For reasons which aren’t entirely clear, there’s an awful lot of negativity surrounding The Marvels. Looking back at how Captain Marvel was review-bombed in 2019, we’d guess the fact Brie Larson is a feminist remains problematic for many "fans," an issue likely to have become even worse since then thanks to the troubling rise of incel culture. Beyond that, there is an undeniable lack of interest in the movie, and the reasons likely range from supposed superhero fatigue to the way its marketing campaign has been cut off at the knees by the SAG-AFTRA strike (we'd also argue that four years is too long a wait for a sequel). Regardless, even if The Marvels isn’t destined to break box office records, it’s a movie you’d be foolish to let pass you by.
Picking up dangling plot threads from Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and WandaVision (all while oddly glossing over Secret Invasion), The Marvels wastes no time in establishing its unique - and literal - body-swapping premise. With a Kree villain out for revenge, Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau must assemble to save the universe, all while dealing with out-of-control powers, musical planets, and a whole heap of Flerkittens.
The fact the titular trio switches places when using their light-based abilities gives filmmaker Nia DaCosta the chance to deliver some of the MCU’s most dynamic action scenes to date, and watching them master this bonkers situation is likely to leave you grinning from ear to ear. It's silly, inventive, at times brilliant, and, crucially, never boring. It’s a shame they don’t have a better villain to contend with and baffling that Dar-Benn - a character no one cared about before this movie and one no one will care about after - takes centre stage here instead of Jude Law’s Yon-Rogg. Still, while there are times when it feels like big chunks of the story have been left on the cutting room floor, The Marvels mostly soars as a breezy popcorn flick which is hugely entertaining from both an action standpoint and in terms of humour.
It is a tad jarring to see Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury take on such a comedic role after what he went through just a few months ago on Disney+, but the iconic actor gets to reel off some hilarious one-liners and, despite the obligatory CG-heavy final battle (which is both wonderfully choreographed and slightly too brief), there are plenty of occasions when it feels like Marvel Studios gave DaCosta free rein to go wild. Whether it’s a wacky detour to a planet whose inhabitants only communicate through song or the delightfully madcap sight of Flerken kittens pursuing and devouring S.A.B.E.R.’s agents in a bid to transport them to safety, there’s plenty of fun to be had with this memorable team-up.
Brie Larson comes into her own as Captain Marvel, getting to show a lot more personality and a quirkier side to the hero which makes her far more enjoyable to spend time with than the stoic "Vers" who was searching for her place in the universe last time around. Iman Vellani is a scene-stealing delight as Ms. Marvel, and while her admiration for Carol is a joke that’s mined perhaps once too often, the actress makes it work and effectively portrays the teenager's growing bond with her idol. Teyonah Parris also shines as Photon, particularly in the more emotional scenes with Larson’s Avenger after they’re finally reunited; the actress also proves that, after WandaVision, she has what it takes to be a superhero. As for Zawe Ashton, she does the best she can with the material she’s given to work with, but Dar-Benn isn't a role anyone could have elevated beyond what was on the page. An effective big bad who serves the story when needed, there's just very little to say beyond that.
The Marvels isn’t a particularly complex blockbuster and, while it does set the stage for some wild developments in the Multiverse Saga (don’t skip the mid-credits scene), it’s a relatively self-contained affair which makes for easy watching and a film it will no doubt be fun to return to down the line. A more powerful and meaningful version of the sequel likely exists somewhere in the Multiverse, and it’s a genuine shame it doesn’t boast a slightly stronger story because, coupled with DaCosta’s direction, Marvel Studios might have had another Thor: Ragnarok or Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on its hands. Then again, does everything need to be a game-changer? Why can't we just have fun? Thankfully, The Marvels fits the bill in that respect.
Ultimately, it comes down to this: The Marvels, despite not being an instant classic or a movie that turns the genre on its head, is a funny, thrilling, splash page of a blockbuster that comic book fans will devour like a comic book annual which throws your favourite characters together for the first time. There’s nothing to hate here and, when all is said and done, it’s easily better than the past year’s lesser offerings such as The Flash, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and even Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. It’s impossible not to enjoy watching Carol, Kamala, and Monica share the screen, and it’s that enjoyable back and forth which makes The Marvels a movie that, in time, will likely get the love it deserves because, beyond its flaws, there's something special here.
Proof that a 90-minute blockbuster can soar, The Marvels is bolstered by three terrific leads and might just be the most fun you’ll have at the theater this year, even if it’s not necessarily destined to be remembered as a mighty Marvel classic. [⭐⭐⭐⭐/5]