REEL | 'Masters of the Universe' Summons the Power!

"The universe shall quake in my shadow!"

Amazon MGM Studios / Mattel Studios

Mattel's blockbuster live-action adaptation of the once-popular 1980s toy line and accompanying animated series stars the affable Nicholas Galitzine as the powerful He-Man, Prince of Eternia, with a fierce Camila Mendes as Teela, his "Warrior Goddess" sidekick. Laika co-founder Travis Knight's kinetic direction moves the sword and sorcery action forward in a propulsive manner. However, its overabundance of violent fantasy combat stretches the wholly unnecessary two-hour and twenty-minute runtime.

There's more than enough jam-packed, dizzying action clearly inspired by mashing action figures together, set in a magical realm full of cyborgs, talking tigers, mystical swords, and a skull-faced villain in Jared Leto's maniacally cartoonish but appropriately named Skeletor. Surrounding Galitzine, familiar names like Idris Elba, who notably co-starred in the similarly themed Thor franchise, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin, Sasheer Zamata, and others provide more grounding to the rollercoaster ride of a film.

Masters of the Universe very much resembles a live-action Saturday morning cartoon filled with both exhilarating visuals and self-mocking comedy about its own existence. It's goofy fun that's overstuffed with colourful imagery and imaginative nonsense aimed mostly at grown children who are now adults. While mostly entertaining throughout, the film adaptation struggles to simultaneously escape and acknowledge its silly but nostalgic source material.


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