A character-driven story, coupled with unapologetic violence, makes one of the most down-to-earth superhero movies. Taking place later than most of the previous “X-Men” films, the final film in the Wolverine franchise requires little knowledge of any of those other movies.. Both lead actors, Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman have strong performances. They build on what came before and take their characters to their lowest points. The rest of the cast is solid, but none really shine as much as the leads. Dafne Keen’s Laura lets her action do most of her talking and doesn’t really get the audience as invested her as they should be. Boyd Holbrook’s Donald Pierce starts of strong, with plenty of charisma, but seems to become less important as the story moves on. The film’s second, mystery villain is awe-inspiring when he first arrives, but lacks any substance to make him interesting. This becomes most apparent in the film’s climax. The plot is simple, but things have to slow down and delve into the characters before jumping back into the action. The fights are brutal and bloody. Limbs and heads are severed from bodies. Strong profanity is laced throughout the dialog. This is not meant for young children. Just to know, there is no post-credit scene to stick around for.
**** out of *****