Review: The Marvels (Non-Spoiler)

In a never-ending sea of superhero films that take themselves too seriously, Marvel has given us a movie that’s like a sleepover filled with shenanigans and hijinks, only with world-ending stakes. It’s absurd and silly while also being action-packed. These elements are why this girl-powered movie feels the most “comic-centric” of the franchise to date.

Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), finds her powers entangled with her estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and super-fan turned superhero Kamala Khan (Iman Villani) when a Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) opens a wormhole in an attempt to revive her planet following its destruction from the first film. Now, the trio must find a way to work together and save the universe.

We caught glimpses of how silly Carol could be throughout the first Captain Marvel film and even more in small cameos throughout the Marvel universe. The Marvels gives the character a complete 180 from when we first met her, and Bri Larson finally gets to have some fun as Carol. A large reason is because of newcomer Iman Villani, who charmed audiences in her Disney Plus series Ms. Marvel.

Iman is the heartbeat of this movie. From the moment we see her, she grabs onto you and never lets go. She reminds us why we have all fallen in love with this franchise. Her joy and affection for everyone in real life translates on-screen to the love her character has for the superheroes of Kamala’s world. When she is with the heroes she looks up to, their usually hard personas melt, and they become captivated by her joy and, in turn, become the silly kids they used to be. This is most noticeable with Carol. However, Monica also can’t resist her charm. As we’ve seen in WandaVision, Monica can also be stoic and wor-centric. But that hard demeanor quickly turns soft as the two share screen time.

This movie has a lot of energy. It’s jam-packed and never stops moving. That being said, there is a lot of story happening and not enough time to fully develop or dive into plot points, with it being a short and sweet hour and forty-five minutes. Almost all of the scenes feel rushed, and there is hardly any context to some of the more absurd moments. The quick scenes also deprived us of a well-rounded villain, and we also lost emotion when it came to big life-changing moments. However, the dialogue is witty and funny, and each cast member adds their flare, which enhances the comedy.

The fight scenes are a highlight and a joy to watch. The constant switching of the characters when using their powers is so much fun to watch, especially when they learn to work together and almost control the outcome. While punching is always fun to watch, the cutaways to other moments involving Kamala’s family and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) take the scenes to a new level. The stakes are constantly being raised, and the energy never dulls.

Marvel thrives when it has a family element. Kamala’s family is so funny and so loveable. Their love and affection for one another and their connection to their culture elevates the MCU and opens the door for more cultures to be represented. With Carol and Monica, we see a broken family restored as past mistakes are forgiven, while they also form a new friendship with Kamala. Carol’s almost maternal protectiveness over Kamala and Monica’s sisterly attitude is a joy to watch.

The Marvels is a movie that is just pure joy. It’s wacky and action-packed. Sure, it suffers from a clunky script and rushed plot points, but it makes up for it with charm. Everyone involved looked like they were having the time of their lives, which, in turn, made the audience have just as much fun. Iman Villani was put on this Earth to play Kamala Khan. She elevates the story by letting the audience see a fellow fangirl live out her dream. It’s constantly moving, but it’s also heartwarming and adorable and moves the MCU needle towards a greater universe. Are there absurd moments? Yes! But that’s what makes the experience great. There’s one in particular involving Goose set to Barbra Streisand’s version of Memory that is just the epitome of why Marvel movies are so much fun. We have to remember Marvel movies were created for a younger audience. Just because we have grown doesn’t mean that the franchise has to. There’s also a point to make that other films within the franchise have had absurd and silly moments. They just don’t get as much hate as those led by women.

You can watch The Marvels in theaters on November 10th. There is a mid-credit scene but no end-credit scene. So sit back, get some popcorn, bring your favorite Marvel buddy, and have a great time at the movies.