Entertainment
Marvel’s “The Marvels” Falls Flat: Brie Larson Struggles to Shine
A Perfect Casting Miss?
We don't appreciate how many perfect casting decisions Marvel made to bring its colorful heroes to life. Robert Downey, Jr. Chris Evans. Scarlett Johansson. Benedict Cumberbatch. Samuel L. Jackson. Paul Rudd. Elizabeth Olsen. Paul Bettany. Jeremy Renner. And then came Brie Larson.
Clumsy Fit for Captain Marvel
The Oscar winner proved a clumsy fit for 2019’s "Captain Marvel," but the MCU barreled along despite her flat line readings. Now, Larson is back with "The Marvels," and she looks slightly more comfortable in the superhero setting. Slightly.
Outshined by Co-Star and Tonal Shifts
The problem? She’s out-charmed by co-star Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel, and director/co-writer Nia DaCosta helms a movie with too many tonal shifts and not enough coherence.
A Confusing Start
The film opens with a crush of activity, explanations and confusion. New villain Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) recovers a magical bangle on a cheap-looking planet, but she had hoped to find TWO bangles that would give her incredible power. Dar-Benn’s actions open up a wormhole in space, and suddenly our three "Marvels" – Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) repeatedly switch places.
Pick a Lane!
"The Marvels" careens from one absurd sequence to one where the leads hug/bond/banter as if the stakes in play were less than vital. We visit a planet where everyone speaks in song (Planet ‘Glee?’) and a tribute to the Beastie Boys "Intergalactic" that produces a few smiles but could easily be snipped.
Not Worth the Hype
This critic didn’t watch all of "Ms. Marvel," "Secret Invasion" or "WandaVision," so it’s possible those shows fill in some of the storytelling blanks. It’s not worth scurrying to Disney+ and watching those episodes to prepare for something as mediocre as "The Marvels."
A Disney+ Series on the Big Screen
Young Vellani is chipper and cheerful as the wannabe Avenger with a fangirl crush on Larson’s character. Her family tags along for the space ride, offering a few more smiles. It all feels like a Disney+ series that doesn’t deserve a big-screen closeup.
A Frantic Pace
Yet "The Marvels" isn’t the stiff that "Captain Marvel" proved four years ago. It wraps in a brief (for the MCU) 105 minutes, and the pace is frantic enough to keep audiences awake. The tone ensures we don’t mistake the story for something consequential, and the screen brims with so much color it makes for a killer screen saver.
Action Sequences Competent but Unremarkable
The action sequences are competently assembled but never threaten the legacy of that "Captain America: Civil War" Battle Royale … or anything from the first MCU phases. Jackson returns as Nick Fury, but he exists to push select scenes forward and spit out a few modest one-liners.
HiT or Miss?
"The Marvels" never takes itself seriously, and will appeal the most to easy-to-please teens. Everyone else is better off rewatching the early, great MCU adventures.
A Disappointing Preview
So it’s a lot of floating glowing women. Pensive sighs. And "black girl power!". I feel exhausted from the preview and want my time back please.
I’m Jason, and I write for ValleyNewspaper.com!
I love to travel and enjoy doing things outdoors, like hiking or working remotely from quaint little coffee shops.
The best thing about the blog for me is the ability to discuss anything, from personal life to current events.
I enjoy spending time with my Wife, 2 boys, and my Pug, Patty. I love traveling and speaking at social media events.
If you want to know anything else, ask!