If you have not yet watched "The Marvels," chances are, it's because you heard some negative things about it. Or, perhaps, you've been burnt out on Marvel. Or maybe you just aren't interested in Carol Danvers.
But you should think again, and here's why (sans spoilers):
Guys, I didn't like the first Captain Marvel movie. It's the only Infinity Saga film that I haven't managed to get through a second time. I thought Carol was boring and the movie lacked emotional draw and dramatic interest. Honestly, I might not even have tried "The Marvels" if I hadn't enjoyed Monica in "WandaVision" and absolutely fallen in love with Kamala in "Ms. Marvel."
(While I haven't reviewed it, I adored "Ms. Marvel" and it vies with "WandaVision" for top place among my personal ranking of the D+ shows).
I'm here to tell you that I was not disappointed. "The Marvels" is the most delightful film to come out of the MCU in quite some time. While it suffers from a confusing first act (clearly there were some heavy-handed edits that messed up the flow and cohesion), the second and third act are very solid.
And? The film is FUN. It's laugh out loud FUNNY. Iman Vellani is a TREASURE and I'm so thrilled she gets to shine on the big screen. But beyond that, Carol is allowed an emotional journey this time. All three women are, and their bonding is something I've never seen between women on a superhero film OR even TV show before! What the film lacks in clever twists (all the action is resolved with brute strength, not intelligence), it makes up for in heart.
True, the villain is no more developed than most Marvel baddies, and that's a shame. She's got a very good motive, which could have shone with a tad more screentime. And there's a mid-film sequence that you're going to either love or hate--depends on your feelings on Bollywood movies.
And while the first half is narratively weak, it earns it's worth from the power/place switching gimmick you've surely seen in the trailers. And, yes, they do move forward narratively before the gimmick gets old.
The best part of the first film was Goose, and I can assure you, Goose fans will have plenty more to enjoy here.
Skip Quantamania, skip whatever else you haven't watched on D+ lately, you don't need to do homework before seeing this film. It sets up everything you need to know. If anything, you'll come out from this film and immediately start the first episode of "Ms. Marvel" because you will want more Kamala!
(Please, Marvel, I need Kamala Khan and Peter Parker sharing a screen and becoming BFFs ASAP. THANKS!)
So, go watch it. Laughter, heartwarming family and friendship storylines, and some unique visuals make it stand out from a lot of the latest Marvel fare, and gives hope for the future of the franchise. Of course, I can't guarantee that you'll love it, but I think it stands a higher chance of enjoyment than most of the audience currently anticipates.
Oh, and don't you DARE miss the mid-credit scene.
