CAP'tivating: Better Than You Think

Rating: 8/10 (11 March 2019)

Whatever nonsense you heard about this film leading up to its release--ignore it. For all the controversy surrounding the release of Marvel Studio's Captain Marvel, this film rises above all that noise to deliver another delightful addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Brie Larson as Captain Marvel is a joy to watch.
One of the things I've always treasured about Marvel Studio's formula is that they execute it consistently well, even if doesn't always produce the most groundbreaking product. That formula ensures that no matter what, you're getting your money's worth. Captain Marvel is a testament to that model. This is a traditional origin story that's beautifully executed, and the only thing unique about it--sadly--is that it took Marvel 20 films to produce a female lead. Well, Brie Larson's take on the classic comic book hero is here, and I was smiling from ear-to-ear throughout the film.
Before the hordes of moviegoers pack theaters in April for Avengers: Endgame to see the conclusion to the most significant story arc in movie history, we needed to know who was the hero Nick Fury paged at the end of Infinity War. Who was so powerful that the architect of the Avengers felt that this was the moment out of all others when he would need them.
Carol Danvers (aka Captain Marvel) is the answer.
Plagued with a shattered memory, this Star Force warrior works on behalf of the Kree race (see Guardians of the Galaxy) as part of a special ops team out to hunt down Skrulls--shape-shifting infiltrators of other worlds. When a mission goes south and lands Danvers on Earth circa the 1990s, she is immediately intercepted by SHIELDS newest agent, Nick Fury. From there, we move into buddy cop territory as Larson and Samuel L Jackson work, fight, and trade barbs at one another in the most delightful of ways. When the search to uncover her past leads her to her old Air Force BFF, Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), the movies discovers it's heart as we transition from quippy buddy cop mode to a human drama about the triumph of human spirit and the birth of a superhero.
This is a film that is self-aware of its social significance yet it doesn't get heavy-handed by reveling in it too much. There's just enough for you to get the point. There's also a nice amount of 90s nostalgia. I don't think it's crossing into spoiler territory if I tell you to see if you can spot how many homages to 90s films you can find in this film. There's also two wonderful Stan Lee moments in this film that put a knot in my throat.
The online complaints about this film range from legitimate to childish trolling. Is it perfect--no. There are some moments where there are awkward transitions into 90s music, Korath (Djimon Hounsou) is still just a cameo character as he was in Guardians of the Galaxy, there's not enough Agt. Coulson, and Capt. Marvel's hand to hand combat relies on too much shaky camera work that it distracts at times. But those are minor gripes. Hardly any of the 20+ Marvel movies we've seen, meet that standard of perfection. And the complaints about Bree Larson's acting fail to consider one of the first things established in this film about her behavior, which is why I have a hard time accepting some of the criticisms of this film.
This is far more refreshing origin story than most Marvel movies with the possible exception of Iron-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy. Ironically, both of those films play huge influences on this film. Captain Marvel isn't the movie you should see because it leads into Avengers Endgame, Capt. Marvel is the movie you should see because it's worth it.