Current:Home > reviews'The Marvels' review: Brie Larson and a bunch of cats are the answer to superhero fatigue -FutureFinance
'The Marvels' review: Brie Larson and a bunch of cats are the answer to superhero fatigue
Fastexy View
Date:2025-04-10 08:48:02
“The Marvels” is that rare superhero adventure seemingly tailor-made for cat lovers, people really into body-swapping shenanigans and those who live for jubilant song-and-dance numbers.
And for Marvel Cinematic Universe devotees, the 33rd big-screen outing (★★★ out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters Friday) acts as a solid enough sequel to both 2019’s “Captain Marvel” and last year's Disney+ series “Ms. Marvel," with cosmic derring-do and strong performances from Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani. Directed by Nia DaCosta (“Candyman”), “Marvels” throws a ton of plot at viewers that too often falls back to Marvel-y familiarity – world-saving stakes, villain with a light-up doodad – yet enjoyably soars when it centers on its core trio and dares to go gonzo.
Carol Danvers (Larson), aka Captain Marvel, went toe to toe with Thanos and now hangs out in space with her feline pal Goose – a furry Flerken who hides a terrifying maw of tentacles amid a cute exterior – whenever help is needed. She gets pinged by friend Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), who is working on a space station alongside astronaut captain Monica Rambeau (Parris), to look into a strange power surge.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, 16-year-old Kamala Khan (Vellani), aka Ms. Marvel, draws comic-book fantasies featuring her idol, Carol. But team-up dreams become a reality when Kree antagonist Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) gets her hands on a powerful ancient wristband (which, hey, looks a lot like Kamala’s) and begins to create teleporting wormholes, leading to the light-based abilities of Kamala, Carol and Monica becoming entangled. In other words, when one uses their powers, they switch places with another wherever they are in the universe and chaos ensues.
Once Dar-Benn's larger, universe-shaking plans become apparent, our heroines get busy training to harness their new connection (set to the tune of Beastie Boys’ “Intergalactic”) and come together as an Avengers-esque crew.
The Marvel pipeline:Everything the superhero factory has in the works, from Brie Larson's 'Marvels' return to TV's 'Echo'
Unlike others of its ilk, “The Marvels” is rather breezy at an hour and 45 minutes. Still, it takes way too long for the needed expedition dump to get everybody up to speed – which is bad news for those who skipped “Captain Marvel" or missed out on other helpful MCU knowledge. That said, it’s the first Marvel movie significantly helped by one of its TV shows: “Ms. Marvel” fleshes out Kamala to such a degree that she immediately pops on screen and gives the movie an infectious energy, and her Muslim family that’s so much a part of her story also gets to play a significant role alongside Fury.
Vellani is a welcome sparkplug, Parris gets more to do than she did in a supporting role on “WandaVision,” while Larson turns in her best Marvel performance to date. For much of the original "Captain," Carol bounced between confusion and bravado and didn’t have much of a character, whereas in “Marvels” the actress can really dig into Carol as a loner who needs to hash out old issues with Monica, deal with fawning fangirl Kamala and also face a regrettable incident from her past.
Ranked:Every Marvel superhero movie since the OG 'Iron Man'
While Ashton’s antagonist has a cool look as the latest MCU foe with understandable reasons for her nefarious actions, she and other aspects are rinse-and-repeat from what we’ve seen out of 32 movies already. “The Marvels” stands out not with the usual computer-generated imaging-filled, slo-mo action but instead with a wonderfully crafted physical brawl that wrecks the Khans’ Jersey City home. Good guys battle bad guys, naturally, though the scenes you’ll remember most are a weird mission to a dance-happy water planet where the main communication is singing, as well as a hilariously clever bit involving panicking people and a herd of kittens.
With a perception out there of the MCU not quite being the cat’s meow anymore – and everybody from internet trolls to Martin Scorsese having an opinion about superhero movies – it’s those cool absurdities (plus some interesting returning faces) that makes “Marvels” worthy of the name.
veryGood! (349)
Related
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- The new FAFSA is meant to make applying for college aid easier, but not everyone can access it yet
- WWII-era munitions found under water in survey of Southern California industrial waste dump site
- Suit challenges required minority appointments to Louisiana medical licensing board
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- How Gypsy Rose Blanchard Feels About Ex Nicholas Godejohn Amid His Life in Prison Sentence
- To plead or not to plead? That is the question for hundreds of Capitol riot defendants
- Thousands of opposition activists languish in prison as Bangladesh gears up for national election
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- B-1 bomber crashed during training mission in South Dakota; aircrew members ejected safely
Ranking
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- Pet food recall expands to 16 states. Here's what you need to know.
- US Mint releases commemorative coins to honor abolitionist hero Harriet Tubman
- NRA chief, one of the most powerful figures in US gun policy, says he’s resigning days before trial
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- Father, former boxer, anti-violence activist. New Jersey community mourns death of imam
- Peloton shares jump as it partners with TikTok on fitness content
- NYC train collision causes subway derailment; 24 injured
Recommendation
Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
50-year friendship offers a close look at caring dialogue on Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Time running out for landmark old boat that became a California social media star
New York governor promises a floating pool in city waterways, reviving a long-stalled urban venture
South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
Selena Gomez's Eye Rolls and Everything Else to Love About Her Bond With Martin Short and Steve Martin
Boy gets Christmas gifts after stolen car and presents are recovered
Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius freed on parole after serving nearly 9 years for girlfriend’s murder