'Masters of the Universe' Review: A Candy-Coated, Cosmic Blast
After years in development hell, ‘Masters Of The Universe’ is finally hitting theaters from director Travis Knight and this new iteration is worth the wait, delivering a candy-coated cosmic adventure that is sure to entertain passionate fans and non-fans alike.
‘Masters of the Universe’ centers on a Adam (Nicholas Galitzine), a young man who was separated from his parents at birth in his world of Eternia. After spending fifteen years on Earth, he finally is able to find the sword of power, a weapon imbued with magic that allows him to travel back home at last. Unfortunately, Eternia isn’t what it once was, now ruled by the sinister Skeletor (Jared Leto). It’s up to Adam and his fellow Eternian warriors to take back their home once and for all. Rounding out the impressive cast is Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin, and James Purefoy.
A remake of this beloved property simply isn’t complete without its He-Man and thankfully director Travis Knight has chosen the perfect fit for the revered character. Galitzine not only is able to physically embody the role, but is also able to make Adam a highly likable and endearing character who is easy to root for throughout. He’s charming, goofy, but more importantly heroic when the situation calls for it, showcasing his gravitas and physical prowess to impressive effect during the film’s many dizzying set pieces. He’a able to portray Adam’s deep insecurities and imposter syndrome, especially when he wields the power for the first time, allowing the audience to see a man who is far more human than god. Fortunately, the rest of the supporting cast also understood the assignment.
Everyone in this talented cast embraces the source material wholeheartedly, resulting in performances that are all pitch-perfect. Mendes makes for a magnetic heroine in Teela, a childhood friend of Adam’s who not only has the duty of reorienting him with current state of Eternia, but has to look after and care for her father Duncan, a drunken, washed up former warrior for the king played with wonderful grit by Elba. Mendes and Galitzine have palpable chemistry, making for a central duo that is deeply entertaining to watch as their will they, won’t they dynamic takes shape. However, Leto walks away with the film as Skeletor, essentially inhaling the scenery and relishing every juicy line of dialogue like a dog drooling at the food bowl. He’s able to balance the goofiness and fearsome nature of the iconic villain, keeping the audience on their toes, unable to predict what he will do or say next. He fully understands the appeal of the character and is truly a joy to watch here.
Then there’s the visuals which do not remotely disappoint in the slightest. Knight makes the wise choice to embrace the cheesiness of the IP instead of trying to run and hide from it. The scope of the film is suitably massive, drenched in color and earnest eighties nostalgia. Knight’s direction is superb, handling the action set pieces with a deft, playful and assured hand, staging and shooting every high octane sequence with notable visual panache and gusto. The camerawork is dynamic and propulsive, feeling like a character in and of itself, complimented by mostly fantastic visual effects work and production design. The cherry on top is Daniel Pemberton’s phenomenal score, which not only suits the material like a glove, but is easily one of the film’s highlights. Simply put, fans looking for their heavy servings of blockbuster entertainment won’t leave the theater disappointed.
However, the film’s sharpest weapon in its arsenal is its heart, which Knight wields with the power of Grayskull throughout its beefy two hour plus runtime. This is a fantasy film that wears its heart openly on its sleeve, unafraid to enter territory that some may find to be cheesy in order to flesh out its characters and central relationships. Knight’s world building is fantastic, able to establish the core characters and mythology in a way that will not only please fans, but acclimate those unacquainted with the source material. The film’s messaging about rebelling against conformity and embracing who one is for better or worse is well-treaded territory, but it’s delivered with such sincere warmth and joy that it’s incredibly effective. The film is able to toe the line between heart and brawn effortlessly, making for a blockbuster that is as heartwarming as it is crowd-pleasing.
Unfortunately, this genre film does suffer from some issues that hold it back considerably. The first act of the film is extremely clunky, feeling wobbly and unsure of itself out of the gate, the tone imbalanced as it leans far too heavily into lackluster humor. Once it finds its footing and voice in the second act, it never looks back and becomes a vibrant knockout. Then there’s the humor, which is scattershot to say the least. While there are some jokes that certainly work and earn some solid laughs, many fail to hit the mark and land with an audible thud. Many of the jokes feel lazy and repetitive, causing many scenes to feel awkward as they shortchange some of the film’s most potent dramatic moments on several occasions. With some tweaks on the page, these issues could’ve been mitigated and ultimately resolved.
‘Masters of the Universe’ rightfully embraces what fans loved so fervently about the animated show and live-action film, leaning into the cosmic zaniness of the material instead of shying away from it. This electric cast with Knight’s steady hand behind the wheel are able to deliver a fantasy film that delivers a heavy dose of summer entertainment that introduces He-Man to a whole new generation in a way that is immensely exciting and accessible. This remake has the power, plenty of it, but let’s just hope that this isn’t the last time audiences get to experience Eternia and all the wonders that come along with it.