Captain Marvel Review

"Higher. Further. Faster." That's the tagline for Marvel's first solo female-led film Captain Marvel. There was so much anticipation for this release and depending on who you ask the answers vary why. Some were excited for Marvel's release of their first solo female-led motion picture. Others were ready to see how the character ties in with the rest of the MCU and how she is suppose to save the universe after the effects of Infinity War. Then there are those who are just comic book fans and were ready to see another character make their on-screen debut. It's also important to note that prior to the film's release there was already some drama among internet trolls. They were so desperate to smack the film down that they wrote negative reviews on Rotten Tomatoes weeks before the movie was released. Seriously, people have nothing better to do with their lives *sigh* Before I write my review let's back track a little and some background info about the plot. Academy Award winner Brie Larson plays US air force pilot Carol Danvers. After an accident that mixes her DNA with that of Kree, she develops powers that cause her to have super strength, flight, and shoot energy beams from her fists. Danvers travels to Earth to track down Marvel's latest group of villains: The Skrulls. The creatures have the ability to shape-shift into any other living being. While on Earth, Danvers unveils a past she has little memory of including her occupation and how she got her powers. Kree's elite warrior group, Starforce, may not be the noble family Danvers thought they were.

Now, first and foremost Brie Larson as Captain Marvel. This is one role I was intrigued by and was interested to see how Larson brings to life the character. However, I felt it to be a little flat. Larson sort of stayed in one face expression throughout the film. She showed little to no emotion for her actions or situations she got herself in. For me, it felt hard to care about a character that didn't ooze any personality. Did she kick ass or have an awesome suit? Of course! But to make a hero work you need to be able to have chills with their movements or leadership. I think that is what Larson lacked with Captain Marvel and why I was kind of turned off. I didn't care if she was in a dangerous situation or once she connected the dots about her past. It's very evident Marvel Studios wants to make her the next face of the company after Endgame, but Larson needs to find her rhythm with the character. I have said the same thing with Chris Hemsworth as Thor & Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr Strange. It just takes some time to find the right footing. I do believe Captain Marvel is the hero for young girls to look up, but the film didn't do justice for that trait.

To bounce off that idea, the plot was also pretty basic. It was the typical cliche of "superhero is lost-goes though a self discovery-learns to use unstoppable powers-kicks ass." This is the same mistake made in Doctor Strange. One scene shows Captain Marvel almost falling off a train, trying to capture a skrull; but towards the end she is single-handily able to fight off gigantic missiles heading to Earth and scare off an army back to space. The ability to unleash and control that power felt very rushed, and to me, made the character feel unbelievable. There were cool action scenes with Captain Marvel using her energy blasts to fight off her enemies and great nods to different costume designs from the comics, but what was ultimately missing were those WOW moments. What I have to give praise to it the female empowerment situations placed within the film. They didn't feel forced or too much. They were very subtle and enjoyable. Carol Danvers had been told since a young age she can't do this or that because of her gender, but acknowledging to how that becomes her greatest feature is amazing. It's this story process that helps the audience understand her and what a lot of females must face on an everyday basis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liSwJDJtmPw

My favorite feature of the film was the time setting. Captain Marvel takes place in the 90s. It's a time before the Avengers, when No Doubt & Hole dominated the airwaves, and when Nick Fury had two eyes. There are many Easter eggs that give nostalgic feelings of that era: Captain Marvel falls through a Blockbuster store, Stan Lee playing himself as he reads a script for Mallrats (a film he had a cameo in), and Nick Fury communicating with a pager (which looks very familiar to the one he had in Infinity War *wink*). This is a prequel to the rest of the MCU. It is here that Nick Fury begins his mentor ship with Phil Coulson and when he creates the idea of the Avengers initiative. As the saying goes, it's important to understand the past to get a grasp of the future. Now that we know what Captain Marvel is capable of it will be interesting what role she has in facing Thanos with what's left of the Avengers in Endgame. One thing fosure about the Avengers & Marvel Studios is that the future is female; the future is Captain Marvel.

Final Score: 7/10

Overall, Captain Marvel is the perfect family film, but in comparison to what Marvel Studios is capable of, it falls short. There's no doubt that Captain Marvel is the heroine to watch for in future films, but in her own movie she is still in the learning process.