Review - The Marvels (2023)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and I just went to see The Marvels, the latest film from Marvel Studios, serving as a sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel, while also continuing certain elements of both WandaVision and Ms. Marvel. Nia DaCosta serves as director of this movie, which stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton, and Samuel L. Jackson. 

         So, some time after Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel destroyed the Supreme Intelligence, the Kree homeworld Hala has suffered near destruction from years of civil war. This leads their new leader, Dar-Benn, to seek out one of the Quantum Bands to open jump points throughout the universe to restore Hala's lost resources. However, the energy of the Quantum Bands has the side effect of entangling the light-based powers of Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel. So, these three heroines must team up to stop Dar-Benn and save the universe. 

        Okay, so I will admit that the movie does have a problem with its story and its tone, as both are pretty much all over the place. And, ultimately, I do think that there may be some who may be lost with some of the plot threads that carry over from Disney+ projects like WandaVision and Ms. Marvel. Which isn't the fault of the movie, it more illustrates the ongoing issues of just how Marvel expects its fans to watch ALL of the MCU projects on Disney+ to understand what all is going on. HOWEVER, while the movie's plot and time are all over the place, the movie itself is a still a lot of fun. In fact, it's the very definition of a superhero popcorn movie, which is something I have been wanting from superhero movies for a while. 

      And, a big part of what makes this movie fun is the performances from its leading ladies. Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani are all fantastic together, with Vellani as Kamala Khan being the genuine bright spot of the trio. Something to note is that Iman Vellani started as a fan of Marvel comics, as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and so is coming into this universe as a fan of the universe. So, her joy and sheer positivity is genuine. Larson and Parris, meanwhile, are also just as good as the somewhat more seasoned Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau. Samuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury, and is just a ton of fun to watch, especially in his scenes with Kamala's family. And yes, they return from the Ms. Marvel series on Disney+, and they're all really entertaining. Unfortunately, much like many previous Marvel villains, Zawe Ashton was just not very interesting as Dar-Benn. While she had strong motivation, she came off as too angry and sullen. 

         There were some very humorous moments in the movie, especially when The Marvels arrive on a planet where everyone communicates through song, which is pretty funny. Also, there are a few cameos from other Marvel characters, which I won't spoil here. But, just know that it looks like Kamala Khan has an exciting journey ahead of her in the MCU, and I can't wait to see it. 

        All in all, I had a good time with The Marvels. Is it the big return to form for the MCU? Not really. Is it a fun time for fans of Marvel? Most definitely. Not the best, but certainly not the worst. As I said, a fun superhero popcorn movie. I'm giving The Marvels a rating of 4/5. Check it out this weekend in movie theaters everywhere. 

       All right guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys next time. Higher. Further. Faster. 

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