Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races.
Featuring a star-studded cast and dedicated to the iconic Stan Lee who passed late last year, “Captain Marvel” explodes into the eponymously named universe this week with unapologetic abandon. Of particular note, Brie Larson confidently carries this chronicle of alien invasion from start to finish. Elaborate special effects that might swallow a lesser light are no match for Larson, who delivers galactic quantities of humor, empathy, and wit. “Captain Marvel” is nothing if not a crowd-pleasing prequel to the highly anticipated Marvel adventures in “Avengers: Endgame,” due out next month.
The invariable set-up for Marvel films now typically serves primarily to establish a conundrum for the protagonists, paving the way for a satisfying denouement. Remaining true to form, “Captain Marvel” opens with a mission by the technologically advanced Kree civilization to seek out and destroy a race of shape-shifters called Skrulls. Despite the obligatory opening structure, the action eventually picks up smartly when Vers (Larson) literally drops into a Blockbuster video store – back in the 1990s, of course. From that point on, the game is afoot.
For most of the movie, Brie Larson as Vers and Carol Danvers struggles to regain her memory, lost somewhere between earth and a planet called Hala, home of the Kree (and the brave). It is across this series of flashbacks suffused with cryptic dialog that the narrative periodically struggles.
Story and screenwriting for “Captain Marvel” comprise of five separate credits that include indie directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. With so many chefs in the kitchen, it may help explain the convoluted opening scenes likely to confuse audiences. Despite such shortcomings, the twists and turns wrap up sufficiently well by the conclusion – a necessary prerequisite in order to maintain the coherence of the expanding Marvel franchise of disparate characters and storylines.
As the action evolves, the directors sprinkle in a few dashes of “Star Wars,” blended with hints of “The Matrix” to flavor this complex brew – mostly to good effect. To help further convey the time period, ubiquitous tracks of ’90s music are featured prominently throughout, providing added zest that powers things along.
Perhaps not coincidentally, the militarily dominant Kree imply more than a passing resemblance to the U.S. military machine, whose total expenditures now exceed that of the next seven largest spending countries in this world combined. Similarly, the Skrull refugees – decidedly alien and unattractive in appearance – serve as thinly veiled metaphors for the perception of the growing numbers of displaced global populations in our own space and time.
On a different tack, I was somewhat disappointed to see so many pre-teen children at the advance screening. Not only does the language and violence easily justify the PG-13 rating, the plot turns and character development left more than a few youngsters squirming in their seats during the course of the slightly over two-hour runtime. That said, for teens and adults, this feisty tale should otherwise sail by in breezy fashion.
The excellent cast combines both new and familiar faces. Samuel L. Jackson evinces boyish exuberance playing Nick Fury – with modern special effects shaving at least twenty-years off the actor. Other players include Annette Bening, Jude Law, Lashana Lynch, Djimon Hounsou, Ben Mendelsohn, Clark Gregg, and Gemma Chan – all of whom deliver strong supporting performances. At the end of the day, however, this is Brie Larson’s vehicle. Were anyone in doubt as to whether she can carry a film, wonder no more. “Captain Marvel” delivers as advertised, and Larson stands front and center of this opulent production.
In theaters Friday, March 8th
