What was fun about the Marvel Cinematic Universe during its initial decade was the interconnectivity between the movies, such as how characters from a solo movie could be a supporting player in someone else’s solo feature or be part of an ensemble in an Avengers movie. For the longest time, the MCU (at least under the leadership of producer Kevin Feige) was restricted to just the movies, but now with the addition of the Disney+ shows, where they have characters making their way onto the big screen, causing alienation for the fandom that can’t keep up with the amount of content.
In the case of The Marvels, the 33rd film in the MCU, not only is it a sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel, which introduced Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), but also a continuation of the shows WandaVision and Ms. Marvel, both of which introduced the adult Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and the teenage Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). When a cosmic surge causes the three heroes to switch places with each other every time they use their powers, they must work together to take down Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), the new leader of the Kree.
With these trio of heroes at the center, each of which had their own previous narrative, The Marvels initially expects you to have seen what they were doing previously. There is certainly this awkward rush to establish these characters in their current situation, but once they are up in space, with “Intergalactic” by Beastie Boys playing in the background, the film finds its emotional core.
The theme of family runs through the central dynamic, with Carol and Monica learning to reconnect after tragic circumstances, while Kamala fangirls out over being a part of a superhero team, as well as noticing the imperfections of the hero she has idolized. Along with her on-screen family reprising their fun presence from the Ms. Marvel show, Iman Vellani as Kamala brings such an adorably energetic performance, she outshines everyone else on screen, even though Teyonah Parris and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury are having more fun than their recent TV outings.
While Captain Marvel was a fun, if safe mishmash of ideas we’ve seen in the MCU, The Marvels felt more unhinged, not least with a number of sequences that not only remind you of the cosmic outrageousness of Guardians of the Galaxy, but also a recurring trait of Disney animated films. There is still an element of Candyman director Nia DaCosta wrestling with the Marvel universe with a plot that feels weightless, and with Zawe Ashton trying her best in a role that continues the trope of lame Kree villains. That said, from Kamala’s school-drawn fantasy sequence to the kinetic switcheroo action set-pieces, DeCosta brings a successful enough voice within this well-established shared universe.
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