She-Hulk followed similar approaches, but while Deadpool received praise, She-Hulk faced criticism and divided fans.

“She-Hulk’s ability to break the fourth wall, particularly in the season finale where she changes the ending, was said to “break” the MCU and not make sense. It divided fans. Yet, nobody seems to have an issue with Deadpool breaking the fourth wall within the MCU. Nobody even took umbrage with Deadpool breaking the fourth wall in the Fox X-Men universe, and instead, the film and character were praised for breaking the reality of those films.”

The same applies to the portrayal of the characters’ sexuality. Both Deadpool and She-Hulk are open about it, but while Deadpool is celebrated for its wacky humor, She-Hulk faced criticism and shaming. This highlights a noticeable double standard.

“Both Deadpool and She-Hulk are also characters who are open about their sexuality. The first Deadpool establishes that he is open and free with his sexuality; constantly flirting with Wolverine and various other male characters. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law addresses the character’s alter ego, Jennifer Walters, who struggles with dating. She has three partners in the series, leading a vocal minority to slut-shame her. In a way, the series got ahead of it by making those people essentially the villains of the series, yet Deadpool is warmly embraced as being a wacky, silly hero. It does feel like Deadpool is given more passes than She-Hulk.”

Fink further argues that She-Hulk managed to deliver relevant and sharp humor, whereas Deadpool simply reuses the same formula. Despite She-Hulk offering a fresh take on MCU conventions with its unique ending, its humor was criticized, while Deadpool is celebrated as innovative: “Where She-Hulk: Attorney at Law poked fun at the MCU formula and introduced a new type of conclusion, Deadpool & Wolverine comments on MCU conventions and assumes that mere commentary justifies repeating the same tropes.”

Fink also addresses the dance scenes in both series. The dance scene in She-Hulk has been one of the most controversial moments, widely criticized by fans and becoming a meme representing the show’s perceived flaws. In contrast, Deadpool’s dance scene is praised as a highlight.

Fink concludes that there is no real difference between the dance scenes in She-Hulk and Deadpool & Wolverine. He argues that She-Hulk is criticized because it features a female character, while Deadpool is celebrated because it focuses on a male character.

“If one is being genuinely honest, there is no difference on the surface between Deadpool and She-Hulk dancing. Both are fun little scenes that give insight into the character’s more comedic nature that fits with their characterization in the comics and in films. If there is no good reason, the disdain for She-Hulk must be more depressing. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law gets labeled cringeworthy, whereas Deadpool & Wolverine gets to be funny. The boys are allowed to make jokes, but a woman does the same, and they are unfairly criticized.”

What are your thoughts? Do you agree with Richard Fink’s perspective, or do you think his view is off the mark? Share your opinions in the comments below!

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