In terms of a not-too-serious origin story, the newest offering from the Marvel cinematic universe does not disappoint.

Captain Marvel Review

Warning: Mild Spoilers

“Captain Marvel” opens with a brief, beautiful tribute to Stan Lee. I do not want to give anything away, but I thought it perfectly and fittingly done and have to admit that I even teared up a little.

We then open with a dream/flashback sequence. I am not the biggest fan of those but must grudgingly admit that it makes sense in the context of this movie, as our heroine does not really remember much of her past and we need to find out more together with her. My very first reaction was “ugh, we are in space again, can we get to earth soon please” but I very soon forgot that as I started simply having fun with this movie that clearly wants its audience to enjoy itself. Thank you, Marvel, for continuing to stay firmly on your chosen path – I don’t have a problem with dark and gritty movies or series per se, but these days they seem to be as trendy as avocado toast and at this point, I am heartily sick of them.

Anyway, I actually enjoyed the opening, as well as the questions it throws up for anyone who has paid a minimum of attention in the last twenty or so Marvel movies – if you have, you can see the inevitable later twist coming from about a mile away. First though the plot finally throws our heroine into a very 90’s Earth, complete with the appropriate soundtrack and references (Blockbuster! RadioShack! Painfully slow internet dial-up!). If you were a teenager in the 90’s, you’ll love it (if not, go listen to some Spice Girls and think about your life choices, such as being born in the wrong decade). The movie picks up momentum as we meet some characters we already know, and while it is initially a little uncanny to see a much younger and less grizzled and worn Nick Fury, the de-aging is done extremely well and does not distract. Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson play well off each other, and while we have seen the fish-out-of-water story before, we have the added layer of Danvers’ memory loss and her obvious ties to Earth – she is not as out of the water as she thinks, after all. For the most part of the movie, I found the pace and the way the story progresses (with Danvers and the audience putting together the pieces of what was missing) smooth and enjoyable enough, with enough time given to establish the character and explore her powers. Weirdly enough, as the action picks up we lose some of that momentum as the focus turns from storytelling to space battles – it comes back in full force though as Danvers’ is driven to explore the full extent of her powers, and we get the “hero moment” that is every bit as inevitable as it is satisfying.

Overall, I really liked both “Captain Marvel” and the choice of Brie Larson for the role, her Carol Danvers is mouthy, perky, and someone you would not mind doing a few tequila shots with (though you would probably not trust her judgment in knowing when to call it quits). There are a few flaws – the Deux Ex Machina towards the later part of the movie, while fun and a great WTF moment, is maybe a little too convenient, and I would need (and will) rewatch the movie to see if one of the more unexpected twists holds up, but generally this movie is a solid offering and a great addition to the ever expanding MCU.

  • Director: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
  • Written by: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck and since it is Marvel a few other people/li>
  • Starring: Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson,
  • Rated: PG-13
  • Running Time: 2 hour and 6 minutes
  • Production Budget: $152,000,000 est.
  • Release Date: March 2019

Review by Heike Koenig