Logan is a Dark and Gritty Swansong to Hugh Jackman's Excellent Portrayal of Wolverine

Rating: 9/10 (4 March 2017)

*Minor Spoilers Ahead* After a hilarious and random opening from a fan favourite X-Men character, we join Logan aka Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) in the year 2029. The mutant population has largely been obliterated and there aren't any new mutants being born. Logan is being employed as a limo-driver, he runs random people here and there for work. His plan is to eventually save up for a boat so he can take his mentor/friend Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Caliban (Stephen Merchant) and isolate them from the world. We know Xavier has telepathic powers but they're starting to decay and with his mindset deteriorating, he's become a danger to not only himself but to society. Logan is looking a little worse for ware, he has to violently deal with a couple of thieves and he doesn't heal like he normally does. His age is starting to show and he's constantly drinking to deal with his pain.
Things are looking pretty bleak until he runs into a creepy representative of Transgien Corp. named Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) who is tracking a girl named Laura (Dafne Keen). Her mother tried to stop Logan and offer him a job escorting them to the North Dakota border for $50,000. Logan turned her down but reconsiders and when he goes back the next day, he finds her murdered and Laura climbs into his car looking for help.
The biggest headline when it comes to Logan is that its Hugh Jackman's last performance as Wolverine. Through thick and thin, he's always been committed to the part and he's consistently been a bright spot in the X-Men franchise. He's just as good in Logan if not better. He does a great job showing Logan's inner pain and his ruthless energy carries this movie. He obviously threw his all into this and he's awesome as this dark and tormented version of Wolverine. Patrick Stewart gave a different kind of performance as Xaiver in this movie. His dignity and intellect are largely stripped away and he does a great job showing Professor X as this shell of his former self. Dafne Keen was excellent as X-23, this was one of the better kid actor/actress performances I've ever seen. Her intensity is crazy and she holds her own completely against Jackman and Stewart. Boyd Holbrook was fine as Pierce, he does a serviceable job and he's effective in his part. I also really like Stephen Merchant as Caliban, he's normally a comedic actor but he's pretty solid in a fairly dramatic part. I applaud him for stepping out of his wheelhouse.
Logan continues a trend in blockbuster movies that I really like where its not afraid to tell a more intimate and condensed story. It doesn't always have to be about saving the world from some overly elaborate threat. This story is essentially about Logan protecting Laura and Professor X from this corporation and they set this story up as more of a western. Some of my favourite moments in this movie are away from the action (the scenes where they take shelter at a farm were some of my favourites) and the interactions between these characters were easy to get swept up in.
The tone of Logan is pretty bleak and for those who are going into this expecting more of the same from Wolverine and X-Men franchise, you'll end up either very surprised or very disappointed. This movie is really about Logan's inner turmoil and his struggle to come to terms with what he's done over the years. The action matches the tone by being very violent. I actually liked that about this, Wolverine has always been an edgy character and seeing him brutally deal with his enemies fit. The action is well-filmed and capitalizes on our hero's abilities. X-23 is something to watch in those scenes too. She mows through people and yet due to the film making, it never seems too implausible.
Logan isn't my favourite X-Men movie, it holds 2nd place for me behind X-Men: First Class (I also liked Deadpool a little better but I feel like that one belongs in a different category). I have very little to complain about when it comes to this. I do feel like the hype for this movie has gotten a little out of control. Logan is great but I wouldn't say its the best superhero movie ever. I think this is a stellar movie that gives hardcore fans of Wolverine what they want. I'd give Logan an 8.5/10