Stong finish to Jackman and Stewart's X:Men Journey

Rating: 8/10 (4 March 2017)

For me, pound for pound, the best Super Hero franchise going is the X:Men series (sorry Marvel Cinematic Universe). Why is that? Mainly, it is because of the casting and the realistic interplay between these characters/actors. No two actors serviced this series as faithfully and as effectively as Hugh Jackmans as Wolverine (Logan) and Patrick Stewart as Professor "X" (Charles Xavier). So it was with mixed emotions that I entered the theater to see the self-proclaimed swansong of this series for the both of them.
And...I was rewarded with a very strong, very adult and very graphically violent - and fitting - ending to their journeys as these characters.
LOGAN tells the story of a time in the future when the mutant "fad" has faded and all (or most) mutants are gone (or hidden). The former Wolverine is now a drunken limo driver in El Paso (is there any other kind), making ends meet so he can care for an aging Charles Xavier. The early part of the film delves into the fascinating story of two people who were once indestructible and are now decaying - Logan's infallible body is now fallible and Charles' brilliant mind is ravaged by Alzheimer's. Into this world drops a new mutant who needs protecting and saving from some bad guys. Somebody needs to come along to to protect this girl. "Somebody already has" says Charles to Logan.
The acting of Stewart and Jackman in the first part of the film (and really during the entire film) is exemplary, as good of acting as you are going to get in a Super Hero movie. Not as showy as Heath Ledger's Joker in THE DARK KNIGHT, but strong, subtle and poignant, clearly showing the love and compassion these two have for each other. Stewart, of course, has shown before that he has this type of performance level in him, but it is the work of Jackman that surprises here. He is up to the task and easily holds his own with Stewart. He understands this character and being able to add another dimension to his portrayal must have been what attracted him to this role. Adding to the interest in the first part of the film is the underrated Stephen Merchant as Caliban - a 3rd mutant who works alongside Jackman and Stewart and enhances the proceedings.
The film, then, takes a turn to Action Hero Land when in drops young Dafne Keen as a mutant that is being chased and needs Logan's protection. While there were action scenes before this point in the movie, the film now becomes one long action chase scene - and it is done very, very well - graphically and unapologetic in it's violence. This will help soothe the "fanboys" of this film - they have been clamoring for an adult, hard R-Rated, violent Wolverine for some time - and get it they do - but I was more impressed with the dramatic portion of the first 1/2 of the film than the action of the 2nd half.
Don't get me wrong, Director and Writer James Mangold has crafted a very fine film. He certainly knows how to keep the action moving - and I'm sure some of the "fanboys" will be bored with the more slow first part of this film - but that is the part of the film that appealed more to me and I wanted more of that, and less of the gory action, but that is not what this film needs to be in order to become the Box Office champion that it most certainly will be.
There are a few downsides to this film - while Boyd Holbrook makes a good bad guy, his boss - played by Richard E. Grant - was paperthin and unweighty in comparison to the leads, and an interlude to a family at a farm house really just served as cannon fodder, which was a waste of good talent like Eriq La Salle and Elise Neal. I also was left a bit unsatisfied by the ending, I wanted just a bit more, one more scene, but I can understand why Mangold decided to end the film where he did - lest he falls prey to the "multiple, false ending" trap that the last LORD OF THE RING movie fell victim to.
Mangold, clearly, enjoys these characters and their interactions, but he didn't overplay his hand and these two fine actors - and their characters - can walk off the X:Men stage with their heads held high. They are leaving on a high note and are adhering to the age-old showbiz adage -
"Always leave them wanting more..."
Letter Grade: A-
8 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(OfMarquis)