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The Marvels it is an American superhero film released in 2023, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the direct sequel to Captain Marvel (2019) and is part of Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Nia DaCosta, who became the first African-American woman to direct an MCU film, marking a milestone within the industry.
The film brings together three heroines from the Marvel universe: Carol Danvers /Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan /Ms. Marvel, and explores the consequences of using their cosmic powers. With a lighter, more dynamic and comical approach, The Marvels it is committed to the synergy between characters and emotional connection as the core of its narrative, leaving aside the classic structure of éderigen armen to focus on a story of team, family and redemption.
Synopsis
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After regaining her identity from Kree control and taking revenge on the Supreme Intelligence, Carol Danvers, also known as Captain Marvel, finds herself facing unexpected consequences. His intervention in cosmic conflicts has caused an imbalance in the universe that threatens to expand.
While investigating a cosmic anomaly related to a mysterious quantum leap, Carol finds herself strangely connected to two other women: Monica Rambeau, now a SABER astronaut with skills acquired after crossing the energy barrier WandaVision, and Kamala Khan, a New Jersey teenager with powers derived from her magic bracelet, introduced in the series Ms. Marvel.
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Every time they use their powers, they exchange positions in space, forcing them to work together to discover the cause of the phenomenon. They soon realize that a new enemy, Dar-Benn, a Kree leader determined to restore power to her destroyed planet, is manipulating portal jumps to absorb other worlds' resources.
Together, these three heroines must learn to synchronize their abilities, overcome their differences, and save the universe once again.
Cast
- Brie Larson like Carol Danvers /Captain Marvel: A former Air Force pilot turned one of the most powerful heroines in the universe. Now he deals with the weight of his past decisions.
- Teyonah Parris like Monica Rambeau: SABER scientist and astronaut, daughter of Maria Rambeau, with powers of energy manipulation. His relationship with Carol is complex and emotionally charged.
- Iman Vellani like Kamala Khan /Ms. Marvel: A Pakistani-American teenager, a superhero fan, who discovers that she has cosmic abilities thanks to an ancient bracelet.
- Zawe Ashton like Dar-Benn: The main villain, a Kree warrior seeking to save her world, Hala, using questionable and destructive methods.
- Samuel L. jackson like Nick Fury: The former director of SHIELD who now oversees SABER's operations in space.
- Park Seo-joon like Prince Yan: An ally of Carol Danvers, king of the planet Aladna, where everyone communicates by singing.
- Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur and Saagar Shaikh like Kamala Khan's family, who bring humor and humanity to the story.
Criticisms
The film received mixed reviews from the specialized media. Some praised the more relaxed and comical tone compared to other MCU productions, as well as the chemistry between the protagonists. However, others pointed out problems in the narrative, a lack of depth in the villain, and uneven execution in script development.
Critical highlights:
- In favor:
- Iman Vellani's performance was widely praised for its charisma, enthusiasm and naturalness.
- The coordinated action scenes between the three heroines were innovative and visually attractive.
- The focus on family, both literally and emotionally, brought a more intimate dimension to the story.
- Against:
- The pace was inconsistent, with moments that seemed rushed or poorly developed.
- The villain Dar-Benn was considered generic by several critics.
- The connection to other MCU series required too much prior knowledge for some casual viewers.
Public reception
In terms of box office, The Marvels it performed below Marvel Studios' expectations. Despite having an estimated budget between $200 and $250 million, its global gross barely exceeded $200 million, making it one of the lowest-grossing films in MCU history.
Among the audience, the reception was divided. While fans of Kamala Khan and the Disney+ series enjoyed the interaction between the characters, others were disappointed by the lack of a more shocking story or a compelling threat.
On platforms like Rotten Tomatoes, the film obtained a mixed score: around 60% from critics and 80% public approval, reflecting that, although it was not a total failure, it did not achieve the expected success either.
Technical and visual aspects
One of the highlights of The Marvels it is its visual design. Throughout the film, completely different worlds are presented in style, color and culture:
- Aladna, the planet where he communicates by singing, offers a bright, colorful and original aesthetic experience, breaking with the usual dark scenarios of the MCU.
- The space scenes they present well-made visual effects, with combat choreography that takes advantage of the concept of exchanging positions of the protagonists.
- The production design it maintains a high standard, with detailed costumes, practical effects mixed with CGI, and convincing settings.
The soundtrack, composed by Laura Karpman, balances epic cosmic themes with lighter, more familiar moments. Also notable is the use of popular songs to accentuate the youthful tone of certain scenes.
Nia DaCosta's direction brings a fresh approach, with a more character-focused sensibility, while still offering visually dynamic action. His style moves away from exaggerated drama and seeks more humor, emotional connection and agile rhythm.
Conclusion
The Marvels it is a film that represents both a risk and a bet on the part of Marvel Studios. It moves away from the classic formula focused on a single hero and proposes a female choral story, where collaboration is key. Although it failed to conquer the box office or critics in a forceful way, it offers a fun and visually striking experience.
The strength of the film lies in its protagonists: three women with different backgrounds, ages and ways of seeing the world, but who learn to work together. Iman Vellani shines as the new face of the MCU, and his portrayal of Kamala Khan promises to be key to the future of the cinematic universe.
In short, The Marvels it is not a revolution within the MCU, but it is an interesting proposal that tries to combine adventure, humor and emotion. With its ups and downs, it manages to deliver an important message: that strength is not always in individuality, but in unity.
