Slow to get going but brilliant by the end

Rating: 8/10 (9 March 2019)

If you are a movie goer who makes a snap judgment on a film within five minutes, I think you'd probably hate this movie. If you invest emotionally into it, the final two acts are about as good as you could watch.
Brie Larson is funny, engaging and convincing as a superhero burdened with great power but no knowledge of her true identity. Samuel L. Jackson plays a younger version of the character we've loved for years in Marvel movies and he's, well, Samuel L. Jackson. But if you want a real reason to go see Captain Marvel? Goose the "cat". He steals the show.
The Skrulls are nicely inserted into the MCU, providing some of the more surprising moments. Kree have been harshly portrayed on Agents of SHIELD and Guardians, and so get another shot at redemption here. Does a massive war taking place between two races casual movie goers don't care for work here? Maybe not, but I don't think that's the point of the movie - it is merely a "this is happening, deal with it" type of storytelling. It leaves that particular story with room to grow. And the ending sets up, as anyone who follows the MCU expected, a hell of a time gap to bridge - future movies maybe?
The scenes on Earth are probably the best scenes in the movie. Carol's friendship with Maria and her daughter Monica is both touching and crucial, with all three actors excelling at selling a turbulent few years. Or at least that's how I saw it. No massive displays of emotion, a hint of awe and marvel but simply a keep calm and carry on attitude, a I'm glad this is happening even though I didn't expect it kind of approach. Maybe it's because I'm British, but I thought the handling of that particular situation was perfect. I'm intrigued to hear American's thoughts on it.
Overall, don't believe the reviews calling it boring, or at the very least make up your own mind first. I saw it on the first night it came out and my cinema was packed. The reaction to it was a slow burner, a few people (marvel super fans?) giggled on Hala, but by the time the action reached Earth, the laughs were full bellied and spread throughout the hall. I don't know how everyone I watched it with felt, but I sure know most of them thought it was funny.
There's stuff in here for everyone - 90s nostalgia, female empowerment, casual comedy, throwbacks to other Marvel movies (which aren't as in-your-face as previous MCU flicks) and many more beyond. Maybe we expect greatness from Marvel and superhero movies now, so anything which doesn't deliver in the first five minutes gets cast aside by more than a few people. Maybe.
But give Captain Marvel a chance and you will see a movie with heart, soul and a surprising amount of emotional weight.
Also there's a cat. Did I mention that? Oh except, well, no - you guys can find that out for yourself.