The Marvels (Film review)

Remember the first, hugely enjoyable and silly trailer being followed by increasingly more serious-toned trailers, as if TPTB were spooked by a certain type of fannish reaction? Well, the first trailer is the one representative of the movie - it's fluffy and silly, and for the most part, I enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I can't say it's really good. Among other things, it got me to musing how tricky it is to do comedy while also not underselling emotional reactions to (past and present) actually tragic goings-on. This is why the later two Thor movies don't work for me - and I know I'm in a minority here re: Ragnarök, if not Love and Thunder, which got me thinking: why MCU movie does get that balance right in my highly subjective opinion? I don't mean "uses comedy moments in between drama", I mean "wants to do a comedy, successfully does a comedy, but also wants to sell the characters' emotional spectrum as not limited to farce and give them a reaction that feels emotionally plausible and real despite the comedy plot? And the winner is, drumroll... the first Ant-Man movie. Also the second, mostly, but the first one is really the best in this regard. It's absolutely a light hearted comedy, but it doesn't undersell the dysfunctional father-daughter relationship between Hank and Hope, or the missing of Janet, Scott's love for his daughter as his primary motivation and his very functional relationship with her (and his ex, and her current guy) as contrast also works very well, and the plot isn't anything universe saving, it's quintessentially a heist movie, ideally suited to the comedy format and stakes. And there you have one (not the only one, but one) reason why The Marvels doesn't succeed the same way - it shoots itself in the foot by letting the stakes be cosmic, but due to the way the film embraces the silly, pushed to the max by the flerkin (who were adorable, don't get me wrong!), it's hard to feel a moment of tension. Granted, due to Carol's power level, I guess heist movies and their equivalents are out of the question, given that you need an opponent who is able to challenge her, but still, I think the writing team could have found a twist.

Now, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Kamala Khan again, who is still ridiculously charming, as is her family. She's who holds the movie together, in as much as anyone does. Kamala's emotional reactions throughout feel real, and I have no complaints about anything she says or does or how her character is handled. The fannish glee, the initial panic in outrageous situations , the courage, the wish to save everyone meeting the reality - it's all great. Also, the actress is wonderfully expressive in her face (case in question, the hug scene, and I shall say no more - it's hilarious while also genuine all to her acting). Monica Rambeau was also good, but here we get into the difference to the first Ant-Man movie (or, come to think of it, how the Guardians movie handle Nebula and Gamora, as well as Rocket) again, because one of the two angst threads amidst all the comedy is Monica having issues with Carol's decades long absence. And it felt to me as if the movie went out of its way to make to assure the audience that this doesn't come across as actually hurtful, that our heroines aren't really mad at each other. (Hope in Ant-Man the first? Was mad at Hank. Really, truly, deeply. And you felt it. As you did that Hank did love his daughter but was spectacularly bad at demonstrating this. Lucky them for meeting Scott, who has his own problems but never that one.) Because I didn't feel the build up, the resolution between Monica and Carol felt equally flat to me.

The other angst thread in the middle of the comedy plot concerns the Kree. ( Spoilers think this entire plot thread would have really worked in a serious movie taking the time and trouble to flesh it out, but not in a comedy. )

I also wonder about Brie Larson's acting abilities in this regard, frankly. Might be unfair, but take another young action heroine who is supposed to be outwardly stoic (unless she has a complete and understandable breakdown) most of the time but with a lot going on inside, to wit, Katniss in the Hunger Games movies. Jennifer Lawrence can convey that (imo as always). Brie Larson - not really. The most memorable Carol scene in this film aren't her scenes with Monica or the Maria flashback or the grand climax, but the hilarious Bollywood planet sequence, where she shows a neat talent for physical comedy.

Oh, and don't even try to wonder how and where the movie fits in continuity wise re: Secret Invasion: A Terrible Series. ( Skrull spoilers! )

All these complaints not withstanding, I actually did have a good time. I was in a mood to embrace the silly right along the movie, the three way trading places gimmick between our heroines was used to great and amusing effect, plus it gave them a good rationale for having to team up and remain in close physical proximity with each other (Carol can't fight the movie's Big Bad if she keeps getting transported to New Jersey, after all). Planet Bollywood was great, and much as the movie's occasional attempts at seriousness didn't really work for me, I appreciate the villain having a motivation that makes sense and wasn't just "I want to rule/destroy the galaxy". Also, of course, three female leads on the heroic and a woman on the villain side = neat! I just wish this happened in a better movie I'd have the urge to rewatch, but you now, there's always the Ms Marvel tv series if I want to watch Kamala in something more memorable. As for Monica, that tag scene! ( Spoilers admit to little yelpd. )

Lastly, note to whoever scored the movie, though, why Memory instead of Macavity or Jellicle Cats?