Captain Marvel, directed by the cinematic duo of Anne Boden and Ryan Fleck, marks the twenty-first installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and it does not skip a beat in providing the fun and entertainment that Marvel has conditioned us to expect. The movie’s release on International Women’s Day could not have been more fitting, as Captain Marvel becomes the first female-led MCU movie, and it does so in spectacular fashion.
Captain Marvel acts just as any other superhero origin story does in its aim to introduce audiences to a new hero, but it does so in a unique way. The movie tells the story of Carol Danvers, a woman who becomes a part of an alien race with extraordinary powers, with no recollection of her prior life on Earth. When a mission with her alien rescuers goes awry, she ends up back on her home planet and slowly begins piecing together the life she once had. Through this setup, Captain Marvel distances itself from the generic superhero-origin movie by allowing a different kind of story to be told. The audience gets to go along on the ride with Danvers as she goes on her journey of self-discovery.
Oscar winner Brie Larson literally packs a punch as Carol Danvers (aka. Captain Marvel), and her relationship in the film with Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson) provides for great banter and gives the movie an entertaining, buddy-cop feeling. Strong supporting performances from Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, and Lashana Lynch add sentimental value to the film. Specifically, Mendelsohn (who plays the character Talos) steals many scenes and acts as the main source of laughs throughout the film. The chemistry on screen between the actresses and the actors was one of my favorite aspects of the movie and made for an even more enjoyable experience.
The special effects coupled with the direction by Boden and Fleck make the action easy to follow as well as visually captivating. The film is shot and edited in a way that keeps the story grounded in what could’ve easily been a disjointed plot, due to the story often mirroring Danvers’ memory loss. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is also full of tongue-in-cheek nostalgic references that play upon the love of the music, clothes, and technology of the times.
In the grand scheme of things, Captain Marvel does feel in many ways like a late addition into the MCU, as it introduces one of the most powerful characters only a month before the highly-anticipated Avengers: Endgame. I only wish this movie could’ve been made a few years ago, so that Danvers’ development would not feel as rushed. It is not an easy feat to introduce audiences to such a big player like Captain Marvel this late in the game, but the movie still manages to do so effectively.
Captain Marvel is an all-around good time and offers viewers a new powerful superhero to look up to. This film has elements that cater to both superhero fans and regular movie-goers alike, making it a good choice for anyone looking to head over to their local theater for a flick. I’d also highly advise seeing this in IMAX, as I can’t stress enough that the visuals throughout are fantastic. Although I may not rank it amongst the top of the MCU movies, it is still very enjoyable and definitely worth the watch.
Also, be sure to stick around for the end-credit scene; it’s not something you want to miss!
COVER PHOTO: IMDB
