Film Review - The Marvels

 

Whilst The Marvels is undoubtedly a lighter entry in the ever- lengthening franchise, that’s not to say its without strong content or merit. For one thing its notable in that four of its five main characters are female which happens without any particular agenda on display and its often funny without being frivolous. 

Spoilers after the break...

 

The films USP is that whenever the trio of Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan use their powers simultaneously they switch places which gives matters an extra frenetic energy that helps diverts our attention from the fact that superhero dust ups are all remarkably similar. Instead the frequent switches add a lot of both humour and also the jeopardy.  Instead of just having this a gimmick, the writers also develop the idea to further the narrative as the girls gradually learn to use the situation to their advantage so later on they are planning the switches in order to gain maximum advantage.  

“We’re not a team” declares Carol at one point but really of course they are and what a fun team to spend time with. All there slide into a natural chemistry as the different personalities collide sometimes literally. I’ve not seen the Ms Marvel series that introduced Kamala but its star Iman Vellani is a natural screen presence and often steals the screen in this film, her innocence mingled with sass, her hero worship of Captain Marvel always prominent. That her family plays a significant role makes her the centre of the team and in the others there are two different types of role models for her to potentially follow. However the narrative doesn’t always take the obvious teachers/ pupil route where its Kamala who has to learn the correct way to do things, in fact her part in the plot is quite proactive.

Seen as a kid in the first film (which was set in the Eighties) Monica is now all grown up and super powered herself and she’s the practical one. The way that Carol left and never came back still rankles though this is solved in a mature manner. Teyonah Paris is excellent in showing this, sometimes wordlessly through knowing looks.  Though ostensibly the leader (not that it’s a team) Carol aka Captain Marvel seems a little stand offish at first though we soon learn why. Brie Larson brings a fresh approach to this role as Carol juggles her sense of responsibility while dealing with the others when she's used to working on her own.  Nick Fury is on hand to help out with Samuel L Jackson getting some comedic moments though tis not clear whether the Secret Invasion tv spin off scenario has happened or not at this point. 

The main plot ties into something Carol was responsible for in a previously unseen adventure, the ramifications of which hang heavy both on her and a race called the Kree who blame her for their drought inflicted, dark world. Though she had the best intentions things went awry. So there is a personal stake yet the heavy issues don’t do too much to upset the sense that this is a film designed more for younger viewers. I feel they might have darkened things up a little but, oh look, here’s lots of cats that are not normal cats. And here’s a planet where they communicate though song and dance (this is funny). I do feel the main antagonist, the Kree warrior Dar Benn might have benefitted from some background; instead she is used to convey the attitude of the whole planet. Zawe Ashton though is good enough to add some flavouring so she’s more than an angry villain. 

Some lively plotting and a strong moral stance enables The Marvels to largely side step that common superhero failing and end with half an hour of  spectacular but repetitive battles. Despite the fantasy paraphernalia it feels as if the story is about something more important. Though there is plenty of action the denouement tracks back to another common- though important- superhero trope, that of responsibility for one’s actions. Yet its done with dignity and is rather moving after all the earlier laughs.

Save for an end credits sequence, the film is mostly self contained and doesn’t really require the homework that some do. It’s achieves what Ant Man Quantumania was trying to do and acts as a relief from the very dark stuff yet serves as an example  of how a potentially Universe threatening scenario doesn’t always have to be the darkest movie yet. Fleet of foot, lively, clever when it needs to be and (yes) under two hours long there is nothing to dislike about The Marvels and plenty to love.