A safe yet enjoyable origin tale from Marvel

Rating: 7/10 (9 March 2019)

After the catastrophic events of Avengers: Infinity War (and the pleasingly droll interlude of Ant-Man and the Wasp), Marvel Studios take us back to the 90s with Captain Marvel, starring Oscar winner Brie Larson as the titular intergalactic hero. It's a film that certainly has the weight of responsibility firmly on its shoulders; not only is it an origin story packed within the developed third phase of its universe, it acts as both a link to the past (a de-aged Samuel L. Jackson is unnervingly convincing) and a bridge to what is undeniably Marvel's big event of the year, Avengers: Endgame.
Captain Marvel is entertaining enough; the script may be inconsistent, yet it hits a number of laughs and the cast, from Jude Law to Annette Bening, are a spunky ensemble that bring a bright earnestness to the film. It's a fairly standard origin story that makes unapologetic use of Marvel's signature formula, often with results that, whilst usually fun, can't help but feel slightly circumspect and contained. We watch as Larson's Vers (as she is known on her supposed home planet of Kree) crashes on Earth, her memories of her past fragmented and her identity thoroughly muddled. This is much like the film's narrative itself which feels largely scattershot, jumping through flashbacks and glossing quickly over plot points with nonchalance. That being said, the movie is very entertaining, an odd tonal balance of Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-esque retro humour and the bombastic action stakes of Star Wars. Without a doubt, it's fun, with charm obscuring the more clunky moments in the writing.
Captain Marvel, of course, relies strongly on Brie Larson's leading performance. Larson is undoubtably a terrific actress who commits wholeheartedly to the role, making the best of the disappointingly little that is given to her. In the end, whilst the scope of her powers are cause for sensation, the character herself feels lost in her own film, attempts at pathos underdone and most of the best moments going to other characters.
The extended players stand out far more, with marvellous turns by Ben Mendelsohn and Lashana Lynch and a star-studded performance from a certain feline. The cast (even Larson to an extent) are the film's saving grace, carrying the film with a jubilance that can't help but bring a smile to the face.
Other aspects of the film also shine; the visual effects are polished and a distinctly 90s jukebox soundtrack works well. Far from spending its time in space, most of the film is grounded on good ol' Planet Earth, packed full of satisfying nods to the period.
All said, Captain Marvel is a tricky film; it can't help but feel like a stepping stone to the next point of the overall narrative of the universe, a safe and unambitious adventure muddied in franchise building. For me, however, the quirky humour, visual thrills and undeniable sense of fun are enough to give Captain Marvel a watch.