17 years ago, an unknown Australian actor named Hugh Jackman took on the role that would go on to define his career in the form of Wolverine in the first X-Men movie. He’s played the character numerous times including having his own spin-off series and now it comes full circle with Logan, a hard-R, violent yet emotionally bittersweet finale.
The year is 2029 and mutants are virtually nonexistent anymore except for Logan and Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart). Logan now ekes out a living as a chauffeur and helps Xavier who has now lost his psychic ability and suffers from a degenerative brain disease.
Logan and Xavier are now weathered due to everything they have seen until a young girl named Laura (newcomer Dafne Keen) arrives on their doorstep. She has unique powers that are almost identical to that of Logan’s. They reluctantly protect her from an evil mutant organization that wants to do her harm. Little do any of them realize, Laura is pretty capable of taking care of herself. And when she does show off, wow!
The movie does supply some solid acting from Jackman and Stewart including touching moments that do expand their relationship deeper than any previous X-Men film. Don’t worry, though; Logan is not without some really funny moments as well including one scene as they sit down at a family’s dinner table to try and explain what they do. When Xavier tells the family he runs a school for gifted children, Logan’s response is priceless.
Writer/director James Mangold has fashioned a spectacular conclusion that is at once a great chapter in the series as well as paying homage to different Westerns such as Unforgiven and Shane. This movie is to the X-Men franchise what The Dark Knight was to the Batman franchise.
Last year, Deadpool opened the door to a potential R-rated superhero movie and Logan only further reinforces the idea that comic book movies can expand beyond the PG-13 territory and be something not only darker, but smarter and equally as well-suited.
As for Jackman, his final performance as Wolverine fires on all cylinders and cuts deep. Well done, Mr. Jackman. Well done.
Grade: A-
(Rated R for strong brutal violence and language throughout, and for brief nudity.)
