Captain Marvel: Formula Fatigue

Captain Marvel did all the things necessary to set up this character for her grand return in Avengers Endgame. This was the standard origin film that could have been a phase 1 film in the MCU and wouldn’t miss a beat. The visuals for the most part were good but the cgi did get noticeably weaker in the third act. The score felt unoriginal and forgettable. Coming off a very strong score that Black Panther provided for the character, it was surprising that this one was as unmemorable as it was, especially considering that it was her first appearance. In terms of acting, everyone did a good job and it was definitely cool to see Coulson back on the big screen. This film was basically felt like a mashup between the first GoTG and the first Ant-Man

Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

Once again something that pulls the MCU back from truly producing exceptional films as opposed to just good films that are bogged down by formula, is the unnecessary need to shoe horn in one liners or quips that may have passed as fun in the first 10 mcu films but at film 21 it’s starting to get old and is holding these films back. A big reason why Infinity War, Black Panther and Winter Soldier stand above the rest is because when it needed to be serious it got serious and didn’t force tension breakers. Some of the jokes were kind of funny but many other scenes that didn’t warrant a joke had one forced in, instead of letting the film have a sincere moment. Overall the film does its job, which is to get you excited for the future of Captain Marvel in the MCU and especially Endgame. 

Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

Two post credit scenes. The mid credit scene was awesome, and the post credit was anything but. Not nearly as bad as Ant Man & The Wasp’s post credit scene which may be the worst in the mcu but this one was up there. The film also had some editing issues and certain plot points that were teased at in earlier MCU films, ie: what happened to Fury’s eye, were straight up thrown away and completely wasted for the sake of, you guessed it, another joke, it was actually disappointing. A sequel to the plot of this film was set up, but it in a way is forcing itself to be another film in the past, pre her endgame appearance, logically it would be strange if they that these plot points somehow weren’t resolved in the 20 year span between CM and Avengers. Not really a big deal and isn’t affecting my score but just something it got me thinking about.

Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

All in all this film does get me excited for Captain Marvel’s future in the MCU and above all has me stoked for Endgame. But as for the film itself, it was average following the “marvel formula” to a tee and thus preventing it from truly standing out from the crowd. I struggled to keep myself awake throughout.