“Captain Marvel” (2019) marked a significant chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for several reasons. Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the film not only introduced Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, into the MCU but also became the franchise’s first female-led superhero movie. With Brie Larson in the title role, the film explores themes of identity, empowerment, and resilience. Set against the backdrop of the 1990s, the story unravels the origins of Captain Marvel while weaving her into the larger tapestry of the MCU. As the film’s narrative moves through a mix of space warfare, espionage, and personal discovery, it attempts to solidify Carol Danvers as a key figure in the MCU’s next phase. However, “Captain Marvel” was met with mixed responses, praised by some for its action and character work but criticized by others for its pacing and reliance on familiar tropes.
The movie opens with Carol Danvers as a member of the Kree’s Starforce, an elite military unit. At this point, she goes by the name Vers, and though she has immense power, she struggles with fragmented memories of a past she can’t quite remember. The early scenes of the film set the tone for a cosmic adventure, introducing the Kree-Skrull war, a significant conflict in Marvel comics that pits the two alien races against each other. The Kree are presented as stoic warriors, while the Skrulls, led by Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), are depicted as their shape-shifting enemies. This cosmic backdrop is crucial, as it provides the larger-than-life setting that later intersects with Carol’s personal journey.
However, while the film sets up this grand intergalactic conflict, the true heart of the story lies in Carol’s search for her identity. Much of the narrative tension comes from her attempts to piece together who she was before becoming a Kree warrior, and this journey of self-discovery is intertwined with the political intrigue of the Kree-Skrull conflict. The film drops hints early on that Carol was once a human fighter pilot, and as the movie progresses, the layers of her past are peeled away. Her journey takes her back to Earth, where she teams up with a younger, digitally de-aged Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to uncover the truth.
The Earth-bound sequences of the film are set in the 1990s, and the movie leans heavily into its period setting. From Blockbuster stores to dial-up internet, “Captain Marvel” fills its Earth scenes with nostalgia. These moments are intended to provide comic relief and ground the otherwise space-faring adventure in a more familiar setting. While these references to ’90s culture might evoke nostalgia for some viewers, others might find the film’s reliance on these touchstones a bit heavy-handed. The soundtrack, packed with hits from the era, further reinforces the film’s retro vibe, but at times, the song choices feel a little too on-the-nose, as if they are trying too hard to appeal to a specific demographic.
As Carol uncovers more about her past, the movie flips some of the expectations set up in the early moments. What initially seemed like a straightforward story of good versus evil—the noble Kree against the villainous Skrulls—is upended when it is revealed that the Skrulls are not the villains they were made out to be. Instead, they are refugees fleeing persecution from the Kree, and Talos, who had seemed like a menacing antagonist, is revealed to be a more sympathetic character. This twist adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, though some critics felt it came too late in the film to fully resonate.
At the center of all this is Brie Larson’s portrayal of Carol Danvers. Larson, an Oscar-winning actress, brings a certain gravitas to the role, but her performance was a point of contention for many viewers. Some praised her for portraying a strong, no-nonsense superhero who doesn’t rely on charm or vulnerability to win over the audience. In contrast, others felt that her performance was too stiff and lacked the emotional depth necessary to make Carol a fully realized character. This divide in opinion may stem from the fact that “Captain Marvel” attempts to establish Carol as a powerful, independent figure while also making her relatable and human. Balancing these two aspects of the character is a difficult task, and the movie doesn’t always succeed in pulling it off.
One of the film’s strengths is its action sequences, particularly those that showcase Carol’s powers. Captain Marvel is one of the most powerful characters in the MCU, and the film does a solid job of conveying the sheer scale of her abilities. Whether she’s taking down spaceships or fighting Kree warriors, the action is fast-paced and visually striking. The CGI effects, especially in the third act when Carol fully embraces her powers, are impressive, and there’s a sense of awe in watching her cut through the Kree’s forces with ease. However, this power also presents a challenge for the film, as it makes Carol almost too invincible. There’s little sense of peril or stakes when it becomes clear just how powerful she is, and as a result, the climax of the movie feels somewhat anticlimactic. This lack of vulnerability can make it difficult for audiences to invest emotionally in her journey, as she never seems to be in any real danger.
