Film Review: "The Marvels" (2023).

"Higher. Further. Faster. Together." This is The Marvels. This superhero film directed by Nia DaCosta, written by Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik, based on the Marvel Comics characters created by Roy Thomas, Gene Colan, Roger Stern, John Romita Jr., Sana Amanat, Stephen Wacker, G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, and Jamie McKelvie, and produced by Marvel Studios. It is the sequel to the film Captain Marvel (2019), a continuation of the television miniseries Ms. Marvel (2022), and the 33rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan, Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol's estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team-up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as "The Marvels."

In July 2019, at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios confirmed plans to make a sequel to Captain Marvel. In January 2020, development began with McDonnell was hired after working on the television miniseries WandaVision (2021) to pen the script, and Brie Larson was set to reprise her role. In April, the film was scheduled for a July 8, 2022 release date. In August, DaCosta was hired to direct. The studio had also considered Olivia Wilde and Jamie Babbit as directors. In December, Feige announced the film with a November 11, 2022 release date, and Teyonah Parris was revealed to be reprise her role alongside Iman Vellani. By late July 2021, Zawe Ashton, Gary Lewis, Park Seo-joon, and Samuel L. Jackson rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in mid August under the working title Goat Rodeo. Filming took place throughout Italy and England, as well as in California and New Jersey, and at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England. In October, the film's release was delayed to February 17, 2023. In January 2022, Laura Karpman was hired to compose the score for the film. In April 2022, the film's release was moved again to July 28, 2023. Finally, in February 2023, the film's release was delayed to November 10, 2023.

The film stars Larson, Parris, Vellani, Ashton, Lewis, Park, and Jackson. I wasn't a big fan of this movie and some of the performances. I was surprised with how low the stakes in this story were. Larson, Harris, Vellani, Ashton, Park and Jackson were wasted.

The film is undoubtedly one of the worst movies of the year and a clear indication for Marvel to start making movies again instead of peddling products that promote future products. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Shoulder Shrug kicked off with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and now unfortunately continues with this film. 

Simon says The Marvels receives:

Also, see my reviews for Candyman and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.