CAPTAIN MARVEL Spoiler-Free Review; "Brie Larson Soars In This Uneven But Enjoyable Origin Story"
Captain Marvel soars into theaters this weekend but what's my verdict on Marvel Studios' latest blockbuster and Carol Danvers' big screen debut? Hit the jump to check out this spoiler-free review...
Carol Danvers' big screen debut has been a long time coming and while Captain Marvel definitely serves as a strong introduction for the fan-favourite comic book character, it ultimately feels more like it's setting the stage for what comes next rather than focusing on the character's here and now in the mid-1990s. In many ways, this is the Iron Man 2 of Phase 3 and the movie ends in a way that makes it feel like we've just sat through half a story rather than the entire thing and that's a strange move on Marvel's part, especially when we're so used to them telling self-contained tales that just so happen to link to a larger universe.
Along the way, this origin story delivers some great surprises and features a lot of fun moments; however, the script isn't overly strong and this unorthodox approach to exploring how Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel works in some ways and not in others. It's hard to say whether directors Ryan Fleck and Anne Boden were in over their heads with the material or working with a script that simply didn't give the opportunity to reach the heights they otherwise could have.
None of this is to say that Captain Marvel is a bad movie. It won't go down as a classic like Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, or Thor: Ragnarok and is instead closer to Phase 1 efforts like Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor. That still makes it better than 90% of superhero movies out there and there's a lot this one gets right. For starters, Brie Larson is an absolute delight to watch and while it's hard to escape the feeling that she could have done with stronger material in places, she's clearly having a lot of fun and has a hardened, snarky attitude which almost guarantees she will become a beloved MCU staple moving forward. The Oscar-winner's performance is great from start to finish and if Marvel was looking to create a role model for young girls (and everyone else for that matter), they definitely succeeded.
Samuel L. Jackson gets plenty of opportunities to steal the show as the younger Nick Fury, while Ben Mendohlson's Talos takes us to some unexpected places and is a great deal of fun to spend time with. Jude Law is a highlight as Yon-Rogg but the rest of Starforce tend to fade into the background, while I expected more from Annette Benning. On the plus side, Lashana Lynch is awesome as Maria Rambeau and arguably could have done with some additional screentime here.
As a package, Captain Marvel definitely works as an introduction for the character and had it come out five years ago, it probably would have been considered the best MCU movie to date. As it stands, it's a good effort and the stage has been set for Carol Danvers to become one of the new, leading faces of this shared world. The 90s setting is enjoyable and the special effects are impressive despite the visuals not being anywhere near as unique as we've seen in other, similar releases. It's a must-see but keep your expectations in check because the hero still needs to go that little bit Higher. Further. Faster.
Brie Larson soars as Captain Marvel in this uneven but enjoyable origin story and while there's definitely room for improvement as the character's adventures continue, it's a good start and well worth checking out.