‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: We saw the first 40 minutes
We got to see the first 40 minutes of “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Do you need to be a Marvel superfan to enjoy it? How’s Hugh Jackman? Hear our thoughts about these answers and more.
By Jacob Goldberg
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ entering the ‘sacred timeline’
Attractions Magazine was recently invited to watch the first 40 minutes of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which debuts in theaters July 26, 2024. This film marks the third installment in the Deadpool franchise, Hugh Jackman’s 10th outing as Wolverine, and the first significant X-Men crossover into the “sacred timeline” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
If you’re like me and just reading that sentence leaves you feeling exhausted in this post-“Endgame” era, fear not. The “three-quel” injects new life into the MCU by giving the series what it needs most: a character willing to break the rules.
Unapologetically ‘Deadpool’
“Deadpool & Wolverine” remains as unapologetically “Deadpool” as it is a Marvel film. Following Disney’s 2019 acquisition of 20th Century Studios, the Merc with a Mouth is in safe hands under the House of Mouse, as the story allows Deadpool to be more Deadpool than Deadpool has ever been before. (Hope that makes sense — this is a multiverse movie.)
The first 40 minutes hit the ground running, throwing our titular characters into the ever-expanding MCU. Wasting no time, the film delivers hilariously bloody and grotesque action sequences, self-deprecating humor that spits in the face of the film’s corporate overlords, and a surprising underbelly of heart that keeps the characters grounded. The first act is almost a checklist delivering everything you’d want in a Marvel Studios-approved “Deadpool” movie.
The Hugh Jackman cash grab
For those worried that the re-introduction of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will be treated as nothing more than a cheap cash grab, don’t worry. You’re right! But that’s sort of the fun with the idea. The movie gives more than a self-referential wink to the newest iteration of Wolverine, somehow honoring the character’s legacy while actively defecating on it in realtime. This multiversal approach gives Hugh Jackman a new version of the character, showcasing a different sense of comedy and purpose that plays to his strengths.
The movie gives more than a self-referential wink to the newest iteration of Wolverine, somehow honoring the character’s legacy while actively defecating on it in realtime.
The MCU effect
It wouldn’t be a multiverse movie without a healthy dose of references and callbacks. Fans of the Marvel franchise will be happy that this movie creatively nods towards the long history of these characters, while allowing this film to feel accessible to the average moviegoer who doesn’t know what Earth-616 means.
These thoughts are not coming from a Marvel fanboy, either. This reviewer hasn’t been on board with the franchise since Thanos turned to dust. I even shrugged my way through “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” feeling like I was watching two hours of the Spider-Man pointing meme.
However, even my most cynical impulses were put at ease as I watched Ryan Reynolds brutally murder his way through the previously family-oriented Marvel universe. I wasn’t shocked that Disney approved this movie, but delighted, as it shows that Marvel still has a deep understanding of its characters.
For the first time in years, I felt like I was having fun in a Marvel movie again. Because this movie knows what it is: pure, unadulterated fun.
Even previous “Deadpool” movies may pale in comparison, as the Merc with a Mouth always felt shoved into his own little corner of the Fox “X-Men” universe. Now that the bridge into the MCU has been crossed (and borderline burned), the character finally has that big-budget blockbuster backing that allows him to have a proper place in an interconnected storyline.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ final thoughts on first 40 minutes
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been following the MCU since 2008’s “Iron Man,” or like me, have fallen out of it over the years. Yes, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is just another multiversal adventure, but it’s one everyone can have at least enjoy a little. A cash grab? Sure. But come on, it’s fun! I’ll certainly be seeing the full-length version when it hits theaters on July 26.
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