Feel free to read this short review in its entirety without the fear of any dreaded spoilers. I will also take a moment to mention that there are, per standard Marvel Cinematic Universe operating procedure, a couple of scenes during the credits, so stay put. The aforementioned Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU for short, has been quit active over the last decade by churning out 20 connected films since 2008. Marvel Studios has worked tirelessly to give all walks of life something special and super to cling to. 2019 looks to continue said trend by putting a female front and center for the first time in the lead role for Captain Marvel.
Understanding just who Captain Marvel is, might not be as straightforward as you think. Vers (Brie Larson) is part of an alien race known as the Kree. She is a fierce fighter but is also a bit rough around the edges, much to the dismay of the Supreme Intelligence (Annette Bening). She is under the tutelage of Yon-Rogg (Jude Law), fellow Kree, who aims to help her control her impulsiveness in order to become a more effective warrior. While on a mission, Vers ends up on a strange, but oddly familiar planet we know as Earth, while hunting a hostile shape-shifting race of aliens. As she spends more time on this planet, she finds herself having memory flashes of another life, one where her name is Carol Danvers.
As she tries to reconcile and make sense of all of these thoughts in her head, she must also deal with several interesting characters throughout. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) are two of the humans that end up in her path and they are ones that have a bit more to do with her story than first thought. As she continues on a course to find answers, she is left with even more questions. How is she connected to Carol Danvers and why does she have these strange memories? All will be revealed as Captain Marvel reaches its gratifying and jaw-dropping conclusion.
Brie Larson is primed and ready to go in her lead role as the very powerful Captain Marvel. She has all of the moves and all of the charisma to build a story around. You can’t help but root for her. You’ve got Jude Law, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Annette Bening, Lee Pace and Clark Gregg rounding out the cast of main characters. Some of these actors are new and some have been around for previous films. It’s a really good mix. And considering that this takes place slightly in the past, it’s kind of fun to see the younger and in one case, a character with two working eyes, taking the stage for some fun.
The VERY lofty expectations of the MCU franchise may have become a greater foe than even Thanos could muster on his best day. To label fans and critics as spoiled might be a harsh descriptive term; however, high-quality entertainment has become synonymous what Disney has offered film after film after film. Captain Marvel is a darn good movie in its own right, but is it a great movie? The short answer is, not really. Don’t get me wrong, all of the crucial boxes are checked off. The story is compelling. The characters are engaging. The action is invigorating. The wild card of comedy well-placed throughout. All of the ingredients are present, and yet, this Marvel meal tastes slightly overcooked.
With Captain Marvel being the 21st entry into this ever-expanding collection of superhero films, it’s understandably impossible to hit it out of the park every time, and that’s okay. Sometimes catching your breath is just as important as having it taken away. Fans will learn a lot about the newly introduced character in Carol Danvers, as well as being formally introduced, or rather reintroduced, to Nick Fury and Phil Coulson. This serves as an origin story as well as a filler for bigger things to come. One thing is for certain, this piece of the puzzle will certainly whet your appetite for what is coming April 26, Avengers: Endgame. For now though, enjoy the journey that Captain Marvel is about to whisk you away to. Join the mission to experience this in theaters everywhere right now.
