The twenty-first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain Marvel, is here after all this time, opening today, March 8th. Set in 1995, this movie is filled with a female empowering storyline, and the perfect amount of 90’s nostalgia that we all love. Starring Brie Larson as Captain Marvel herself, the movie follows Vers (Larson), as a member of Starforce, the Kree’s elite military unit. Vers keeps having recurring nightmares and flashes of a life on Earth that she has no real memory of. Her teacher and mentor, Yon-Rogg (Jude Law) continues trying to teach her to control her emotions in order to control her powers. Funny Mom contributor Devon had the opportunity to attend a prescreening, all opinions are her own. captain marvel review
Brie Larson plays Captain Marvel exactly how you’d want to see; she still experiences her emotions, while also having a tough, tomboy feel to everything, and always being so effortlessly cool. She always makes sure that when she gets knocked down, she gets right back up. Not to mention, there’s no love interest in this film! Not even a speck, which I love. There is absolutely no need for it, as Captain Marvel is so incredibly strong on her own, and the story keeps everyone engaged just fine without it.
Being the first female-led Marvel movie, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect. However, it definitely does not have any sort of “damsel in distress” themes anywhere in the underlying meanings. Carol is always able to get out there and take care of things herself, but she’s not the only tough woman in the movie. Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch) stands alongside Carol as her best friend. In Carol’s time on Earth – or, C-53 as the Kree call it – Maria stands by her side and helps to make all of the nightmares and flashes of memories make sense as Carol figures out who she is meant to be.
The movie also really dives deep into some other familiar faces, such as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), both of which were “anti-aged” seamlessly in order to reflect the 1990’s setting. If you’ve followed along other MCU movies and with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., then you already know that Coulson has an extensive storyline of his own following the events of this film.
Fury, on the other hand, is significantly less “rough around the edges,” and more kind and gentle. Everything he goes through in this movie is still completely new to him, and therefore marks the beginning of something bigger and more adventurous than he could’ve ever imagined before. And let’s be honest, we’ve all been wondering what happened to his eye, right? Well, watch Captain Marvel and you’ll find out!
One of my favorite things about this movie is what I mentioned earlier – the glorious 90’s references everywhere while Carol is on Earth. Blockbuster, telephone booths, even a grunge fashion style accompanied by a grunge-influenced soundtrack, including bands such as No Doubt and Nirvana. I love it.
The entire movie fits in perfectly to the rest of the established MCU, and with just less than two months until Avengers: Endgame comes out, you’ll be more ready than ever once you see Captain Marvel. I know I’m more than ready to see Captain Marvel team up with everybody to get some, y’know… avenging taken care of.
If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, check it out now! And once you’ve finished, pack up the whole Marvel-loving family to go see Captain Marvel in theaters, starting today, March 8th!
