(Originally written on March 16, 2019)
When Marvel Studios announced they were developing a film starring Captain Marvel, reactions on the internet were mixed. Comments ranged from excitement, to many saying “It’s about time” because of how the studio didn’t have any female-led movies up to that point. As well, the marketing for this film leaned heavily into how the titular character was a woman (which isn’t a bad thing), but it led many to wonder if the film would focus more on themes like feminism and not enough on creating a good, cohesive story. That’s the internet for you.
I didn’t take any of that chatter into account when watching the movie and chose to keep an open mind. With every film, one thing I always look for (among other things) is good characterization, or how a character is depicted/developed. Though there are plenty of interesting moments in Captain Marvel, it all felt somewhat typical in how it hit similar beats we’ve seen done a little better in previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
Given how this is an origin story, it makes sense that it feels reminiscent of other films which introduced characters into the MCU. However, the difference here is how it tries to juggle multiple plot threads, causing the origin story to become a bit lost in the shuffle; maybe not lost, but more sidelined. Carol (played by Brie Larson) is certainly present, but I assumed we’d be squarely focused on her story more throughout the movie. Instead, our heroine is just there to deal with whatever the story demands and look powerful while doing it.
Speaking of power, I don’t have any issues with how powerful Captain Marvel is (as some might). What I do have a problem with is how she makes everything look so easy. In past films we’ve seen characters have to struggle and learn how to handle their new abilities/technology, which made for compelling character development. It was the journey that drew us in and built our appreciation for those characters. There are threads that sort of inform how she might be able to pull off everything she does, but it’s not really expanded on. At least the action scenes hold up well.
As for the acting, everyone does great across the board, but it’s amusing (and perhaps unfortunate) how the supporting cast outshines the main character. Brie Larson’s acting isn’t terrible, and I can understand why her character is the way she is due to story reasons, but it definitely could’ve been improved. The standouts for me were Lashana Lynch as Maria Rambeau (pictured above), Sam Jackson as a younger Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn. Also gotta shout out Akira Akbar as Maria’s daughter Monica, Annette Bening (even though she’s only in a handful of scenes) and the cute cats that all took part in creating the role of Goose.
Overall, Captain Marvel certainly has charm and manages to introduce Carol Danvers into the MCU. It’s understandable how introducing a character this late into the universe (and right before Endgame) could be daunting, but I think directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck did their best. While I don’t agree with how some things came to be later on (this film is set in the 90’s after all), I still found some elements enjoyable.
It may not reach the heights many anticipated but it’s still worth a watch (maybe on a Tuesday), even if many of those moviegoers are only there to find out why Carol wasn’t around when Thanos snapped.
- A. Shin
