MOVIE REVIEW: Superhero Fatigue, What? The Marvels Proves the MCU Is Here to Stay

(SPOT.ph) When Avengers: Endgame was released in 2019—feels like an entire lifetime ago, yes— there was a lot of talk about the Marvel Cinematic Universe's survival. Critics left and right said this might be the end of the MCU as we know it. But as we all know, it carried on. Since Endgame, we saw the beginning and end of the MCU's Phase 4 with the release of Black Widow and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, respectively. This marked a relatively strong post-Avengers Marvel era, and with the introduction of the larger universe on Disney Plus with series like WandaVision and Loki garnering largely positive remarks, all seemed well.

In 2023, suddenly, the doubt came rushing back. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's release as the kick-off movie for the MCU's fifth phase wasn't as strong as expected. Sure, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 pulled audiences back in with better reception, but not with as much she-bang as the Marvel movies of old. As Marvel releases the third film in Phase 5, The Marvels, critics raise the alarms again. Do we really need more Marvel movies, or are audiences done with superhero flicks?

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What is The Marvels? Who are The Marvels? Why The Marvels?

With a title like The Marvels there's no mistaking the film will center around Carol Danvers a.k.a. Brie Larson's Captain Marvel and her adventures to stabilize an ever tumultuous galaxy. And while the character has been seen mostly as a lone wolf, drifting across the universe solo with only her cat—er, Flerken—Goose as company, she soon finds herself, or more accurately, her powers, entangled with two other supers, the young Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellari) and S.A.B.E.R. Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) after an encounter with a defective jump point. This anomaly was, of course, triggered by the actions of this flick's big baddie Dar-Benn, played by Zawe Ashton.

In what could be viewed as a modern-day Marvel version of the Powerpuff Girls, we get a ragtag trio of powerful women—a strong yet stubborn character, a bubbly child, and the brains of the operation—as they master their entangled powers in the hope of stopping Dar-Benn and her plan to get back at Danvers for annihilating her planet of Hala. 

Now, this is a Marvel movie. Did you really think it would be that simple? Nothing is ever black and white when it comes to villains in a Marvel film. SPOILER ALERT: Soon, through bits of dialogue, an explanation from the team genius Captain Rambeau, and deep introspection by Danvers herself, we soon find out Dar-Benn is not just some crazy baddie looking to destroy the universe. She just wants to improve her planet's quality of life after the fallout from Captain Marvel's actions of destroying the Supreme Intelligence. A villain recovering from trauma? A hero with questionable actions? Ah, yes, there we have it. The classic Marvel formula is in place once more. 

Marvel's formulaic approach to superhero movies doesn't end there though. There's a play on family comedy and love courtesy of the Khans, unresolved family issues between Monica and Carol, and tons of action scenes with the occasional dry humor peppered here and there, too. And, in case we forgot that Marvel is now under Disney, they had to throw a musical number and a Prince x Princess storyline in there, too.

In some ways, The Marvels was everything you expected it to be, and if you've seen many of these movies, you could quickly judge it as another attempt to milk this generation's attachments to the comics. But just as you are about to lose hope, The Marvels does something fans of the universe have been waiting for all this time. 

The Marvels reminds us of the power of the MCU:

SPOILER ALERT: In her attempt to improve life on Hala, Dar-Benn inadvertently creates a rip in the space-time continuum. While our heroes defeat her, the looming threat of an unstable universe with an open portal into the unknown is far greater. Thus, another Marvel hallmark is introduced, the sacrifice. What sort, we'll leave you to find out. 

While we get a bittersweet ending, a Marvel film, as we all know, is bound to have a continuation; with two post-credit scenes reaffirming the purpose of The Marvels in the larger MCU. In one post-credit scene, after a talk with Carol Danvers, Kamala tells her about her plans. A few frames later, in New York City, we find Kamala recruiting Kate Bishop in what we could only hope is the start of the Young Avengers storyline. 

If that has you excited for where we're headed, then you better hold on to your seats. Later in the mid-credits, Monica Rambeau awakens to find herself in a hospital, watched over by her mother, confused. With questions circling in both the audience's and Monica's mind, in walks a familiar blue furry Beast. Yes, Spotters. Finally! After waiting for years, the MCU has officially crossed over with the X-Men universe. Kelsey Grammer's Beast makes an appearance as Dr. Hank McCoy who informs Monica she has crossed over to an alternate reality, another universe. 

Yes, spotters, for The Marvels, it was never really just about the three women. If that were it, it's a pretty mid flick. Marvel pulled the rug from under us and opened the door to a world of endless storytelling. One that could actually do the comics justice. It did what they've been hinting at since WandaVision, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness—the existence of a parallel universe where all the reboots finally make sense.  A set-up for what could undoubtedly be one of the best arcs in the Marvel Universe. If not for anything else, watch this flick for that moment. The moment when you regain hope for the MCU and why it's here to stay.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Spots

The Marvels premieres in Philippine cinemas on November 8. 

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