Captain Marvel

A review by Chris Lee

After nearly 20 films, Marvel has finally done it! They have a woman in the title role of one of their superhero films! Yay! To get this part of the review out of the way, address the irritating non-controversy surrounding its social implications, and move on to what matters, I will say this:

It’s about. God. Damn. Time.

NOW, Onward to adventure!

Captain Marvel is another successful, if muted, entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed capably by duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the film moves along at a brisk pace while dumping tons of exposition and silly new pronouns on the audience like a track-runner shouting something incomprehensible to a cheering fan as they sprint by. Luckily it’s all repeated enough to keep track. Skrulls, Kree, Starforce, Vers, Mar-Vell. The list goes on and Captain Marvel does a great job of making sure you’re not lost on the who, what, where, when, and why.

With some serviceable action, an excellent, though unsurprising 90s soundtrack, and special effects work that runs the entire gamut from flawless to flawed, the film sits snuggly in Marvel’s mid-tier. This isn’t Black Panther or Winter Soldier, but it’s a fun, empowering film nonetheless. 

Brie Larson carries the film with a baseline charisma that makes it all work and has you rooting for her every step of the way, and feeling her moments of genuine unease. Her more muted scenes, however, seem to be a misguided attempt at the traditional male stoicism. Her character is at her best when she’s being self-aware. She can shoot laser blasts out of her fists. Making quips while schooling aliens in combat is her aesthetic. We have the brooding male trope and she excels better at knowing she can beat everyone around her to a pulp, and I hope there’s more of that flippancy in her character for Endgame.

Samuel L. Jackson, as expected, brings his requisite professionalism and effortless bravado to the proceedings. An actor’s actor, he elevates everyone around him and it’s hard not to smile, fist-pump, and fall into the adventure when he does...anything. His Fury’s chemistry with Brie’s Captain Marvel is one of the film’s major highlights, and every time both actors are together, it’s consistently fun and engaging.

I have a theory that the wonkier cgi toward the films climax is a result of most of the post-production effects going toward making him 30 years younger. The effect is fantastic, and easily the best they’ve pulled off in any of the other films in the MCU. I was impressed with Michael Douglas in the first Ant-man and weirded out by young Tony Stark in Civil War, but here, I won’t mince words – it’s perfect. There were no points where I was not completely convinced and the team responsible should be commended.

Ben Mendelsohn. Ben Mendelsohn. Fantastic. Covered in green make-up. Fantastic. One of the best antagonists in a Marvel film – ever. The man chews scenery in the best way and demands your attention. His scenes with Larson and Jackson are phenomenal and help cement the movie more as a character film instead of an expensive effects showcase, an appreciated and continuing trend of Marvel films since Winter Soldier.

Barring some late-game lesser-quality cgi, and some questionable editing decisions that cause a few pacing stumbles, Captain Marvel is well worth the view and another welcome addition to the MCU line-up.

4/5