The Wonders Review

Article Key Points

The Marvels is a disappointing film that showcases the worst tendencies of Marvel Studios and lacks meaningful personal and external stakes.

The movie's storyline and pacing are cluttered and chaotic, making it difficult for viewers to fully comprehend what is going on.

There is a lack of character development, especially when it comes to Captain Marvel, as her journey lacks clear definition.

In 2023, Marvel Studios is facing challenges with its movies. The once guaranteed box office hits are no longer delivering the same level of success and the introduction of new characters is struggling to gain traction with audiences. While there are various factors that can be considered, it is evident that Marvel Studios' creative output has been declining, and The Marvels serves as further evidence of this trend.

As a highly anticipated sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel, The Marvels carries a significant burden. It also serves as a companion piece to two Disney Plus series, one of which (WandaVision) premiered as far back as 2021. The character featured in this movie has not made any appearances in other Marvel projects since then. Moreover, the story, character development, and action in The Marvels lack depth and passion, resulting in a disappointing viewing experience.

The Marvels' first act is a whirlwind, rapidly introducing Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) to the audience. Alongside this, the film establishes Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), a forgettable antagonist, and the central conflict: a quantum disturbance entangles the heroes' powers, causing them to swap abilities whenever utilized. The presentation is frenetic, constantly shifting between locations without allowing the audience to settle or comprehend the unfolding events. Unfortunately, there is limited breathing space for character introductions to truly make an impact, except for Kamala's, which incorporates an animated segment.

The Marvels sets the tone from the very beginning, with its frenetic energy foreshadowing the fast-paced nature of this 100-minute film. However, despite its short duration and rapid plot progression, the pacing feels disjointed. Some scenes linger longer than necessary, while others feel rushed, like the swift resolution of the emotional conflict between Carol and Monica that barely registers.

One area where The Marvels falls short is in character development. Larson's portrayal of Captain Marvel has always been somewhat elusive, but it's more pronounced here. Her character's journey is built upon actions that are difficult to recall or place in context, yet they are pivotal in shaping her feelings of guilt. It becomes challenging to invest emotionally in Carol's past and her motivations. The movie struggles to define the primary lesson she learns throughout the narrative. Should she learn to collaborate with others? Should she let go of her past? The Marvels never fully commits to a specific direction, and this uncertainty seems to affect Larson's performance. She appears unsure of how to portray Carol, alternating between a serious and focused demeanor and adopting the quick-witted banter characteristic of other Marvel characters.

Both Kamala and Monica face similar challenges. Vellani's portrayal of Ms. Marvel was a standout in Marvel's 2022 releases, and her enthusiasm carries through here. However, the film misses a significant opportunity to explore her character further in a "never meet your heroes" moment that ultimately falls flat. Instead, The Marvels chooses to portray Kamala as an unwavering superfan of Captain Marvel, neglecting her potential for growth and self-reflection. In contrast, Monica has a bit more emotional depth to work with. Her anger towards Carol, hinted at briefly in WandaVision, gives rise to a conflict that needs resolution between the two. Parris delivers arguably the strongest performance of the trio by skillfully portraying the emotional core of Monica's journey, as she continues to mourn the loss of her mother.

On top of all of this, we have the addition of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Kamala's family, who are currently residing on a SABER space station. While Fury's presence may seem unnecessary, as he doesn't significantly drive the plot or offer significant assistance to the main characters, he still remains a part of the storyline. Kamala's family members (portrayed by Zenobia Shross, Mohan Kapur, and Saagar Shaikh, all reprising their roles from Ms. Marvel) provide lighthearted moments with their comic relief, despite not taking on individual significant roles themselves.

The shortcomings in the characters' stories cannot be entirely compensated for by a solid plot. Unfortunately, the Marvel world-ending high-but-feel-low stakes, which are rather ordinary, are back and just as uninteresting as always. Dar-Benn is portrayed as a villain from Carol's past, but her entire backstory is reduced to a brief 30-second flashback where she and Carol don't even have a conversation. While there is potential for a compelling ethical dilemma, with Dar-Benn stealing resources from other planets to save her own, the character is presented in such a simplistic manner that there is no reason to empathize with her situation.

Nia Dacosta handles the material as well as any director could, but any unique creative directorial style she may have demonstrated in films like her Candyman requel has been stripped away. The Marvels becomes a strong argument for Marvel to change its approach, to move away from the factory-like movie-making process and allow directors to have more creative freedom. However, it is important to note that making a Marvel movie has never meant a hands-off approach from the studio executives. While there are a few funny moments (particularly one involving a group of cats), The Marvels unfortunately epitomizes the worst aspects of what Marvel Studios has to offer.

The Marvels is currently on track to have one of the weakest box office debuts among all Marvel projects. Despite the studio's last-minute attempt to generate buzz through a final trailer highlighting its past successes, the impact seems minimal. If this is the type of film Marvel is delivering, it's evident that the studio is uninterested in significant growth or change. Although The Marvels is not necessarily a letdown, it falls short of meeting the expectations of a good film.

The Marvels will be released in theaters on November 10th.

The Marvels showcases a number of the less desirable characteristics of Marvel Studios, presenting a narrative that ultimately feels hollow due to its absence of significant emotional and outer conflicts.

Release Date November 10, 2023Director Nia DaCostaCast Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton, Samuel L. Jackson

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about The Marvels. On the one hand, I appreciate the movie's stunning visuals andアクションシーン. The fight scenes between Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau are some of the best in the MCU. I also enjoyed the film's humor, which is often lacking in superhero movies.

On the other hand, I was disappointed by the movie'sストーリー and character development. The plot is convoluted and difficult to follow, and the characters are not as well-developed as they could be. I also found the movie's villain, Dar-Benn, to be forgettable.

Overall, I think The Marvels is a solid superhero movie, but it is not one of the best in the MCU. I would recommend it to fans of the MCU, but I would not say it is a must-see.