Review: ‘Logan’ a satisfying end for Jackman’s Wolverine – Medicine Hat News

By Sandy Cohen, The Associated Press on March 1, 2017.

Logan is not for the faint of heart not just because of its brutal violence, but because it packs an emotional wallop you dont typically expect from a comic-book movie.

Featuring Hugh Jackmans final turn as Wolverine, Logan isnt a shiny, colorful, superhero-style film, either. Its gritty, dark, and a deeply satisfying conclusion for fans whove followed the clawed character through Jackmans past eight movie outings with the X-Men and alone as Wolverine.

Writer-director James Mangold, who also directed 2013s The Wolverine, clearly loves the character as much as Jackman does, and both seem liberated by this films R rating. Logan is not a kids movie. Its viscerally violent lots of claws-through-the-face shots and emotionally profound as it explores the relationship between Logan and Professor X (Patrick Stewart).

Viewers would need some basic familiarity with these characters to fully appreciate the story told in Logan. If you dont know anything about the relationship between the title mutant and Charles Xavier (Stewart), the arc they experience in this film would be far less impactful.

(The quick version: Professor X is the de-facto leader of mutants, who most appreciates them and their powers. Logan has resented the immortality that comes with his mutant-ness, and has a lot softer heart than his claws would indicate.)

Its the near future, and Logan is a hard-drinking limo-driver for hire. As one of the few remaining mutants, he keeps a low profile while caring for an aging and ill Professor X, whos hidden in a secret silo just south of the Mexican border. Half the time he babbles nonsense, but the professor tells him theres a young mutant coming their way, and soon theyre charged with Laura, a little girl who doesnt speak but has deadly claws like Wolverine.

A slick-looking villain with a Terminator hand (a perfectly smarmy Boyd Holbrook) is interested in this young mutant as well. She was part of a pseudo-military genetic research project led by the evil Dr. Rice (Richard E. Grant, even smarmier).

Laura (entrancing newcomer Dafne Keen) is planning to meet the other kids Dr. Rice experimented on in Eden, a place they read about in an X-Men comic book. So meta.

Thus the story becomes a road movie, with Logan, Laura and Xavier comprising an endearing and offbeat family on their way to Eden as they try to outrun Dr. Rice and his goons. Logan is reluctant and disinterested, Xavier is kind and a little kooky, and Laura is mute.

Laura is also a killer badass, and Keen makes her so fun to watch. Imagine Wolverines powers in a pint-sized, ponytailed package. Between the 11-year-olds performance and flawless special effects, Keens fight scenes are as thrilling and bloodletting as any of Wolverines.

And Jackman doubly delivers as Wolverine. Youll see what I mean when you watch the film. He is in top form as both an action star and an actor, bringing heart to his dramatic scenes and wielding unmatched admantium power in the action sequences.

Beyond the claws, theres also some cutting-edge car play, including a throw-down between a limo, two motorcycles and a barbed-wire fence. Mangold also manages to work in an anti-GMO message about a Monsanto-like company and pay tribute to classic cinema with a nod to the 1953 Western, Shane.

Logan is a family drama, an action thriller and an epic superhero story. If this is indeed Jackmans last Wolverine film, hes going out in heartfelt, high-class style.

Logan, a 20th Century Fox release, is rated R for strong brutal violence and language throughout, and for brief nudity. Running time: 141 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

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MPAA Definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen at http://www.twitter.com/APSandy .

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Review: 'Logan' a satisfying end for Jackman's Wolverine - Medicine Hat News