A satisfying entry in the increasingly hit-or-miss Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “The Marvels” sees Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel) team up with Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) on an intergalactic adventure when a villainous plot intertwines their powers. Directed by Nia DaCosta from a screenplay co-written by Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik, the sequel stars Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Samuel L. Jackson and Zawe Ashton. It is currently playing exclusively in theaters.
Thirty-one years after the events of 2019’s “Captain Marvel,” Carol Danvers, played by Larson, continues her mission as defender of the cosmos when she comes into conflict with Dar-Benn, played by Ashton, the new leader of the alien race, Kree, after Carol brought down their previous empire. Dar-Benn’s obsession with retrieving the all-powerful “Quantum Bands” results in Carol becoming intertwined with her niece Monica Rambeau, played by Parris, and young superhero Kamala Khan, played by Vellani. With the fabric of space-time in the balance, the trio must learn to work as a team if they hope to save the universe.
The most compelling aspect of “The Marvels” is easily its central trio. Carol, Monica and Kamala have an instant chemistry that elevates every scene the three share. The screenplay provides a lot to work with, but it is exponentially enhanced by the cast. Larson appears to have much more fun in her role than she has in previous outings, while Parris maintains the humor and gravitas her character established in 2021’s “WandaVision.” Vellani provides the strongest performance, imbuing Kamala with the star power and charisma to, one day, lead the entire MCU franchise.
That being said, the rest of the film simply meets the MCU standard. The “swapping” mechanism is visually interesting, but the special effects and overall direction are numbingly familiar. Even worse, the condensed runtime, 19 minutes shorter than the first film, forces a rushed pace that severely underdevelops the main leads’ dynamic in addition to the broader narrative. No where is this more apparent than the main antagonist, Dar-Benn. As much as Ashton might try, she cannot elevate the villain’s one-note characterization due to limited screen time.
Ultimately, “The Marvels” proves to be a flawed yet undeniably fun experience that at least sets up a more interesting direction for the MCU.
