The phrase “comic book fatigue” is getting thrown around a lot this year, as many of the films from this genre have underperformed. It’s been wild how bland or dark and dower so many comic book films have felt since Marvel’s epic conclusion of Avengers: Endgame. The hype for director Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels has been palpably low – but that needs to change. DaCosta’s film sings and is a breath of fresh air, rather than the MCU’s death rattle.
The 33rd movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Marvels is a direct sequel to Captain Marvel (2019) and connects the Disney+ series WandaVision, Ms. Marvel, and Secret Invasion. Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), aka Captain Marvel, is patrolling the universe when she encounters an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary. This interaction causes her powers to become entangled with super-fan Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), aka Ms. Marvel, and her estranged niece, Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). They quickly realize that they must unite and learn to work in concert to stop the destruction of the universe by Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) and the Kree.
While the chemistry and interaction between the three leads are great, Vellani continues to prove her ability. She and her family – especially Zenobia Shroff as her mother – are the charming and fun aspect of the MCU that’s just been missing otherwise. Vellani’s enthusiasm and passion remind the audience how we used to feel going to see our heroes on the big screen. Her fandom of Captain Marvel is infectious and brings so much to several moments in the film.
Not to take away from Parris or Larson; they both deliver some key emotional beats, as well as being genuinely invested in the material. While the stakes are high for the characters, there is still a level of fun and adventure that has felt vacant in many recent entries to the MCU. There is a great montage where the three characters are trying to learn how to work through their entangled powers, which may seem cringy to some audiences but felt like a joyous exchange between people in need of connection. The performances of the three actresses fit perfectly, and they feel as if they truly enjoy sharing the space.
DaCosta’s film is full of quirky moments that should make fans of comic books and their films feel elated. DaCosta’s filmmaking style has always had a bit of distinct technique to it. There are several shots in Candyman that I think about frequently. Without getting into spoilers for this film, DaCosta finds ways to implement genre elements not yet seen in a comic book film. It’s easily one of the best sequences from any of the comic films of the year and a highlight out of all the MCU.
Two areas that also felt a little surprisingly great were the action and visual effects. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’s VFX has been scrutinized a lot this year, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if The Marvels’ quality also looked bad. However, the visuals – for the most part – were striking and effective. The opening action sequence employs some incredible cross-cutting that just felt so energized and fun. There are true moments of surprise throughout the scene, and it got the film going right away.
The film’s runtime and pacing are both a blessing and a curse. We have seen these films get increasingly longer over the years, but The Marvels clocks in at 105 minutes. The movie gets moving and never stops. For the most part, this is a great and welcome reprieve. However, there are moments in the film that feel like characters should be allowed more time with the emotions present. The film doesn’t have time for that, though, as it hurries on to the next beat. Fortunately, the performances and the general vibe of the movie manage to overcome those glossed-over moments to the point where they’re mostly only noticeable afterward.
Fans of the genre and the MCU as a whole should flock to theaters to see The Marvels. It is a reminder that movies can be fun, and movies can bring joy to both the audience and the actors. There can be weird moments because these characters exist in a world that we tend to marvel at. DaCosta gets that, and it comes across as a loving entry into this massive franchise.
The Marvels is in theaters on November 10.
Rating: Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy
Berkreviews.com 