Genre: Action

Director: James Mangold

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Richard E. Grant, and Dafne Keen

Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release: In Theaters Friday, March 3, 2017.

Rating ★★★★★

Hard to believe when Hugh Jackman got the role of Wolverine back in 2000 that 17 years later he would still be playing the character. I’m not surprised; he perfectly encapsulates the hero and even in the weakest X-Men films, he’s usually one of the highlights. But all good things must come to an end as the latest installment in the X-Men franchise, Logan, will be Jackman’s final outing as the infamous mutant.

Logan, directed by James Mangold, follows an older Logan as he cares for an ailing Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) in a hideout near the Mexican border. Thinking they’re the only mutants left in the world, Logan tries to keep a low profile as he attempts to scrounge up money to buy a boat so he and Xavier can spend their remaining days out to sea. These plans come to a halt when a mysterious girl named Laura (Dafne Keen), who possesses mutant powers very similar to Logan’s, shows up. Now the three go on the lam as members of an evil corporation chase them, stopping at nothing to get Laura.

Hugh Jackman as Logan

The opening scenes set the tone perfectly as we see a hungover Logan struggling to fight a gang vandalizing his car. This isn’t the Wolverine we’re used to seeing in the previous movies, the one that is an unstoppable force of nature. This version of Logan is weathered, uncoordinated, bitter, and Jackman plays it expertly. He portrays the character as broken and jaded, yet is still able to give us that hint of the old Logan who once was mighty and arrogant. This movie is a fantastic reminder of why Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine is an example of pitch-perfect casting. The same could be said about Stewart’s performance as Xavier. He’s equally as impressive as Jackman, and the scenes between these two are gripping.

Laura, Logan, and Xavier finding a place to hide out.

Newcomer Keen gives one stand-out performance as Laura. With barely any lines of dialogue, she sells her character completely and holds her own against veteran actors Stewart and Jackman. With a simple look on her face, she’s able to convey so much emotion, you’re unable to keep your eyes off her, especially during the action scenes. She’s definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Speaking of action, the sequences in Logan are all highly memorable. No longer restrained by a PG-13 rating, the violence is brutal, gory, and graphic, but also highly satisfying. After 17 years, finally seeing Wolverine unleash his rage on his enemies, seeing him tear foes to pieces feels well deserved. Logan earns its R rating and wears it like a badge of honor.

The violence, however, doesn’t overshadow the core storyline, which is Logan’s strongest aspect. While the plot may seem like a simple “we have to get from point A to point B” storyline, the simplicity of it actually makes way for a great deal of character depth and world-building. We’re given little bits and pieces of information to clue us in about what happened to the world and the rest of the mutants. As you put the information together, and connect the dots, you begin to realize just how dire the world is and has become, and why Logan and Xavier are where they are now. This type of storytelling makes the film worth watching multiple times.

Hugh Jackman dawns Wolverine’s claws one last time in Logan

Logan breathes new life into the superhero genre. It’s uncompromising, brutal, and sometimes emotionally draining to watch. But it’s a more deeply personal and heartfelt story than the usual comic book fare and should not be missed. If this is truly Jackman’s last portrayal of the iconic character, it’s the best send-off one can ask for.

For more on the film go to http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/logan
Photo credits ©2017 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.

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