Hot off the heels of “Infinity War,” here comes “Captain Marvel,” an origin story focusing on Carol Danvers and the hero she becomes. A prequel to, essentially, the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe and Marvel’s first female lead film, a lot is riding on this glowing, alien hero.
Brie Larson (“Room,” “Short Term 12”) perfectly encapsulates exactly who Danvers is. She’s tough, but snarky and sarcastic, fitting perfectly next to Tony Stark and Peter Quill into the kind of mold the MCU has been churning out for years. When she’s strutting her stuff, showing off her ridiculous powers to Nick Fury and others, she seems completely in control and undeniably charismatic.
Samuel L. Jackson (“Pulp Fiction,” “The Avengers”) is also wonderful, with a much larger role than in any of his previous MCU appearances. The decision to play regular hard-ass Nick Fury as a bit of a softer desk agent was risky, but pays off.
Ben Mendelsohn (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Mississippi Grind”) delivers depth to his Skrull character Talos that remains intriguing as the film progresses, and it’s a testament to his strength as an actor that, despite a major twist halfway through, his performance and characterization remain consistent throughout. The same can be said for the supporting cast, with everyone consistently pulling their weight to bring the most to these fresh new faces.
However, as much as Larson excels at providing a balance between her captain’s sarcasm and stoic attitude, it takes some time to get there. The film's first 15 minutes, basically everything prior to arriving on Earth, are slow and boring. Yes, it is essential information for the plot going forward, but it's paced so poorly that it drags down the movie as a result.
Danvers’s final moments don't feel like she’s had to physically overcome anything. Most of the action has her whooping everyone else around her, and while it does look cool, Larson delivers it only decently well. The larger action sequences leave something to be desired, lacking the kind of nuance or flow from other Marvel films like “Winter Soldier” or “Black Panther.” That being said, the smaller scale fights do not disappoint.
There are times where it feels as though the action and powers almost aren’t the focus of the film. That is not a bad thing by any means, because directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (“Mississippi Grind,” "It’s Kind of a Funny Story”) instead shift the focus to Danvers’s emotional journey, leading to one of the MCU’s more emotionally satisfying stories.
Danvers is not a character who is unsure of what she wants or who she is. Instead of taking someone insecure and throwing them into this amnesiac story line, Boden and Fleck have instead chosen to show the kind of journey that someone who is that headstrong might go on when filling out their unknown past.
It makes for legitimately engaging drama and has some of the MCU’s most unexpected and thematically satisfying twists ever. This is again thanks to the talented cast, but thanks also, in no small part, to the wonderfully evocative electronic score from Pinar Toprak (“Sinner,” “Krypton”) and the indie movie styled cinematography from Ben Davis (“Kick-Ass,” “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”).
“Captain Marvel” is also unabashedly and unflinchingly a feminist piece. Numerous moments throughout the film showcase the times in Danvers’s life when her gender has caused her to struggle. There is zero beating around the bush when these moments are brought up, and while some will likely have issues with that, it's also refreshing to have a big-budget, multi-million-dollar film so earnestly and clearly wear its heart on its sleeve like is done here.
Because that’s what “Captain Marvel” has at the end of the day. Its pure and unabashed sense of heart helps it soar despite a slow start and less than stellar action. It’s carried by wonderful performances and has a joyful sense of optimism. One of the MCU’s most satisfying films, story wise, “Captain Marvel” may not rocket into the stratosphere, but it definitely soars. 4/5
