Three may not be a magic number at the moment for the MCU. The Marvels is the third superhero movie the franchise released this year, the 33rd film overall, and it features an unlikely team of three heroines trying to save the universe. But the film directed by Nia DaCosta is also the least lucrative the Marvel Cinematic Universe unleashed since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk.
Where can you watch The Marvels in the UAE?
The Marvels is currently playing in cinemas across the UAE, such as VOX Cinema and Reel Cinemas.
In this Captain Marvel sequel, Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) from the miniseries Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), who gained superpowers after the events in WandaVision have to work together to save the universe.
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After Kree leader Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) uses a Quantum Band to tear a jump point in space, Carol, Monica, and Kamala’s superpowers become intertwined. The three must figure out how to work together and stop Dar-Benn before she uses the jump points to destroy the Earth.
Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) assists the three Marvels from the S.A.B.E.R. space station. And at one point, we get to watch Fury literally herding kittens in a sequence that is funnier than it had any right to be.
Another mediocre MCU movie
While the overall plot is straightforward, the film doesn’t spend enough time offering any sort of exposition. Unless you’ve seen the previous movies and series where these three characters appear, some interpersonal dialogue won’t make sense. Casual MCU cinemagoers might find that frustrating.
The Marvels is very much a mediocre superhero movie that brings little to no innovation to the genre. It seems the studio has decided to stick to the tried and tested formula, and fans are getting tired of it.
There isn’t much character development to speak of, but the scenes where the three leads learn how to manage their tangled powers are endearing. It was also nice to watch Kamala Khan finally meet her favourite Avenger and get to know the person rather than the superhero she spent years admiring.
Less interesting was the ongoing personal conflict between Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau. The two spend a bit of time talking about their shared history, but the movie fails to provide enough context to the drama.
The MCU has always struggled to produce memorable villains, and this film’s Dar-Benn is sadly no different. While Ashton does a decent enough job with the character, the film never seemed interested in developing this character beyond surface-level villainy.
Despite the negative reactions, I found The Marvels to be a perfectly adequate superhero movie. The visuals (especially in 3D) look stunning, some of the jokes land, and the story is as engaging as you would expect. It’s nowhere near the quality levels of Avengers Endgame, but that applies to most MCU movies released since.
What are other critics saying about The Marvels (Video Reviews):
Jeremy Jahns wasn’t a fan of the film and wondered if A.I. wrote the script.
IGN gave the film a mostly positive review and described it as “a triumph.”
JoBlo Originals thought The Marvels was just another mediocre offering from a studio that previously made top-notch blockbusters.
Lori C
Lori C. is an entertainment writer who studied Film and Television at University. She watches and reviews films and series from most genres, but some of her favourites include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, The Handmaid’s Tale, Westworld, and True Blood.
