So before I'm gonna go into the actual review, I will take a moment to address the idea/fear people had that this movie is ""SJW propaganda'', which it honestly isn't. The titular character isn't even particularly OP for the majority of the movie, although only close to the end was there ever a scene where I felt she was genuinely being challenged.
Anyway, as far as the actual review goes; the movie is solid. Using flashbacks and self-discovery to play around with the conventions of an origin story is a bold move, which in part does give the audience a driving question, but honestly at the same time is rather confusing or disorienting at certain points; in particular, close to the beginning of te film there is a solid 2 min sequence (at least, it felt that way) where the audience is haphazardly thrown across Carol's buried memories before we've even been given much reason to be vested in her backstory to begin with. These quick flashes reappear in the rest of the film without getting fleshed out. This is indeed a problem that persists in much of the film, as the movie keeps trying to get us to care about Carol and her struggle, and while all the set-up is there (scenery, tragedy, story) it honestly kinda falls a bit flat; sometimes it's Brie Larrsons wooden performance , sometimes it's the fact her backstory is only shown in brief glimpses than full length flashbacks, but honestly it's just hard to feel for the character. Which is not at all to say that every scene falls flat or that there is absolutely no investment, not at all, just less than there could have been. For instance, the buddy cop dynamic she develops with Nick Fury, as well as her interactions with little Monica Rambeau, actually bring out the most sympathetic and lovable moments in the film, moreso than Carol ragingly screaming she doesn't know who she really is, because playing off other characters and actually interacting with them works better than the forced, plot-necessated flahbacks of her and Mar-Vell ever do.
The action sequences are mostly good, aside from one or two slip-ups.
In regards to comedy, Nick Fury, Goose the Cat, and Carol's fish-out-of-water antics give you enough to at least get a few laughs through this mostly one-tone adventure. I will say, however, that the way Nick Fury loses his eye is very underwhelmingly handled for the sake of a joke. Lastly, this film's awkward place in the MCU and the fact Carol great power mean there is also a lack of actual tension in the film; you know they already have the Captain's future planned out, you know they are not gonna kill the Rambeaus so soon after introducing them, you know Nick Fury is gonna live, so fortunatly Talos and his family give us something to worry about.
All in all, seven out of ten, don't feel obligated to watch it but please don't let the toxic hate it's been getting hold you back.
Decent but not much else
So before I'm gonna go into the actual review, I will take a moment to address the idea/fear people had that this movie is ""SJW propaganda'', which it honestly isn't. The titular character isn't even particularly OP for the majority of the movie, although only close to the end was there ever a scene where I felt she was genuinely being challenged.
Anyway, as far as the actual review goes; the movie is solid. Using flashbacks and self-discovery to play around with the conventions of an origin story is a bold move, which in part does give the audience a driving question, but honestly at the same time is rather confusing or disorienting at certain points; in particular, close to the beginning of te film there is a solid 2 min sequence (at least, it felt that way) where the audience is haphazardly thrown across Carol's buried memories before we've even been given much reason to be vested in her backstory to begin with. These quick flashes reappear in the rest of the film without getting fleshed out. This is indeed a problem that persists in much of the film, as the movie keeps trying to get us to care about Carol and her struggle, and while all the set-up is there (scenery, tragedy, story) it honestly kinda falls a bit flat; sometimes it's Brie Larrsons wooden performance , sometimes it's the fact her backstory is only shown in brief glimpses than full length flashbacks, but honestly it's just hard to feel for the character. Which is not at all to say that every scene falls flat or that there is absolutely no investment, not at all, just less than there could have been. For instance, the buddy cop dynamic she develops with Nick Fury, as well as her interactions with little Monica Rambeau, actually bring out the most sympathetic and lovable moments in the film, moreso than Carol ragingly screaming she doesn't know who she really is, because playing off other characters and actually interacting with them works better than the forced, plot-necessated flahbacks of her and Mar-Vell ever do. The action sequences are mostly good, aside from one or two slip-ups. In regards to comedy, Nick Fury, Goose the Cat, and Carol's fish-out-of-water antics give you enough to at least get a few laughs through this mostly one-tone adventure. I will say, however, that the way Nick Fury loses his eye is very underwhelmingly handled for the sake of a joke. Lastly, this film's awkward place in the MCU and the fact Carol great power mean there is also a lack of actual tension in the film; you know they already have the Captain's future planned out, you know they are not gonna kill the Rambeaus so soon after introducing them, you know Nick Fury is gonna live, so fortunatly Talos and his family give us something to worry about.
All in all, seven out of ten, don't feel obligated to watch it but please don't let the toxic hate it's been getting hold you back.