The 33rd film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Marvels, is the sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel, and it is easily the wackiest of all the movies in the MCU catalog. I’m not quite sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but it is definitely different in weird and goofy ways.
This film is probably closer to a sequel or continuation of the Disney+ Ms. Marvel TV series than it is a second film in the Captain Marvel franchise. If you loved Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani ) and the Ms. Marvel show, then you will likely love this new movie as it is geared mostly towards that audience.
An obscure villain, a Kree “Accuser” named Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), is causing havoc throughout the universe/multiverse/wherever by opening portals between dimensions that will allow her dying planet to siphon the resources from other worlds.
A side-effect of Dar-Benn’s inter-dimensional shenanigans causes Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris ) to swap positions in their respective place and time each time one of then uses their powers, which makes for some interesting (if somewhat poorly edited) fight sequences.
Ms. Marvel’s power wrist-bangle also plays into the chaos when Dar-Benn uncovers the corresponding artifact on a distant moon. (Old-school fans will recognize these things as the ’70s Captain Marvel’s Nega-bands.)
While The Marvels are gallivanting across universes, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is back on the S.A.B.E.R. space station with his Flerken cat and Kamala Khan’s family. At times you might stop and ask yourself why they are even in this movie, but thinking too much is your first mistake towards enjoying this film.
Directed by Nia DaCosta, who also wrote the screenplay with Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik, The Marvels seems sort of a stand-alone oddball from the rest of the MCU. It’s already hard to connect with a character who is as invulnerable as Captain Marvel, and this strange story doesn’t do much to further ingratiate the character with the audience.
Despite its awkwardness and WTF moments, if you keep an open mind The Marvels can be a fun film to watch, but it is certainly one of Marvel Studios’ weaker efforts. If you liked the Ms. Marvel TV show you’ll be in for a treat.
