The Marvels: Spoiler-free Review
Marvel Studios has been giving us lots of content that gets bigger and badder each time. Just when you think the stakes couldn't get any higher, they slap a more universe-shattering implication on top of it. That was fun back at the end of the Infinity Saga, but please, we are getting bored and feeling fatigued! So I was pleasantly surprised that The Marvels (2023) instead gives us a fairly grounded and wholesome story, focusing more on relational conflicts than the action. It's a breath of fresh air, but is not necessarily a stand out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) portfolio. Director and writer Nia DaCostaIt gives us an unexpectedly funny and heartwarming film that serves to be enjoyed.
I went into this film not having high expectations, if any at all. The Marvels was predicted to be one of the lowest box-office earners of all the Marvel projects, so I think it is safe to say there were low expectations of it from the public in general. So I wonder if this encouraged the producers to try leaning into not trying too hard. I was happy to see the film kept the focus on simple team work film. Is it anything new? Maybe not. But, I think there are only so many story lines to be told, and execution makes all the difference. And what made The Marvels so charming is how it leaned into the silliness. This film felt more family-friendly than some recent projects, but doesn't necessarily dumb anything down either. The growth of the characters feels natural and subtle, opposed to some of the spoon feeding films are doing in fear the audience will miss it. This film wasn't groundbreaking, but it was entertaining, and I think that is valuable to have. It offered genuine humor, in a way that isn't begging to be laughed at. Some of the situations are just so ridiculous, that you can't help but admire the risk this direction from DaCostalt posed. The Marvels may not connect with every fan, however I think it was a balanced addition to Phase 4, which has been overall very ...mid. Now, I would be lying if I did not think Marvel Studios could have put more effort into this film, but due to expectations, I think producers went for "just enough."
Some of what makes The Marvels so charming is the acting and character ownership by the cast. Carol Danvers (Played by Brie Larson) returns as Captain Marvel, and gives us a personality-full woman who is more warm and approachable than previous portrayals she's done of this character. I enjoyed getting to know the person Carol Danvers is in this film, and that while she is one of the most powerful heroes, she is still a person who feels complex things. It feels like Larson is still tweaking her portrayal of Carol, but may this be the version she sticks with in future projects. Monica Rambeau (Played by Teyonah Parris) felt the weakest of the main trio, as her character was inconsistent throughout. Parris also lacked a level of emotion expected in certain scenes, but this wasn't a glaring issue. My friend Anna, who I saw the film with, mentioned she felt Iman Vellani found her footing as the character Kamala Khan, who fights street criminals as Ms. Marvel. I fully agreed with this, as she was able to convey the "obsessed fan" trope in a charming way that allowed for cringe but not overkill. Kamala also spearheads her own project after the adventure of this film, a fitting next step for her. Nick Fury (Played by Samuel L. Jackson) also returns, and I feel Jackson opted for a shift in Fury for this film. He is still a stern and fearless leader, but he is also light hearted. This was fun, but a bit of a divergence from his iconic character...man's gettin old! However, the surprise standout of the film was Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan, Kamala's mother. Shroff's comedic timing and physical comedy skills made the silliness work, and she absolutely understood (and possibly made?) the vibe of the film. Plus maybe my own personal bias of seeing Bollywood/Desi humor effortlessly brought into this Hollywood film.
The music of the film was actually very delightful. There are a few montage scenes where iconic music plays and it absolutely enhances the experience. I was pleased with this, and the addition contributed to the vibe discussed earlier. Laura Karpman wrote the composition for the film, and I think it was very well planned with the cinematics and blocking. It felt like watching a YouTube edit in some scenes, which made it lively and fun.
There was a few scenes with some creative framing, but I would not call The Marvels a cinematic masterpiece. I think the CGI was solidly done, and only a couple times did I chuckle at an awkward green screen. There was no strong visual direction aside from a few, very brief, POV shots of our main trio, but it was not sterile either. Again, however, there were some montage scenes that deserve recognition for being amusing.
I want to address the new suits given to our trio in the film, and I have to say I am disappointed. There was no cohesion to tie the theme of "team" for them, and maybe they wanted to juxtapose how mismatched they were as people, but the actors had too much chemistry for that to really be a good reason. This just feels like an oversight and/or a missed opportunity and I wish that was paid more attention to. Not to mention the outfits themselves are just plain ugly; like sure, do them differently, but at least do them well!
I feel that The Marvels did try a few new things, but played it safe overall. I think because there were low expectations, focusing on making one thing really good - the simple enjoyment - was what ultimately made it worth watching. I do not think it is anything to write home about, but while watching it, you will have a good time. And if that doesn't sell ya, well I can guarantee the mid-credit scene will make it worth it.
Make sure you have seen before:
Captain Marvel (2019)
WandaVision (2021)
Ms. Marvel (2022)
Secret Invasion (2023)
