The twenty-first installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is Captain Marvel, a film stricken with controversy, contention, and opinionated takes before it even hit theaters. Marvel’s long overdue, first female-led film was sure to draw the ire of internet fanboys, but now that it’s out, it’s clear the hate was unwarranted as Captain Marvel is another great entry in the blockbuster-superhero genre whose female representation will hopefully have a positive ripple effect in the culture it resides within.
Set in the 90’s, Captain Marvel follows Carol Danvers, a super-powered intergalactic soldier played by Brie Larson who slowly discovers the truth about her past and kicks a lot of ass along the way. Alongside Larson are stars Samuel L. Jackson as a young Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn as the alien villain Talos. Of all the things that Captain Marvel does right, the standout is the casting. Brie Larson plays an incredibly charismatic, witty, and emotionally rich lead and does so with visible enthusiasm. Her chemistry with Jackson is palpable as they play off of one another in ways akin to classic buddy-cop films. Mendelsohn’s performance is equally enjoyable, and the sum of the entire cast’s performances creates an on-screen presence that breathes a lot of life into a genre that can often feel stale with its generic characters.
These characters ride on top of a plot that is generally quite captivating, if predictable at times. Despite this, it is still very thematically focused and character-driven, deserving credit for putting these elements before wanton action. That’s not to say this film shunts action completely. I have a great appreciation for action sequences when it’s done with care and engrosses the audience. Such action scenes in Captain Marvel are a bit hit or miss. They range from well executed to purported grandeur which is not the level of consistency one would hope. None are bad per se, but when they’re at their worst, they are decidedly average.
Given that Captain Marvel falls within a long-running franchise, I’d be remiss to review it without touching on its shared cinematic universe. Without spoiling anything, all I’ll say is that this movie respects the world prior entries built while adding to it in fun ways that generate excitement for entries down the line.
And at the end of the day, that’s what it really comes down to: excitement. These movies are made to be fun and enjoyable and Captain Marvel is nothing if not that. This movie has a wonderful brand of snarky humor that leads to several laugh-out-loud moments, and as a long-time fan of these movies, it can be difficult to separate my love of the film itself from the contextual and referential enjoyment that it brings. In writing this review, I tried to take that into account, but at the same time, movie’s role in the bigger picture is relevant to the analysis of its content. In addition to Wonder Woman, this film helps move the needle for female representation in a genre that is male dominated and regulated by internet fanboys who want to be the gate keepers of the super hero boys club. Captain Marvel understands this, and it simultaneously tells a great story all on its own while providing a message this is larger than itself.
3.75/5 Stars