10 Nov The Marvels Review

THE MARVELS

dir. Nia DaCosta, starring Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, Teyonah Parris, Zawe Ashton and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. However, unintended consequences see her shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with two other superheroes to form the Marvels.

Starring Brie Larson, it’s fun to see her return to the role not fully inhabited since 2019. Unfortunately, as far as our main focus goes, Brie’s performance is the weakest of the trio. While still refreshing to see her fly through ships and blast Kree with her infinity stone based powers, Larson’s emotional moments are where she falters. When the walls come down and Carol finally relays to Monica what’s transpired since she left earth, a stronger performance from Larson would’ve helped better sell what’s a key turning point in the film.

For her part, possibly the most short shrifted actress is Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau. While The Marvels is firmly a Carol first story and writers give the audience what they wanted with Kamala finally getting to meet her idol, it’s Monica that’s caught in the middle with the least development. Fortunately, for what time she is given, Parris is phenomenal as the heroine who can manipulate the light spectrum. What was obvious tension within Monica at the sound of Carol’s name in WandaVision pays dividends here in The Marvels. What could’ve been a messy, shouty confrontation is instead handled with naked honesty and maturity, making for an emotional scene between the two that proves that while there’s plenty of bright lights and loud moments, the quiet ones are just as impactful. Parris’ switch between serious and goofy (especially in the second act) shows she’s able to do both, and well.

Iman Vellani isn’t just the heart of The Marvels, she’s also the heart of the MCU. A fan from a fan’s perspective, Kamala Khan’s character is able to eschew the grim “this responsibility has fallen on my shoulders” trope and instead is able to pull back and observe just how cool the whole thing can be. It works so well for Kamala specifically because it’s the position Vellani herself has taken; a wide eyed wonder entering a juggernaut of an organization that’s beloved around the world. It’s not hard to see why she’s so good at portraying the hero of Jersey City and when she’s on, she’s spectacular. While not all of the doe-eyed hero worship of Carol works, and some of the bits with Kamala’s family (while refreshing to see them) are a bit unnecessary, the character’s arc as a whole, coupled with Vellani’s dedication, make her the standout of the three.

Directed by Nia DaCosta, her third feature film and first high budget project, she’s definitively proven that she’s ready for the big leagues. DaCosta, along with scribes Megan McDonnell (WandaVision) and Elissa Karasik, the three have managed to weave three separate storylines into one mostly coherent space adventure. Even though the addition of Kamala and Monica dilutes Carol’s overall screentime, she’s still front and center of the story as team leader. A bumpy first act that leaves the movie stumbling out of the gate until the three are united hinders The Marvels from being a great comic book story, relegating it to being a solid one. Once the team coalesces, aided by just the right amount of Nick Fury, the story soars to a rousing conclusion that will leave the viewers eager to find out what happens next for these characters.

Overall, The Marvels is a delight of a film. Even with some of its questionable storytelling decisions, the movie does exactly what it set out to do: it charms, it entertains, and it deepens the relationships between the characters. With its quick runtime, the snappy pace keeps the events moving briskly without ever feeling rushed or incomplete. Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Teyonah Parris mesh in a way that feels natural leaves the audience wanting more of them on screen together. A movie that services itself first before pushing the overall narrative of the universe, DaCosta and team have added yet another solid entry to the MCU canon. The Marvels is currently in theaters.

Review by Darryl Mansel