Good, not Spectacular

Rating: 7/10 (8 March 2019)

MCU's first female led superhero film is a fun blockbuster that breezes through its two hour, five minute run-time, though not in any kind of spectacular fashion.
The film tells a non-linear origin story, as it slowly pieces together Carol Danver's forgotten past, which is a refreshing way to tell an origin story in its own right, but it is told with little to no emotional depth at all.
The closest to emotion is Danver's friendship with Lashana Lynch's Maria Rambeau, and her aunt-like relationship with Rambeau's daughter, Monica (Akira Akbar), but these moments with them are few and far between.
There are some outstanding characters though who helped bring Marvel's dependable brand of humor to this film. Ben Mendohlson is a standout as the Kree warrior, Talos, offering an intimidating yet, as we get to know his character more, amusing presence. Samuel L. Jackson, as he always has, shone as a younger Nick Fury being introduced to aliens for the first time, and of course, Goose the cat stole every scene he was in.
Captain Marvel, overall, doesn't offer anything new and spectacular, but behind the MCU's brand of humor, a refreshingly told origin story, and some exciting action sequences, albeit at times dark and choppy, this is a solid film. Just don't expect too much from it.