Captain Marvel Review

PG-13: Sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief suggestive language

Marvel Studios

2 Hrs and 3 Minutes

Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck | Writers: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, Geneva Robertson-Dworet

Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Annette Bening, Clark Gregg, Jude Law

The story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe's most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

If you know me personally, you might be aware of some of my unhealthy stans. As of 2017 I’ve been very Chalamet-centric, but since many years prior I’ve been a huge Brie Larson stan. So, seeing her as Captain Marvel, one of the most powerful heroes ever, is awesome. As Captain Marvel, Larson delivers a fun performance that fits with the ranks of the cast in the MCU. The film shines most when it transitions into a buddy comedy between Danvers and Fury. Their banter and the dynamic they share is entertaining and genuinely funny. If you’ve ever witnessed the dynamic between Larson and Jackson when they’re on a press tour, their chemistry is authentic and you see that friendly bond on camera. The chemistry is so impeccable it’s like seeing the two as just themselves.

The de-aging computer technology done by Marvel’s go-to effects studio, Lola VFX is PERFECT. Once Carol crashes into the Blockbuster Video Store, you’re transported back into the 90s, but the time setting doesn’t become truly immersive until you see Sam Jackson as his flawlessly young self. This is the same studio that did The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and to see how incredible their work has become throughout the years for these Marvel films (since ultra-skinny Steve Rogers) is incredible. Who needs the fountain of youth when you got this studio in your corner.

Meanwhile, DC can’t even make a mustache disappear.

Something about Nick Fury being a cat dude warms my heart. I needed more Goose. HEY, I’m a cat dad so this provided some great cat content.

Ben Mendelsohn is this movie’s MVP. The film establishes him as the primary antagonist and I am exhausted of action movies typecasting Ben Mendelsohn in those roles when he’s capable of so much more. That being said, he is funny as hell and steals the limelight with each scene he’s in. Most of the humor stems from his character delivering that enjoyable Marvel flair. This is his best role in a while, for it displays his range as well as his charisma. Marvel knows their tone. It’s distinctive and expected and it's funny as hell. It gets on the weird cosmic level of Guardians at times.

Damn…I don’t want to sound like that guy who praise the side male characters over the heroine in her own movie, but damn did Marvel not do Danvers the justice she deserves.

Carol Danvers. She’s fierce, she’s funny, she does superhero poses well and... uhhhh... that’s it. Larson does give a great performance for the material given, but the material itself for this very powerful character is not that strong.

It hurts that out of all origin stories, Captain Marvel is the first one in a while to have narrative problems, and a very predictable one at that. I mean, narrative-wise the film is neck and neck with Ant Man where there are so many inconsistencies with the story. At least with Ant-Man, it established Scott Lang as a character. Danvers never really feels like a well establish character since her origin story is about her picking up the fragmented pieces with her past. This entire origin not only feels rushed but needed a rewrite or punch up on the final draft before shooting for it’s riddled with flaws. It felt like Feige was more focused on keeping the Marvel formula and action-packed sequences in tact rather than focusing on making sure the character weighted on her own and the undertone message was meaningful.

Don’t you love it when action films don’t really abide by time and everyone can transport from one place to another in an instant? Well, the second act is glaringly riddled with these problems and honestly, it made me raise some questions… one too many. It doesn’t get to a Kingsman 2 level of annoying but… it got close.

What the 90s backdrop serves for the humor is funny as hell. Some of the jokes are obvious but they get some great mileage out of it. The soundtrack, on the other hand, was a major nuisance. When James Gunn integrates music into his films, it adds a layer to the story and fits with the style of the Guardians movies and the characters. Here, the music is integrated to distract you for your nostalgia.

For this having 3/4 of a female screenwriting team, I’m shocked how many times the film falls into the cliched trope of making its subliminal messages of power and affirmation completely derogatory. I don’t want to sound cynical by asking this but: Do I criticize a commercialized movie for having one too many commercialized moments? The answer is yes! By having the film stop ever so often so men Danvers interact with use belittling lines such as, “you should smile more,” or “you can’t do it because you’re a girl,” you’re belittling your story and central character’s worth. I get that’s the point of the story, but you could’ve done it by not making it so one dimensionally blatant. By making gender a big deal to the story, a character finding their self-affirmation, it deviates from the impact of the narrative. By the climax where No Doubt’s “I’m Just a Girl” plays over Danvers’ action sequence, I found myself cringing because the movie itself just hamfisted her character to just a commercial. Hell, this entire movie is more of a commercial for Endgame than its own stand alone.

I can’t believe I’m raising my DC card for this, but at least with Wonder Woman, those moments of power are perfectly woven into the story, the setting, and the character of Diana. It never diminished the character with the dialogue. Justice League did that because it was a fucking mess, but in Patty Jenkins’ solo film, it was subtle and strong. That’s why I think No Man’s Land is a very iconic sequence.

Here, it’s on the same terrible level as that Transformers: The Last Knight trailer that has Isabela Moner looking at the camera saying, “Yeah, I’m strong ‘cause I fight like a girl” as a publicity stunt just so Michael Bay could have a female audience in the theater. HELL, Christina Hodson wrote Bumblebee which had a very strong central character from the 80s as a hero who helped save the world without having to point out her gender, and now she’s penning the Harley Quinn movie. So, yeah Marvel, you really screwed up establishing your first heroine character more so than DC and Transformers because you focused way too much on her gender.

Even for younger female audiences, they deserve a better written script that doesn’t talk down to them. That’s the reason why Frozen was revolutionary. They used a classic Disney formula and spun it into a message that was beautiful.

Hell, Jessica Jones is a well-written Marvel character who is strong in her own right without having to point out the fact that she’s a woman. If they had Melissa Rosenberg and her writing team [from the first season] behind this, I believe that Captain Marvel would’ve been special.

After the one-two punch of Thor: Ragnarok & Black Panther, Marvel has proven that they are capable of having their creators integrate their style with the story. Ragnarok was Taika Waititi’s movie and Black Panther was a Ryan Coogler movie, and you could tell. Now we get another one-two punch with Ant-Man and the Wasp and Captain Marvel where we’re at studio-driven Marvel again. I mean, strip Doctor Strange of its special effects and you just have Iron Man again. Their formula has been glaring for a while, but Captain Marvel is just blatant with it. I’m glad directors  Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck proved that they can handle a blockbuster film, but I wish their styles were infused with the story and I wish that story was stronger. The narrative is very predictable, but it's earned through its humor and the performances rather than its storytelling, which is how the studio has coasted for years.

Holy shit, I sound like my best friend/copy editor Myan.

Also, remember Ronan from the first Guardians of the Galaxy? He’s here… for no reason other than to show who the real antagonists of the story is. It is obvious who they are by the second act so there was absolutely no purpose for this character to return.

Now, when we get that Captain Marvel present day sequel (which we know will happen) let’s hope a stronger script is used. I guess what I’m trying to say is —

Despite its weak narrative, Captain Marvel maintains its special Marvel formula and is filled with enough action and humor to make for an enjoyable entry in the MCU.

Rating: 3.5/5 | 71%

Super Scene: Get Em’ Goose!