Captain Marvel (Review)

Captain Marvel is a Good Movie with a lot of Great Moments.

There’s been a bit of controversy surrounding Captain Marvel and trolls posting false reviews before the movie hit theaters. So, let me start by saying that I have actually seen Captain Marvel and I can safely say that it’s a pretty damn good film that earns a rightful spot among some of the better movies in the MCU. It might not be the best Marvel movie in recent history, but it definitely one of high importance taking a place right along side Black Panther as one showing the studios new commitment to diversity when it comes to the superheroes we see on the big screen. For that reason alone, it’s one well worth seeing. The awe-inspiring action sequences and it’s keen sense of humor are just frosting on the cake.

Captain Marvel might not be the first Avenger, but she takes us back before the initiative was even a glimmer in Nick Fury’s eye (Samuel L. Jackson). Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) gets her long-awaited introduction to the MCU, confirming that her character is every bit the heavy hitter from the comics and the future of the Marvel shared universe. Of course, the film doesn’t start with her being O.P. and instead follows an amnesiac Danvers who has been recruited into an alien war between the Kree and the Skrulls (two of the biggest alien races from the comics). An accidental return to Earth slowly unlocks her memories and opens her eyes to just how complicated war really is. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance Danvers has to step up to discover her true powers and the hero deep within her.

I like the character of Carol Danvers a lot. She’s strong, quick-witted, and stubborn as hell which makes her a perfect superhero to stand alongside the likes of Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man. However, I’m not entirely sure I’m sold on Brie Larson in the role. She nails the look and certainly sells the action sequences, but her performance feels a little flat overall. Don’t get me wrong, she’s very funny, but it’s hard to tell where the clever script by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, and Geneva Robertson-Dworet ends and she begins. I will say that the films “buddy cop” approach to her relationship with Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury though takes a lot off her shoulders though. Then again, looking back on a lot of the heroes in the MCU, most grew into their roles over time (especially Chris Hemsworth as Thor). So, I am looking forward to seeing how her character (and performance) evolves in Avengers: Endgame later this year.

There’s no way to talk about Captain Marvel without bringing up feminism. Don’t worry, I’m not one of those people who think it’s a “scary word.” In fact, I’m a staunch supporter of it when it’s genuine. There have been a lot of movies where men have tried to cash in on the concept without a genuine understanding of what makes a female character strong in a film (take the recent Alita: Battle Angel). However, Captain Marvel is a movie that is honestly invested in creating a strong, well-rounded character with enough vulnerability to make her accessible to audiences. She’s joined by a number of other female characters that never feel like they’re trying to overcompensate for the oppression their gender has faced and instead are just naturally badass. However, my favorite addition to the film is Akira Akbar who plays the daughter of Carrol’s best friend. Seeing a young girl (especially a black girl) get a chance to be a part of the MCU is one of those tiny details that will mean so much to all the girls in the audience watching the film. Then again, Captain Marvel is filled with little things that will mean a lot to so many in the audience.

Captain Marvel is a Marvel time capsule that takes audiences back to the mid-90s and shamelessly plays up the nostalgia factor for “90s kids.” Of course, that means we also get a lot of interesting easter eggs tossed in. For example, Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) makes an appearance in the film along with Djimon Hounsou’s character from Guardians of the Galaxy. We also get to see a lot of other little tidbits tossed in that I don’t want to spoil for you. However, I will say to make sure you pay attention to the little details in this film because it’s stuffed to the brim with fun winks for fans of the MCU. Of course, even those who aren’t big fans of the MCU will enjoy the nostalgia aspect that the film so carefully cultivates, especially in the soundtrack.

We’ve had a good run with MCU movies lately, which makes it all the more difficult for Captain Marvel to really stand out from the pack. The truth is that it’s far from perfect, but it does do a lot of things right. For one thing, it does a great job of avoiding the standard Marvel villain problem that so many other origin films feature. Instead, it takes the time to deliver some great social commentary on the nature of war and neo-nationalism (world-ism?) which goes a long way in making it one of the better Marvel films. However, with so many great heroes in the MCU right now, Captain Marvel struggles a bit to make Carrol Danvers a unique one among the bunch. Still, it’s a movie that is well worth seeing on the big screen as soon as possible and I know I’ll be seeing it again before it leaves theaters. The future of the MCU seems to be in some very capable and very strong hands.