“Captain Marvel” checks off all the superhero genre’s typical boxes. Cliche music of the era (in this case, the ‘90s). Long, overdue twists. Claustrophobic, dark fight scenes. Background information told through either flashbacks or stilted character exposition. The hero finally uncovering their true power and triumphing over evil.
These are all typical beats we have come to expect of most films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and the latest entry is no different.
The film feels too familiar, and although that’s not the worst thing in the world, it will be quickly forgotten after “Avengers: Endgame” next month.
And while this is another perfectly serviceable origin story — albeit one that relies heavily on nostalgia and prior knowledge — we’ve seen almost all of it before.
Max Rothenberg | Argonaut
Carol Danvers, a super-powered Kree soldier who doesn’t remember her past, crash lands on Earth in 1995 after a mission goes wrong. Soon, she meets up with a young Nick Fury, who helps her uncover her past and stop the shapeshifting Skrulls who have invaded the planet.
All the while, she is experiencing mysterious flashbacks which lead to more questions than answers.
Instead of casting a spotlight on new, interesting components like the Skrulls or the mysterious Supreme Intelligence, a large portion of the two hours is spent on protagonist Danvers as she walks around confused about her past.
Brie Larson puts forth a great performance reflective of her essentially flawless character, although at times it can feel stilted. In these instances, however, it felt like the script was more to blame than the actor.
That’s really the biggest problem — it never feels like Danvers is in danger. She’s simply too powerful, and despite not knowing the full extent of her powers, too competent as well. The stakes are abnormally low, with Danvers herself acknowledging this during the climactic battle scenes through her cheeky grins and shouts of joy.
This further raises questions about next month’s entry. At Danvers’ current power level, how can Thanos be a match for her? Something has to give, and fans might not like the approach taken.
Surrounding Larson is an incredible supporting cast which includes Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role as Fury, Ben Mendelsohn as Skrull leader Talos, Lashana Lynch as Danvers’ Air Force friend Maria Rambeau and Jude Law as Yon-Rogg, Starforce commander and mentor to Danvers.
And let’s not forget about the most important character — Goose, her cat. The animal plays a large role as the film nears its finale, and its actions are sure to divide the fanbase.
Where “Captain Marvel” succeeds is in its villain treatment, as the antagonists are anything but one-dimensional. Mendelsohn puts on a clinic, and his character’s surprising arc is where the film shines brightest.
There are a few great dynamics at play. The relationship between Danvers and Fury transforms a portion of the film into a fun buddy-cop flick, and also addresses the infamous post-credits scene from “Avengers: Infinity War.”
On the other hand, Danvers’ and Yon-Rogg’s flawed but close relationship provides much needed context for these characters while still setting up threads for future sequels.
Everything else is just kind of. … there. The soundtrack is forgettable, and for the most part, the cinematography is nothing special.
Some of the larger-scale CGI is hit or miss, but the de-aging technology used on both Jackson and Clark Gregg’s Phil Coulson is absolutely incredible. It’s a far cry from even recent films like “Captain America: Civil War” and “Rogue One.” If this is any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for a treat.
Ultimately, I’m only left with the mystery of how “Captain Marvel’s” titular character earns her title of captain. In fact, she’s only referred to as either Carol Danvers or Vers, her Starforce name.
So what gives, and how is Captain America going to react?
Max Rothenberg can be reached at [email protected]