From Jeff Nelson

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Five just grew one installment larger with Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels, following James Gunn’s solid Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It remains close to the massive franchise’s familiar formula, but it leans on the culmination of Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani’s Kamala Kahn, which is where it finds the most success. However, long-running franchise issues continue to loom over the building narrative.

Carol Danvers (Larson), also known as Captain Marvel, suddenly discovers that her powers are linked with fellow heroes Monica (Parris) and Kamala (Vellani), who goes by the name Ms. Marvel. As a result, they suddenly switch places when simultaouelsy using their abilities, forcing them to team up to defend the universe from a strong-willed Kree named Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), who’s willing to do whatever it takes to return her planet to its former glory.

The Marvels is a follow-up to several other Marvel projects, including Captain Marvel and Disney+ television shows Ms. Marvel and WandaVision. The multiverse is a convoluted sandbox that’s impossible to retreat from once the doors are opened, but DaCosta, Megan McDonnell, and Elissa Karasik’s screenplay is rather self-contained, all things considered. Franchise tie-ins are kept to a minimum, even including a compilation scene to catch audiences up to this point.

There are a few long-awaited character pay-offs in The Marvels, some of which carry more emotional weight than others. Monica’s confrontation with Captain Marvel stirs some complicated feelings for the both of them after not seeing one another for decades. On a less serious note, Kamala is undoubtedly Captain Marvel’s biggest fan, which she’s entirely unable to hide from the woman she established her superhero name after. The trio become a tight-knit team, simultaneously pushing one another’s narratives forward.

The ongoing war between the Skrulls and the Kree continues to play out, where Captain Marvel finds herself in the middle of it, earning the name of “The Annihilator” from the Kree Empire. Her new teammates inadvertently become a part of the conflict, although Dar-Benn falls flat as both an intimidating foe and an emotionally-resonating character. She’s one-dimensional and never feels like a real threat to the group, even with their position-swapping circumstance. Not every antagonist can be as imposing as Thanos, but the threat should feel much more substantial in a team-up arc than the typical solo outing.

The Marvels incorporates a couple of head-scratching gags inserted for laughs that ultimately only further confuse the already-sloppy tone. However, some audiences will follow in the film’s frenetic energy that others will find entirely grating. Script issues and inconsistent editing are primarily at fault here.

Much like its counterparts in the MCU, The Marvels still devolves into a third-act lightshow. Fortunately, DaCosta works with the added twist of the hero displacement factor that sets it apart from its predecessors. It’s rather exciting to witness Captain Marvel, Monica, and Kamala fighting as a team, as they learn how to use the location swapping in creative ways.

The ensemble cast is the secret weapon in The Marvels. Larson, Parris, and Vellani drive a genuine connection throughout the runtime, each bringing something different to the table. Larson finally gets material to showcase slightly more of her range, while Parris successfully drives the film’s biggest emotional moments. FInally, Vellani is the real scene stealer, acting as the humor and the heart of the film.

The Marvels is no gamechanger for the colossal MCU, where the plot is underwhelming and the villain is forgettable. Larson, Parris, and Vellani are an enchanting trio, but the fractured narrative holds them back. There are some fun set pieces, although it doesn’t quite come together into a very compelling story.

Rating: 2.5/5

The Marvels hits theaters on November 10th, 2023.

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