Captain Marvel Review: Gets The Job Done Without Being Marvelous

Marvel Studios

As a person of color, diversity and representation in film is a big issue. We absolutely need more of it, but it’s how that necessary change is presented that proves to be tricky - at least in my opinion.

Since most films, particularly comic book films, largely center around white male characters, every character that falls outside of that limited scope becomes the de facto leader of a greater movement.

Wonder Woman was the face of feminism. Black Panther, the face of black excellence. Films that had cultural heft to them. Films that felt an added pressure to not only deliver quality, but strike the delicate balance between touching on the very real issues that plague marginalized communities, while ultimately crafting an entertaining film with a story that had broad appeal.

It becomes a question of how best to approach the situation. Do we acknowledge the cultural significance throughout the film? Or is it enough to just cast diverse actors?

Star Wars has done the latter recently, and pretty successfully as well. Casting diverse actors like Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Diego Luna, Kelly Marie Tran, Riz Ahmed, and others, without having to call immediate attention to their genders or ethnicities in the film. Though, to be fair, that franchise is based in an alternate universe where apparently discrimination like the kinds we experience here on Earth largely don’t exist.

It’s different for films that are based on this planet, in our current reality.

As a minority, authenticity is key. I never want the representation to feel forced. Being hispanic, I don’t want to watch films that make it a point to remind the audience every five minutes “This character is hispanic. Keep that in mind!” But at the same time, issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, and class do have to be touched upon, or else the film risks being labeled tone deaf - a mortal sin in today’s cultural climate.

It’s through that unfortunate lens that Captain Marvel must be seen through, at least partially. Especially since trolls came out in full force to hinder the movie’s success.

Yes. Spoiler alert: Captain Marvel is a woman.

As a result of that simple fact, the film has added cultural significance. Which is unfair, because not every film is going to be Wonder Woman or Black Panther. Those films were cultural phenomenons that shattered critical and commercial expectations and were unquestionably necessary, watershed moments. It’s unrealistic to expect every film to be Wonder Woman or Black Panther.

It’s hard enough making a quality film, let alone asking the film to carry the weight of an entire cultural movement on its back.

On both fronts, Captain Marvel doesn’t hit a home run, but it doesn’t strike out either. In keeping with the baseball analogies, it advances the runners.

It’s not the girl power behemoth and feminist rallying cry Wonder Woman was. It’s not the cinematic masterpiece The Dark Knight was. But it accomplishes the most immediate and most important goal as far as Marvel execs are concerned: Delivers a solid film that builds hype for Avengers: Endgame, and touches on issues of gender in a way that for the most part, don’t seem heavy-handed or forced.

Women, or people in general that are looking for moments of female empowerment will get them. People looking for an entertaining way to kill two hours won’t be disappointed, either. The film doesn’t go above and beyond in any particular category, but rather does just enough to make for a solid viewing.

There are some genuinely funny moments in Captain Marvel; most of them coming from Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos throughout the second and third acts of the film.

The acting in general features solid performances all around, especially from leads Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson.

The 90s references were fantastic (looking at you, Blockbuster cardboard displays, and grunge fashion), though as a millennial painfully obsessed with that decade, I’m admittedly a bit biased.

The visuals were quality, but there weren’t as many action sequences as I would’ve expected, and when they did come, the scale often felt small. Overall, the fights felt more like a showcase of skills, and a training exercise in preparation for what we’ll be seeing this summer - when Captain Marvel and her hands of fire take on Thanos (with a little help from her friends).

There’s also moments where the dialogue feels a bit stale, and would’ve benefitted greatly from a little more sharpening. But again, this film does just enough to warrant the price of admission.

If we’re to judge this film on how culturally significant it is or will be, it probably falls short.

If we’re to compare it to groundbreaking films that left their marks on cinema as a whole, it probably falls short.

But if we hold our expectations to a more realistic standard, and take it for what it is - an entertaining Marvel origin story serving as a bridge between two comically gigantic blockbuster films (Infinity War and Endgame) - it delivers.