The film also explores themes of empowerment, particularly female empowerment, in both subtle and overt ways. Carol’s journey from being underestimated and controlled by the Kree to fully embracing her power is meant to be a metaphor for breaking free from societal expectations and realizing one’s true potential. This message is further reinforced by the film’s portrayal of Carol’s relationships with the men in her life, from her Kree mentor Yon-Rogg (Jude Law), who constantly tries to keep her powers in check, to Nick Fury, who becomes her trusted ally but never attempts to overshadow her. The movie also highlights Carol’s friendship with Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), a fellow fighter pilot and one of the few people who knew her before she became Captain Marvel. Their bond is one of the emotional core elements of the film, showcasing a strong, supportive relationship between two women—a rarity in superhero movies.
Despite these positive elements, “Captain Marvel” is not without its flaws. The film’s pacing is uneven, particularly in the first half. The early scenes on the Kree homeworld of Hala are visually interesting but feel rushed, as if the film is eager to get Carol to Earth and start the real story. Once she arrives on Earth, the narrative slows down, but it also becomes more disjointed as it jumps between Carol’s quest to recover her memories, the Kree-Skrull conflict, and the various ’90s references. This uneven pacing makes it difficult for the film to build a consistent momentum, and the constant shifts between cosmic and Earth-bound scenes can feel jarring.
Additionally, while the movie attempts to give Carol a compelling personal journey, the character development sometimes feels undercooked. Carol spends much of the film trying to remember who she is, but when she finally does, the emotional payoff isn’t as strong as it could have been. Part of this is due to the fact that the audience never gets to spend much time with Carol before she becomes Captain Marvel, so it’s hard to fully connect with the person she was before her transformation. The flashbacks to her life as a pilot are brief and don’t provide enough context for her relationships or her inner struggles. As a result, Carol’s emotional arc feels somewhat shallow, and her transformation into Captain Marvel lacks the depth and resonance that similar superhero origin stories have achieved.
The film also struggles with its humor, a hallmark of the MCU. While there are certainly moments of levity, particularly in Carol’s interactions with Nick Fury, the humor feels more forced here than in other MCU entries. The character of Goose, a cat who turns out to be a dangerous alien creature, provides some comic relief, but the gag quickly wears thin. Similarly, the film’s attempts to poke fun at ’90s technology and culture often feel contrived rather than organic. This is in contrast to other MCU films, like “Guardians of the Galaxy” or “Thor: Ragnarok,” which struck a more natural balance between humor and action.
In terms of its place within the larger MCU, “Captain Marvel” plays a crucial role in setting up the events of “Avengers: Endgame.” The post-credits scene, in which Captain Marvel responds to Nick Fury’s distress call from the end of “Avengers: Infinity War,” establishes her as a key player in the battle against Thanos. However, as a standalone film, “Captain Marvel” feels more like a necessary stepping stone in the MCU’s overarching narrative rather than a truly memorable entry in its own right. It fills in some gaps in the MCU’s timeline and introduces a powerful new character, but it lacks the emotional depth and narrative cohesion of some of the franchise’s best films.
Ultimately, “Captain Marvel” is a solid but unspectacular entry in the MCU. It succeeds in introducing a powerful new hero and expands the universe in interesting ways, particularly with its exploration of the Kree-Skrull conflict. However, the film’s uneven pacing, underdeveloped character arc, and reliance on nostalgia prevent it from reaching the heights of other MCU origin stories like “Iron Man” or “Black Panther.” For fans of the franchise, “Captain Marvel” is an important piece of the puzzle, but as a standalone film, it doesn’t quite soar. It does, however, lay the groundwork for Carol Danvers to play a significant role in the future of the MCU, and it will be interesting to see how her character evolves in future films.