Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, and Iman Vellani join forces to save the planet in ‘The Marvels.’
By Dana Barbuto/Boston Movie News
“What the hell is going on?” Two characters ask that question in the early frames of “The Marvels,” the follow-up to 2019’s “Captain Marvel,” starring Brie Larson. After a shaky start, the movie hits its stride with a fun, fast-paced adventure headlined by three women under the assured direction of Nia DaCosta. It’s her first shot at helming a Marvel flick, and she impressively rises to the occasion after navigating through a sluggish opening brimming with backstory and character (re)introductions.
So, go along with all the talk about mysterious alien bangles, wormholes on the fritz, jump point surges, malfunctioning light-based powers, and sudden tendencies for characters to teleport. Eventually, we land on a story about family, female friendship, and Flerkens, the scene-stealing alien felines who can swallow large objects and regurgitate them later. It’s not as gross as it sounds.
If you haven’t seen the Disney+ streaming series “Ms. Marvel,” you should, or risk getting lost in space. DaCosta (“Candyman”) sets a dizzy pace, with the action shifting from one planet to another and then over to Nick Fury’s (Samuel L. Jackson) space station and back to the Khans’cozy New Jersey home. That’s where we get reacquainted with Kamala, aka Ms. Marvel, the fresh-faced teenage heroine who saved Jersey City in the terrific streaming series. She’s still a good hang, infusing the movie with much of its heart and humor. Iman Vellani’s portrayal is characterized by her youthful energy, capturing the essence of a high schooler geeking out over finally meeting her hero.
The gist of the movie, the shortest yet in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is this: Ms. Marvel (Vellani), Captain Marvel aka Carol Danvers (Larson), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) join forces to take down the villainous Kree warrior, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton). She is on a mission to steal natural resources from other planets to rebuild her own. Her sights are set on our sun, leading to a clash with the Marvel ladies.
DaCosta and co-writers Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik smartly keep the story simple—once they unearth it. There’s no padding, and the combat scenes, where you usually can’t tell who’s fighting whom, are mercifully easier to follow. The chemistry between the three actresses energizes the experience, and they’re obviously having a blast. So much so that you almost forget there’s zero tension. Call it a superhero slumber party. There’s even a handsome prince, a colorful dance number on Aladna, “the singing planet,” and an inspired nod to the musical “Cats,” featuring the fluffy Flerkens doing their thing as “Memory” plays. I hope future installments are this fun.
The plot and action are ridiculous, but the dynamics of the close-knit Khan family (Zenobia Shroff, Saagar Shaikh, and Mohan Kapur) keep it grounded. Kamala’s overprotective mother, played by Shroff (“The Big Sick”), speaks for all mothers when she tells her daughter, “I know you have to go, but I’ll never let you go.” Yup, that’s me all misty-eyed at a comic-book movie.
Carol’s estrangement with her niece, Monica, the daughter of her best friend, Maria Rambeau, provides another layer of emotional authenticity. Along with entangled superpowers and rips in the space-time continuum, the two women have some baggage to work through.
In true Marvel fashion, this film is in service of the greater MCU, and thus, “The Marvels” lays the groundwork for some cool things to come. Spoilers? Not here.
‘The Marvels’
Screened Nov. 7 at AMC Boston Common
Rating: PG-13 for action/violence and brief language
Cast: Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton, Seo-Jun Park, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, and Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Nia DaCosta
Writers: Nia DaCosta, Megan McDonnell, and Elissa Karasik
Running time: 105 minutes
Where to watch: In theaters Friday
Grade: B+
Boston Movie News 