Clocking in at 1hr 45mn, Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels is the shortest film of the latest MCU phase and is packed with surprises, fun, and a lot of heart. Our Marvels in question are Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and Professor Marvel? — well, they’re working on it — aka Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Coined “The Marvels” by everyone’s favorite Carol Danvers fan, Kamala decides that since their powers are entangled they should have a cool name to mark the occasion.
That’s right — their powers cause them all to switch relative positions, forcing each woman into a fight she’s not wholly ready for. This time around, the big bad is Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), a Kree warrior who is trying to save her homeland of Hala. Unfortunately, saving her planet means nearly destroying the entire universe. It’s up to Kamala, Monica, and Carol to save the day. If only there weren’t some interpersonal conflicts that need to be worked out first.
While it’s not necessary that you watch all of the Disney+ series Ms. Marvel or WandaVision, there are some small things the film expects you to know or remember. The good news is even if you haven’t watched these (though they are highly recommended), you’ll be able to follow along. There’s an ease to the script that really elevates this film from standard Marvel fare. When DaCosta was announced as director, there was a lot of hope that she would bring a certain invigoration to the franchise, and The Marvels proves she was up to the task.
I went into this film with no information, not having watched a trailer or even read the wiki. I wanted to be completely immersed. As it went on, there were small and important things that clued me into the fact that the film was not only directed by a woman but a Black woman at that, from Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) telling Monica to use her “Black Girl Magic” to shots of shapely brown thighs and backside showcasing an unabashed womanhood and strength. Another tip-off was the training montage scene.
When the women switch positions, they are placed in another environment where sometimes their powers are the most useful or seemingly useless. Kamala, Monica, and Carol need to work together to make sure no one is caught off guard if they’re zapped away. They organize a list of activities to show themselves completely in sync. Normal training montages can include sweaty running, punching a bag, doing extreme push-ups and more manly-manly pursuits. In The Marvels, balance is obtained by jumping rope, juggling, and balancing books on each other’s heads. There’s something so refreshing about seeing a group of women not resort to masculine conceits just to prove they are strong. The women in the film are strong and kick butt, but they are also cunning and clever and able to adjust when needed.
During the training, Monica asks what Carol is doing. Kamala replies, “She’s matching your energy.” In something akin to a vibe check, Carol Danvers slowly learns to appreciate having a team and more importantly, someone besides just herself to lean on. And what better team besides the gleesome threesome?
Monica Rambeau was introduced in WandaVision, and her inclusion in this Captain Marvel sequel is well received. She’s not ready to forgive Carol, and Carol is not ready to explain what happened. Despite this they work together well, reigniting sparks of the aunt/niece, mentor/mentee relationship the two almost had. Kamala is a bit clueless as to the exact family dynamics, but she is just geeked to be there and does what she can to keep the peace. We also get the return of Goose, the cat that blinded Fury in one eye. He plays an important role in the film and one you will not want to miss.
For a while, Carol Danvers was a tough nut to crack. She was too stoic to be empathetic, too serious to be personable. She’s always needed someone to round out her mostly uneven tones. Enter Kamala Khan, whose unbridled enthusiasm both overwhelms and seems to sooth Carol, who has never thought of herself as being a person with a “bestie.” The closest thing was Monica’s mother, Maria (Lashana Lynch), and Carol has never been the same since she died.
In The Marvels, Carol’s outer layer gets picked at like a tricky organic label on an apple and finally slips away, revealing a fighter worthy of the name Captain Marvel. This also helps her relationship with Monica, and it helps Monica feel more secure in her own power. A big theme of the film is each woman finding a new limit to break through in regards to their abilities. At one point Monica needs to fly, and she thinks she can’t. Carol has to fly into the sun, and she’s more than a little concerned. But with their combined powers, the women become a powerhouse of justice.
And they are sorely needed against the likes of Dar-Benn. Ashton (who is coincidentally the real-life love interest of Loki’s Tom Hiddleston) is that one actor you were absolutely sure was in an episode of Black Mirror, but then you later realize it was The Handmaid’s Tale. She’s unfearing and uncaring and carries a darkness that can be accessed on a dime. She’s delightfully campy and many times just plain wrong, but she’s also very entertaining. The megalomaniacal Marvel villains of late seem to be of the heavily accented, nonsensical alien traits variety. Gorr (Christian Bale) in Thor: Love and Thunder and High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) fit this bill. It’s an interesting tactic that thrives in movies where the villains are besides the point.
Dar-Benn is wreaking havoc, but the true story of The Marvels is watching this group of women learn about each other. And again, as a Captain Marvel official sequel, the film goes a long way to humanize Carol Danvers. On this journey we meet Prince Yan (Park Seo-joon), who provides us with an opening into Danvers that few have seen before. It was a lovely and welcome surprise. Prince Yan lives on Aladna, where they speak the language of song. No, literally. Their language is literally singing, and they won’t understand you if you don’t sing.
Yes, the film is full of shenanigans! It’s funny, it’s silly, it’s corny, and it’s very cool. DaCosta and co-scriptwriter Megan McDonnell (known for her work on WandaVision) really understood how to make these women from different generations truly get along. They talk, they listen, and they rule as a group, regardless of Kamala being 16 and Carol technically being a senior citizen.
The film has been laden with doubtful opinions and low projections since it was announced. And now we’re in a culture where despite constantly being on the list of top yearly earners, it’s assumed that Marvel and the MCU are in trouble. If The Marvels can withstand the rumors and build word of mouth for its engaging, fun, and exciting production, then hopefully it can signify the beginning of the next phase of Marvel fun.
Also, make sure to stay after the credits for a scene that had the audience cheering!
The Marvels open in US theaters on Friday, November 10, 2023.
