The Marvels" (2023) - Furry Friends, Not-So-Fantastic Fights

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)

Released 11-10-2023

Watched 11-11-2023

Reviewed 11-12-2023

Viewed in Theater - Using Cinemark Movie Club

"You can still stand tall without standing alone."

"The Marvels," the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, brings together an impressive trio of superheroines - Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). The film picks up with Captain Marvel reclaiming her identity from the Kree and seeking revenge on the Supreme Intelligence, leading to a destabilized universe. The narrative pivots when Carol's duties link her to a strange wormhole and a Kree revolutionary, inadvertently intertwining her powers with Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau.

Despite its ambitious premise and the potential for a powerful female-led narrative, "The Marvels" falls short of expectations. The story, while boasting a visually appealing setup, struggles to engage. The narrative complexity, perhaps aiming for depth, ends up muddled, making it challenging for viewers to stay connected with the plot. Additionally, some of the fight scenes suffer from overly fast choreography and editing, rendering them hard to follow. This detracts from the overall enjoyment and dilutes the impact of the action sequences.

On a brighter note, the film does surpass Marvel duds like "The Eternals" and "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantum Mania" in terms of story, character dynamics, and enjoyability. The inclusion of cute cats adds a whimsical touch, though it's not enough to compensate for the film's shortcomings. "The Marvels" had all the ingredients to be a groundbreaking 'girl power' movie, but it ultimately misses the mark. It's a decent watch for Marvel enthusiasts but doesn't quite live up to the high standards set by earlier entries in the franchise.