REVIEW: THE MARVELS

3.5/5

The Marvellous.

105 Mins. Starring: Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton, Gary Lewis, Park Seo-joon, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh & Samuel L. Jackson. Director: Nia DaCosta. In: Theatres.

In the same double-heading weekend that we see the season and maybe series as a whole finale of the great 'Loki' on Disney +, Marvel also give us 'The Marvels' in theatres. Marvellous right? A three-way sequel to 'Captain Marvel' and the 'Ms. Marvel' and 'WandaVision' shows across the streams. Tell that to the haters, who are somewhere between Scorsese when it comes to superhero movies, and all those 'The Little Mermaid' haters who would rather see a fella with fins than another female-fronted movie of girl power in all its spice. Hey, Marvel, Disney and even Studio Ghibli have been doing it for decades, it's only recently that the studios have played catch-up like a box-tick. We love this women in Marvel part III like the sisterhood of Haim. As for the superhero stuff, it's crazy to think that some say the M.C.U. has lost its way in the same weekend they conclude a classic. Sure, this movie like 'Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania' is more fair to middling, than it is fantastic and mesmerizing, but that's no slight. It's neither no better nor worse than most Marvel movies. Marvel still know how to make a movie, even if there is a lot of them like Sinatra songs for the great American comic-book. Like the Hollywood story of King James for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, it just seems these days that trolls on the internet want to change the history book narrative for greatness that's still not peaking in their respective 30s.  

Higher. Further. Faster...together. Make 'Room' for Brie Larson, as the electric and eclectic Oscar winner is back with a bang at the same time she's cooking up an Emmy nomination for her 'Lessons In Chemistry', but save those stay in the kitchen gross gags. Her 2019 (WHAT?!) 'Marvel' movie of 90s nostalgia changed the game, albeit a little late after DC got their first with their 'Wonder Woman'. Yet, it seems Larson is lassoing the hate these days like Gal Gadot. But just like that modern-day icon, Brie ain't for all that cheese, repelling it with a formidable forcefield as the strongest Avenger not called Renner. The unofficial fourth Haim sister brings it here like she does with her vocal talents on social-media. Even getting to sing and dance with 'Itaewon Class' South Korean superstar Park Seo-joon (we want to see more of his world) on the studio that shares a home in the same castle as 'Beauty and the Beast'. She's got the perfect sidekick in the maverick cat of a top gunning Goose (word to the Anthony Edwards that helps patients in the 'ER', not the one who cripples people in the NBA...although we love his 'Hustle' too), who on her shoulder, steals the show again and even assembles his own team of felines. You've seen that promotion coughed-up under the dome right? Best snow globe ever! This Batman and Robin at your front-door through the cat-flap are then Jolie interrupted by a new big-three to form like Voltron. After her inspired 'WandaVision' origin story nobody could hex, 'If Beale Street Could Talk' and 'They Cloned Tyrone' star Teyonah Parris with an Eiffel of towering emotion enthrals us. The new "Rambo" (spelt, "Rambeau") in this first blood in need of a name. One given to her-copyright permitting-by 'Ms. Marvel' herself, an inspired Iman Vellani stealing the show again like she did with her own young Avenging one to the tune of that mutant academy guitar.

This Marvel means we'll still keep it in the family, and it's great to welcome Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur and Saagar Shaikh back to your front-door with helpings of humour and heart. But in 'Candyman' remake Nia DaCosta's cross-comic team-up, the dynamic director has a lot of toys to play with out of her candy box as the old switcheroo leads to some amazing action set-pieces that are set to stun from space, directly to your living room that you shouldn't Disney + wait for...even if that's what I admit to doing with most Disney movies even in this 100-year anniversary. This is one entanglement you can get with after August. More than holding her hammer own in the wake of Ronan the Accuser, and in the same weekend her husband to be Tom Hiddleston gives us 'Loki', 'Fresh Meat's' Zawe Ashton gives us a formidable foe for just another manic Monday with these bangles. And if that wasn't enough for your Kree creed of Marvel Cinematic Universe families, 'Billy Elliott' and 'Gangs Of New York' actor Gary Lewis continues the crown of the Skrulls after the criminally underrated 'Secret Invasion' summer series. Speaking of which, of course we have another Marvel movie and of course from S.H.I.E.L.D. to S.A.B.E.R., Samuel L. Jackson is in it, you family guy (just watch Denzel Washington list off the even more countless charities Samuel contributes to). But seeing through his good-eye all action Jackson shooting from the hip is still having the time of his life, whilst those dealing in hate think that's the way they can be happy. "Strong theory!" A beast without the boys as this cinematic universe goes intergalactic, this is funny and forthright. What's not to like as this group gets together in new suits like 'Anchorman'? And just wait until you see what they've got coming next in cameos as classic as the post-credits. These really are marvels. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Captain Marvel', 'Ms. Marvel', 'WandaVision'.