Polarizing as this film will be, due to its titular star's actor getting involved in the raging cultural wars of the late 2010s, what is Captain Marvel (2019) when you do your best to completely forget that all that rubbish exists?
Well, for this viewer, the answer was "So Okay, It's Average". It's mostly a bland, inoffensive, "turn off your brain and enjoy the action scenes" movie. The Skrulls have some intriguing depth and some funny scenes, Nick Fury is surprisingly funny, and the Rambeaus are both likable, intriguing characters.
Where does it go wrong? Why is it not the Marvel Cinematic Universe answer to Wonder Woman (2017)? Well... the sad truth is that it has to do with the titular leading lady. She does get a few moments of warmth to her when interacting with the Rambeaus, but for the most part, Carol Danvers has all the charm and charisma of a potato sack. She spends most of the movie as this bland, vaguely smug and self-righteous non-descript sort of character. Even Yon-Rogg feels more easy to get invested in, and he's basically one part Drill Sergeant Nasty and one party slimy misogynist. Carol's just a generic Smug Super character, and she never really steps out of that role except in those precious few moments when she's interacting with the Rambeaus. Add in the fact that she never really struggles in the movie, aside from her plot-mandated capture by the Skrulls at the movie's start, and... yeah, she's got Boring Invincible Hero written all over her. Which is a shame, because you'd normally be cheering at the Big Damn Heroes moment of the climatic battle, and I just felt vaguely bored.
I could go on with discussing the big controversies about Skrulls and Nick Fury's eye, but I really don't think it's worth the effort.
I wouldn't say it's the worst MCU movie around, but I can definitely think of three or four others I'd sooner spend my time on. Watch this only for completionists or if you're really desperate for a space-themed action heroine movie.
Average and Forgettable
Polarizing as this film will be, due to its titular star's actor getting involved in the raging cultural wars of the late 2010s, what is Captain Marvel (2019) when you do your best to completely forget that all that rubbish exists?
Well, for this viewer, the answer was "So Okay, It's Average". It's mostly a bland, inoffensive, "turn off your brain and enjoy the action scenes" movie. The Skrulls have some intriguing depth and some funny scenes, Nick Fury is surprisingly funny, and the Rambeaus are both likable, intriguing characters.
Where does it go wrong? Why is it not the Marvel Cinematic Universe answer to Wonder Woman (2017)? Well... the sad truth is that it has to do with the titular leading lady. She does get a few moments of warmth to her when interacting with the Rambeaus, but for the most part, Carol Danvers has all the charm and charisma of a potato sack. She spends most of the movie as this bland, vaguely smug and self-righteous non-descript sort of character. Even Yon-Rogg feels more easy to get invested in, and he's basically one part Drill Sergeant Nasty and one party slimy misogynist. Carol's just a generic Smug Super character, and she never really steps out of that role except in those precious few moments when she's interacting with the Rambeaus. Add in the fact that she never really struggles in the movie, aside from her plot-mandated capture by the Skrulls at the movie's start, and... yeah, she's got Boring Invincible Hero written all over her. Which is a shame, because you'd normally be cheering at the Big Damn Heroes moment of the climatic battle, and I just felt vaguely bored.
I could go on with discussing the big controversies about Skrulls and Nick Fury's eye, but I really don't think it's worth the effort.
I wouldn't say it's the worst MCU movie around, but I can definitely think of three or four others I'd sooner spend my time on. Watch this only for completionists or if you're really desperate for a space-themed action heroine movie.