“Logan” takes place years after the ending of “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” the time-shifting, retconning 2014 film. It’s the waning days of mutantkind; with the exception of Logan (no longer bearing the name of Wolverine), Professor X (now known simply as Charles) and Caliban, a white-shrouded mutant allergic to the sun (Stephen Merchant), all of the other X-men have been x-ed out, whether from old age or — it’s implied — government action. And for some reason, no new mutants are being born.

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So they thought. When the young Laura (Dafne Keen), a preteen with powers and anger issues startlingly similar to Wolverine’s, shows up, Logan and the professor abandon their “Of Mice and Men”-style plan to make a quiet life for themselves and instead attempt to guide the girl from Mexico to Eden, a possibly fictional mutant haven in Canada. Of course, there’s a rather large country in the way that isn’t inclined to welcome their group with open arms, even when their kind includes a small child fleeing unimaginable danger.

“Logan” is a movie about many things, including stabbing a lot of people in a lot of places, but at its core beats an aging heart. Logan’s super-healing powers aren’t as super. His attacks are slower; getting hit hurts more. And, yes, he needs those reading glasses (which he wears with the price tag still on). At the same time, Professor Xavier is sliding into dementia — and what you don’t want is a superpowered psionic mutant getting scared and confused. So he’s in a safe place, cared for but isolated for his protection and that of others.

I have not yet had to deal with watching one of my parents get old; my father died at 60 and my mom, ridiculously healthy at 68, can definitely beat up your mom. But I see new worries coming to my friends, and I can’t pretend those same worries aren’t a possibility for me. Downsizing the house, dealing with Medicare, discussions about “what Mom would want.” Then choosing the hymns, scattering the ashes and fighting with my sisters about who has to take this godawful picture Mom has hanging in the downstairs bathroom.

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Logan is starting to see the same kind of worries. His quest forces him to examine his past and his legacy, and how choices are different when yesterdays begin to outnumber tomorrows. He’s no longer a member of a team or part of a family — he’s the leader and the head, and that means he has to balance the needs of the young and the needs of the old, and take just enough care of himself so he can care for others. The story is about three characters with profound superpowers, but in the end it’s fundamentally human.