The Marvels arrives at a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe is facing more scrutiny than ever. But how does this film stack up during a time when superhero fatigue and expanded universes have made audiences jaded?

Here’s my spoiler-free review of the movie.

What is the Marvels about?

The Marvels sees the return of Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel), Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel). You’ll know these characters from previous MCU installments, bringing together stories from the Captain Marvel movie, the WandaVision TV series, and the Ms. Marvel TV series.

These superpowered individuals, who usually work alone, find themselves entangled due to some quirky quantum shenanigans which force them to team up against a new threat.

Giving new characters time to shine

While Captain Marvel was present during the Infinity Saga, Monica Rambeau as an adult and Kamala Khan are much newer faces in the MCU.

And one of the strengths of this movie is that it allows these characters to shine.

Kamala Khan, played by Iman Vellani, is the emotional heart of this movie, as well as one of the biggest sources of comic relief, injecting some bright-eyed optimism and joy into the story.

However, she will need to come to grips with some of the realities of being a superhero as the mistakes of Carol Danvers’ past come to haunt them all.

Iman Vellani does an excellent job of portraying the hopeful enthusiasm of a teen, but also delivers on the emotional weight of certain story beats.

Teyonah Parris, who plays Monica Rambeau, provides a balance to the mood of the movie. While Kamala Khan brings hope and delight, Rambeau is dealing with the emotional weight of being left behind on Earth by her Aunt Carol.

Parris portrays the mixed emotions beautifully, reminding us about the continued effects of Thanos’ snap.

Carol Danvers, played by Brie Larson, is less stoic in this cinematic outing. But despite her insane power levels, she still feels grounded due to the very human challenges she faces.

Overall the film gives us enough time with long-established characters, while giving space for newer characters to stand out.

One of the most fun MCU outings

While comic relief and humor are well-established in the MCU, The Marvels stands out for its campy moments and generally fun approach to telling the story.

If you enjoyed the antics of Thor: Ragnarok or the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, you’ll likely experience similar joy in this movie.

That said, the film is still able to deliver on the emotional impact of certain events, being careful to make sure that comic relief doesn’t undermine moments of loss or emotional turmoil.

Being weighed down by franchise fatigue

With all the great moments and fun scenes in the movie, The Marvels still struggles with one major problem: its role is to set up new stories in the MCU.

This need to play into a bigger story has been a blight on many new Marvel movies since it dilutes the core of the narrative being focused on. Filmmakers constantly have to zoom out to show how this fits into the bigger MCU plot line.

Being a self-contained story where the stakes are personal rather than important for the entire universe can make a film really resonate with viewers. This is what made The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 so good. It was an ending, rather than just more setup for new stories.

For most of the film, the Marvels has a unique feel, with interesting combat choreography and fresh plot lines. But it also eventually falls in line with the more generic MCU flavour, especially when it comes to the film’s antagonist and closing.

Should you watch The Marvels?

The Marvels shows that there’s still some fun to be had in the MCU, and that new characters can inject fresh vigor into stories without seeming like distractions.

If you enjoyed the fun approach to telling emotional stories, seen in Thor: Ragnarok and the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, you’ll likely enjoy a lot of what The Marvels has in store.

That said, if your franchise fatigue is high, you may balk at some of the more generic MCU elements in the film.

I would say that The Marvels is different enough to warrant a watch in cinemas, especially if you love Flerkins, the cat-like space creatures first introduced in Captain Marvel. The movie has some pockets of true joy that make it worthwhile.

_{Image credits: Marvel Studios}