Movies Update: ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ takes over.

Plus, movies for every summer vacation mood.

View in browser|nytimes.com July 26, 2024 By Kellina Moore Hey movie fans! What's your ideal summer movie? I'm partial to a creature feature like "Tremors," "Jaws" or "Anaconda." Nothing helps me get into vacation mode like a life-or-death face-off with a terrifying beast. And yes, Twisters counts — especially if you see it in 4D. But maybe you'd rather turn to some blistering action (and insults) to cool off. In that case, consider "Deadpool & Wolverine," the latest from Marvel, which tries to honor the irreverent roots of "Deadpool" while providing the level of fan service M.C.U. devotees expect. If you don't know what M.C.U. stands for (or if that's about as far as your knowledge goes), you can check out our explainer that goes over the basics of the (extensive) lore. Our critic calls the film "rude and irreverent, funny and disgusting, weird and a little sweet," and largely credits the stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman for the injection of personality. Or perhaps you'd prefer a nice tropical beverage with the girlies? Our critic Alissa Wilkinson suggests revisiting "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar" (2021), written by and starring Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo as Midwesterners on the Florida vacation of their lives. Wilkinson calls it "an absurd, hilarious romp in the sunshine" and "in a word, perfect." If you're in the mood for a double (feature), "The Fabulous Four" (in theaters now) pairs well. Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Megan Mullally play a group of old friends on a bachelorette weekend in Key West, and the critic Amy Nicholson says "'Fabulous Four' feels like it was made after guzzling three bottles of champagne — and honestly, that's an apropos way to watch." Now that's vacation cinema. Enjoy the movies! Jay Maidment/20th Century Studios and Marvel 'Deadpool & Wolverine' Review: Nothing Ever Ends The wisecracking semi-hero is back, but now he's part of a bigger universe. By Alissa Wilkinson Mustafah Abdulaziz for The New York Times Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman on the Perks and Pitfalls of Playing Superheroes The two friends have learned a lot about being the stewards of major pop-culture characters, an education that led them to "Deadpool & Wolverine." By Kyle Buchanan Cate Cameron/Lionsgate Critic's Notebook This Fizzy Cocktail of a Movie Deserves a Second Chance "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar" has been woefully neglected. Maybe it was the culottes? But it will fill the "Barbie"-size hole in your summer. By Alissa Wilkinson Bleecker Street 'The Fabulous Four' Review: Beaches (and Lots of Mojitos) This raunchy comedy features Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Megan Mullally on a bachelorette weekend. By Amy Nicholson CRITICS' PICKS Focus Features/Talking Fish Pictures, LLC. Critic's Pick 'Didi' Review: 13 Going on Nerdy A vibrant coming-of-age story about an awkward teenager in California in 2008 is also a love letter to the director's mother. By Alissa Wilkinson Ozan Acidere/Mubi Critic's Pick 'Crossing' Review: Stories to Tell In Levan Akin's fascinating drama, two strangers connect in Istanbul. By Amy Nicholson MOVIE REVIEWS Gordon Timpen/Strand Releasing 'Rhinegold' Review: Rapping With a Rap Sheet Based on the life of an Iranian German drug dealer and rapper, Fatih Akin's interminable drama feels uncomfortably partial to its violent subject. By Jeannette Catsoulis Kim Stim 'Only the River Flows' Review: A Spiraling Murder Investigation In this Chinese police procedural, directed by Wei Shujun, solutions are murkier than they first appear. By Ben Kenigsberg Prime Video 'Cirque du Soleil: Without a Net' Review: How the Magic Happens This documentary chronicles the reboot and reopening in Las Vegas of the acrobatic show "O," which shutdown during the pandemic. By Glenn Kenny ANATOMY OF A SCENE Jay Maidment/20th Century Studios and Marvel Anatomy of a Scene Watch a Reynolds and Jackman Diner Chat in 'Deadpool & Wolverine' The director Shawn Levy narrates a scene from the latest sequel in the franchise. By Mekado Murphy NEWS & FEATURES Paramount Pictures A Smartphone Can't Help You Now: How Horror Movies Solve Their Cell Problem When one quick call can eliminate danger and undermine screams, filmmakers have to figure out a workaround. Sometimes it can even deepen a story. By Rich Juzwiak Courtesy of Claro Video Critic's Notebook Unlikely Heroes and Heroines in These Gems From Mexico Cinema's Golden Age A Lincoln Center retrospective puts the spotlight on midcentury movies aimed at the masses that continue to influence filmmakers. By Carlos Aguilar Isolar A Rarely Seen David Bowie Rom-Com Gets a New Life "The Linguini Incident," a low-budget '90s film directed by Richard Shepard and featuring Bowie and Rosanna Arquette, makes its way to Blu-ray in a director's cut. By Jason Bailey Universal Pictures Was Your 4D Screening of 'Twisters' a Blast? Thank These Effects Wizards. For special presentations of that blockbuster and others, companies like CJ 4DPlex have turned splashing and shaking moviegoers into a lucrative art. By Neima Jahromi Disney The Inexact Science of Box Office Projections Opening-weekend estimates have been a Hollywood fixture since the 1980s. But surveys of moviegoers can fail to capture those who infrequently visit the theater. By Reggie Ugwu Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. Pictures 'Joker: Folie à Deux' to Compete at Venice Film Festival Pedro Almodóvar's first English-language feature and new movies from Luca Guadagnino and Pablo Larraín will also debut at this year's event. By Alex Marshall STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Ovid Five International Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a '90s coming-of-age tale from India, a Turkish noir set in a zoo, a Romanian drama about provincial politics and more. By Devika Girish Universal Pictures The Best Movies and Shows on Hulu Right Now We've handpicked the finest movies and television shows currently streaming on Hulu in the United States. Take a look. By Jason Bailey VMI Releasing Five Horror Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include Swedish evildoers, South Korean warrior-ghosts and a devil stalking the American frontier. By Erik Piepenburg How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. 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