The Marvels Review by Marc Primo

Regrettably, I must express my disappointment in "The Marvels," as it stands as the weakest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While "Thor: The Dark World" was forgettable and "Eternals" felt overly long, yet visually stunning, "Thor: Love & Thunder" suffered from tonal inconsistencies despite Christian Bale's formidable performance.

In a sprawling pop culture empire that craves visibility, "The Marvels" had the potential to be a breath of fresh air. With characters like Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan, a shared adventure seemed promising. However, the film becomes a narrative and visual disarray, reminding us that we don't need a constant onslaught of Marvel content in theaters or on streaming platforms.

It's frustrating because each actress who portrays these comic book characters brings something unique. Brie Larson is spiky cool as "Captain Marvel" in the MCU. Teyonah Parris radiates warmth and wisdom in "WandaVision," while Iman Vellani brings infectious teenage enthusiasm to "Ms. Marvel." With Nia DaCosta, the director of "Candyman," at the helm, it's an inspired choice, offering a fresh perspective in this male-dominated movie universe.

However, the script by DaCosta, Megan McDonnell (known for "WandaVision"), and Elissa Karasik ("Loki") falls short by attempting to include the stories of all three characters, connecting to other MCU properties, and advancing the overarching saga. Prior knowledge of Carol, Monica, Kamala's previous movies or series, "Secret Invasion" on Disney+, and undisclosed content is necessary. The script fails to find a cohesive rhythm, oscillating between characters explaining things and disorienting action sequences. With a runtime of about an hour and 45 minutes, the emotional connections and stakes feel forced and rushed. It's as if significant portions are missing, leading to a lack of coherence. Carol, Monica, and Kamala are haphazardly thrown together to overcome the vengeful Kree villain played by Zawe Ashton, Dar-Benn.

Right from the start, Ashton's character takes center stage in the film's dreadful visual effects. The opening sequence, where Dar-Benn discovers the coveted bangle that matches Kamala's, has a cheap appearance of a bare soundstage. Enormous boulders resemble spray-painted gray Styrofoam, and the scene is drowned in bright, flat lighting. For the most part, you wouldn't suspect that this was shot by Sean Bobbitt, Steve McQueen's esteemed cinematographer from "12 Years a Slave," "Shame," and "Widows."

When Dar-Benn seizes this powerful jewelry, something extraordinary happens. Carol, Monica, and Kamala swap places when they activate their unique abilities. Their destinies are intertwined, revealing new revelations to one another and to us. The complexity can be bewildering, with punches landing in unexpected places. Peripheral characters like Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) make appearances, offering witty remarks. Kamala's endearing family becomes entangled in this sitcom-like manner, reflecting the scattered nature of events.

Reprising her role from the "Ms. Marvel" Disney+ series, Vellani brings charm to her big screen debut. However, she remains stuck in a one-dimensional fangirl portrayal. Larson and Parris, individually charismatic, convey heartache amidst monotonous action sequences. Unfortunately, the constant barrage of frenzied combat and cosmic soaring becomes tiresome and drains excitement from the narrative.

However, the three individuals must work together and refine their skills to prevent Dar-Benn from causing intergalactic devastation. On a related note, the selection of the Beastie Boys' "Intergalactic" during a training sequence in outer space is painfully obvious and elicits an eye-roll. However, there are other musical moments that deviate from the rest and bring unexpected delight. They are wonderfully strange in the most delightful manner. I won't spoil them for you, although people are already sharing videos of the end credits scene, showing that nothing is sacred anymore. Nevertheless, two specific scenes evoke the irreverent tone of "Thor: Ragnarok," one of the finest MCU films. These scenes are significant departures and may divide opinions, but they stand out as the only genuinely hilarious moments in the entire movie, leaving you yearning for more audacious risks throughout.