The Marvel Cinematic Universe has impressed me in many ways over the years but I think one of its most impressive feats is what it has done for second-tier comic book brands that the general moviegoing public isn’t familiar with. For the most part, we’re all familiar with the likes of Iron Man, Captain America or Thor but many of us weren’t acquainted with the Guardians of the Galaxy or Ant-Man so the movies have to do, in my opinion, a much harder job to sway moviegoers into going all in to support the unfamiliar. The behind scenes talent of solid writers and innovative directors have gone a long way to ensuring that we are invested in the heroes who may not get all the spotlight and that’s a trend that continues in their latest entry, Captain Marvel.
I was a collector of comic books growing up but Captain Marvel never really crossed my path. I had friends that were familiar but my knowledge of the character was minimal at best so I came into this film essentially uninitiated. Background of the character isn’t entirely necessary because the MCU continues to make comic book films for the masses. They have somehow found a sweet spot between pleasing the fans and making sure they don’t shut out those who haven’t picked up a comic book. At its heart, Captain Marvel is a fun film about discovering your own power and knowing your greater purpose. In terms of comic book origin stories, I would say that it’s one of the best because it doesn’t bog you down with too many details and it manages to keep the story moving while providing insight into Carol Danvers and how she will become of the strongest beings in the galaxy.
Captain Marvel opens in outer space, where we’re given a quick primer on the Kree/Skrull war, a conflict between the peace-loving, heroic Kree and the villainous, shape-shifting Skrulls. The title character, although not Kree by birth, is fighting on the Kree side along with Yon-Rogg (Jude Law) and his team. Her fists can launch explosive bursts of energy but she has been taught to use their power only in extreme circumstances. She has no memory prior to her arrival on the Kree homeworld six years ago but dreams offer her a glimpse of her past. After escaping a Skrull trap, Carol comes to Earth, where she meets Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), rediscovers things about the person she was, learns clues about her destiny, and uncovers hidden truths about the war in which she has been embroiled. In the process, she finds an ally in one she called an enemy (Ben Mendelsohn) and a possible enemy in one she called an ally.
Origin stories can sometimes drag because there is the necessity for exposition so that the audience, who isn’t familiar, can learn everything there is to know about the characters. Captain Marvel manages to maintain significant interest despite having a fair amount to establish. The first half is arguably more heavy on the origin and narrative plot threads but it doesn’t slow its pace. I’ve seen some complaints about the first half with some calling it a tad too slow when compared to the second half but I found that to be unfounded in my viewing. Establishing the story was one of the more interesting aspects of the film for me and it has its fair share of action and dazzling effects to keep you interested. The second half of the film, particularly after Carol is back on Earth is no doubt more fun and I’m sure the intergalactic politics could lose some but its balancing of both worlds never falters and it consistently maintains its pace.
Marvel has always been good at balancing humor and conflict and that continues with Captain Marvel. The film gets a lot of comedic mileage out of taking place during the 90s which should provide many with laughs if you happened to grow up during the time period. You’ll get to see a Blockbuster Video (sadly only one of those is left on the planet) and you’ll get a good laugh out of the dial-up internet connection that we have thankfully left behind long ago. The 90s nostalgia continues with the film’s choice of music which is filled with some of the best from the era. We get a little “Waterfalls” by TLC and No Doubt’s “Just A Girl” is featured in a significant way during one of the film’s high energy fight scenes. Nirvana, Des’ree, Garbage, & R.E.M. also get their due while I forgot how much I liked “Celebrity Skin” by Hole as it played during the closing credits. All of these touches worked in making the film fun and exhilarating but, like any good comic book film, there is more going on besides the jokes.
Captain Marvel is really a film about self-discovery. Carol doesn’t really have full knowledge of who she is and a lot of the film is spent with her realizing her true power. A lot has been made about this being Marvel’s first female-led superhero film and while this might be a tiresome notion for some critics, it’s something that can’t really be ignored. Much like Black Panther did last year by showing that people of color could be kings and heroes, Captain Marvel shows that a woman can be the strongest person in the galaxy. It’s a necessary image that has actually permeated through social media and is beginning to shine brightly as it blinds out most of the comments from the trolls who aren’t forward thinking enough to think it’s about time that young girls have gotten this representation. Yes, Wonder Woman also did this but it never hurt to have more than one example. The fact that Wonder Woman, and now Captain Marvel is now killing it at the box office, show that perceptions of female superheroes and their measure of success are a thing of the past. If you provide a good product, success almost guaranteed and that’s something that the writing and directing team of Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck and Geneva Robertson-Dworet have done in spades.
In taking the lead in Captain Marvel, Brie Larson continues to show a range of talent and charisma that hasn’t quickly made her one to continue to watch. Having already won her Oscar for a memorable turn in Room, Larson could easily start slumming it but she never phones it in here. Larson has a presence which makes her believable as a hero and she also displays a level of vulnerability that also makes her human. She is effectively paired with screen partners that allow them to bring the best out of each other. In the first half, a lot of her time is spent with Jude Law and they definitely bring out a toughness in each other that is present in most of their scenes. Jude Law has really reinvented himself over the years and his desire to be less of a movie star and more of an actor has made him far more interesting as a performer. The other pairing dominates the second half of the film and that’s between Larson and Samuel L. Jackson. If you have seen the duo promoting the film in recent weeks you can tell they have mutual respect and admiration for each other, and this is something that translates on screen. There is a bit of a mentor/student vibe but it isn’t heavy-handed and since this Nick Fury isn’t completely the hard ass we first met in Iron Man 2, the softer edges allow for a more fun banter between the two. Also not to be ignored is the female friendship of the film which, despite not completely getting the necessary screentime it deserves, is wonderfully sold by Larson and Lashana Lynch who make you believe there is history between the two of them.
Another performer worthy of a mention is Ben Mendelsohn who has a bit of a difficult role if you aren’t familiar with the history of the Kree/Skrull war. Mendelsohn has to initially appear villainous, which he does well with a spry sense of humor to boot, but he also has to make a switch and become an ally and he handles the character change with ease. He also makes Talos a bit of a sympathetic figure and we become invested in his survival and the survival of his people. Annette Bening, Djimon Hounsou, Gemma Chan, and Clark Gregg are also on hand to put in adequate work to round out the cast.
Arguably the best moments of the film are its bookends. The opening Marvel logo features a touching tribute to the late Stan Lee which garnered huge applause from our opening night crowd (his standard cameo was also a nice sight as well) and then there is the post-credits scene that leads us into Avengers: Endgame. Honestly, there wasn’t a lot shown but it definitely hit the sweet spot for those of us who eager to see how this all ends and now that Captain Marvel was the last missing piece, we can really look forward to the culmination of where this has all been headed.
On its own, Captain Marvel is a welcomed addition to the MCU. It’s a solid origin story full of action, heart, and purpose. There is a running theme where individuals are constantly trying to get Carol to check her emotions because they make her weak and limit her power. In the end, this film shows how strong you can be when you embrace your emotions and channel them into something larger than yourself.
