Logan Review

The

[caption id=attachment_20172" align="aligncenter" width="2400] L1006049 - Hugh Jackman stars as Logan/Wolverine in LOGAN. Photo Credit: James Mangold.[/caption]

A Dark Time For Mutants

In the year 2029, mutants are on the brink of extinction. The time of the X-Men has long past and James Howlett, aka Logan, aka Wolverine, is struggling through his illness rattled life working as a chauffeur.  He lives with an ailing Charles Xavier and a mutant tracker, attempting to live a quiet life when a mysterious woman enters his life. Gabriela Lopez pleads with Logan to help escort a young girl named Laura to North Dakota to a place called “Eden."  After an initial refusal, it becomes very apparent that Laura is no normal child when a legion of soldiers known as the Revenant tries to track her down.

Logan is trapped in a crossroads between caring for Charles and protecting this girl, but much more is at stake than he may realize.

Not Your Typical Comic Flick

While the title would make it seem like this “should” be a comic-bookie flick, I assure you it is not. After the first few scenes, it’s very clear that this movie is rated R for a reason. That being said, it doesn’t try to hit viewers over the head with it. There is swearing, a fair amount of gore, but the movie isn’t rated R just for the heck of it. The film is able to hit the right narrative tone because of it.

We are introduced to a worn and weary Wolverine and it is obvious that he’s a shadow of his former self. The story is heavy with the reality that the world has changed; mutants are no longer a part of it. At the same time, with the introduction of Laura, there is a glimmer of hope. There is a lot of heavy tension throughout the film. It's balanced with some quiet moments and character building. The narrative was very character focused and it really hit all of the feels. The only thing the film seemed to lack was action.

Don’t get me wrong – there was action. However, it was spaced out (probably to allow the audience to catch a collective breath.) When the action scenes did commence, they were worth the wait. There was one scene in particular that really captured that old Wolverine magic, but it was very brief.  I guess that’s part of Logan’s theme: passing the torch to the next generation. I only wish I got to see a little more of that generation.

The Wolverine Himself

Actor portrayal: what can I say about it? The actor portrayal is spot on as always. Hugh Jackman is Wolverine – and it’s interesting to see him play this character from a different perspective. Sir Patrick Steward is remarkable as always as Professor Xavier.  The real stand out is Dafne Keen as Laura Kinney. The film rested on a connection with this little girl and she delivered. She played the role with ferocity and quiet rage that could put her co-actors to shame.

Finally, we come to the villains. Boyd Holbrook does a decent job playing a cocky jerk, while Richard E. Grant follows up with a creepy scientist. While the film was great, the villainy wasn't on par with any legendary antagonists by any means. Then again, this really wasn’t what the film was shooting for.

Logan: Final Thoughts

This is truly the end of an era. While all of the films with Wolverine weren't exactly stellar, Hugh Jackman did the character justice. Logan is a wonderful send-off, and I'll admit it left me feeling a little hollow inside. This may be the last X-Men film starring Jackman and Steward, but their portrayal will always be the one to beat.  One can only hope that we can follow the new generation and that they prove better than the last.

So what do you all think? Have you seen Logan?  Need more action? Check out John Wick: Chapter 2.  Let us know in the comments below!