Thomas' Review | The Marvels - Future of the Force

“The Marvels is an absolute blast! It is a lot of fun and it actually feels like a Captain Marvel comics brought to life on the big screen; Nia DaCosta has nailed it with this sequel. The trio Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel and Monica Rambeau is everything!”

After her successful solo debut in 2019, Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel is back with a sequel. This time she is teaming up with Monica Rambeau who got her powers in WandaVision and Ms. Marvel who made her debut in the MCU last year with her own series. As a big fan of Captain Marvel, it is safe to say that this film was my most anticipated film of the MCU, so did it live up to the hype?

STORY

Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers in Marvel Studios’ *THE MARVELS*. Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

I am going to say it right away – The Marvels is an absolute blast! It doesn’t disappoint. Indeed, Nia DaCosta has nailed it and has given us a fun and satisfying sequel. Captain Marvel is back and better than ever! It builds on the first film continuing Carol Danvers’ journey and story with the Kree and Skrulls while bringing in Monica Rambeau and Ms Marvel in the mix. This new trio is everything. The camaraderie between Carol, Monica and Kamala is off the charts. It is a perfect trio, simply iconic! Throughout the film, you see an evolution in how they interact with each other as they learn to work as a team.

Since the first film was released, I have read tons of comics of Captain Marvel and honestly, this film just feels like a one of her comics coming to life on the big screen. The story, the characters, the pacing of the film, the action, it is all so comic book-y and I am all here for it. The fun factor of this film will definitely make me watch it over and over again. It ticks all the right boxes. Speaking of comic books, if you are a fan of Captain Marvel, you will definitely recognize a certain planet – Aladna. In the comics, the people of Aladna speak in rhymes but here they spiced things up a bit by having the characters singing and dancing. This is simply awesome. There is so much to love with this film.

Not only, it is great to see Captain Marvel again and see what she has been up to, but it is also great to see Ms Marvel and her family again. I really love her series and this transition to the big screen is seamless. Nick Fury is also back, we love to see it. And let’s not forget Goose, the scene stealer Flerken. This time, we get to see a lot of Flerkittens as well, it’s cuteness overload!

Moreover, there are some great surprise cameos. It really adds to the comic-book feel having other characters popping up like this for a simple cameo. Plus, the mid-credits scene is big, get ready! This film definitely sets things up for the Multiverse saga in a meaningful way like Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness did.

The only problem with this film is the villain Dar-Benn. She is not exactly memorable. Although her motivations are interesting, it is the way she acts that’s missing something.

CAST

(L-R): Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers and Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan in Marvel Studios’ *THE MARVELS*. Photo by Laura Radford. © 2023 MARVEL.

Furthermore, Brie Larson continues to be perfect as Captain Marvel. She is the best. And her chemistry with Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris is amazing. You can really tell the three of them had fun making this film. As expected, Iman Vellani is the scene stealer, she brings so much energy to her character. It is a joy to see her acting. Even though Park Seo-Joon is only there for a very limited time you definitely notice him and it would be great to see his character again in another Captain Marvel film!

VISUALS AND SOUNDTRACK

Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ *THE MARVELS*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.

Obviously, a new movie means new costumes and the characters are getting two new costumes (except Ms Marvel, only one new costume, the first one is the same as in the series). Captain Marvel’s first costume uses similar pattern from her costume of the first film but it feels more practical for fight scenes. It is more of an adventurer’s outfit, which is great! While her second costume is entirely different from her previous costumes. It’s my least favourite one but I still like it and when you see in the film how she gets it, the design makes sense. Monica’s costumes are both pretty cool. The first one feels like a first time superhero costume while the second one gives a more veteran vibe. As for Ms Marvel’s new costume, it doesn’t beat her costume from the series but this one feels fresh and colourful. It is a right fit for this team up.

Visually, this film has a lot of world-building introducing us to some new planets. It really explores the cosmic side of the MCU. It’s a beautiful sight. Most of the visual effects are good. But as usual with American tentpoles, there are some shots where the CG does feel a bit off.

Finally, Laura Karpman has composed a nice score that embraces the fun aspect of the film and captures the energy of these characters. The film also features a good mix of songs including in one scene a montage that just feels perfect.

VERDICT

The Marvels is an absolute blast! It is a lot of fun and it actually feels like a Captain Marvel comics brought to life on the big screen; Nia DaCosta has nailed it with this sequel. The trio Captain Marvel, Ms Marvel and Monica Rambeau is everything! As expected, Iman Vellani is a scene stealer, she brings so much energy to her character.