Marvelous

So The Marvels is out now, another MCU movie in a deluge of MCU media so prolific that the initialism MCU no longer needs an explanation. We’re a long way away from 2012 when the whole idea of a Marvel Cinematic Universe seemed like a long shot that paid off with The Avengers.  But that central conceit — these are movies (and now TV shows) that relate to each other and form an interconnected world — has become, in my ways, the franchise’s millstone. Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness was fun, but it was also predicated on you having seen Wandavision to know why Scarlet Witch, who was last seen in the movies fighting Thanos alongside the Avengers, is now the big bad. You had to do your homework, otherwise you’re left in the cold.

To be fair, this isn’t always the case. Loki works even if you’re not totally caught up on it all — it’s a fun little sci-fi show doing its sci-fi thing — but since there’s this promise of interconnectivity, there’s this expectation that you know enough going into it for you to get the most out of it. You’re watching the sequel to a movie, except that first movie was several, several movies and a television show or two. At first blush, it seems like Marvels is the sort with homework: it’s a sequel to Captain Marvel, Wandavision, and Ms. Marvel (two tv shows and a movie).

But then The Marvels decides to go The Avengers route. The movie takes time during its first act to introduce each character, giving us just enough backstory for each one so we know who they are and what they want. From there, the movie goes on its way, moving at a delightfully quick pace as it throws these characters together, gives them a bad guy, and lets them learn to work together to save the day. It’s shaggy around the edges and some aspects don’t feel nearly as fleshed out as they should be, but overall it’s a delight and, like Loki before it, feels refreshingly self-contained.

The movie has a decided ending that wraps up its story and brings the character arcs to a conclusion. There’s a teaser for what’s to come, but it’s very much a teaser and not a dangling thread. But more than anything, the movie’s fun. It’s not trying to reinvent the Marvel formula, it’s just trying to have fun. And it’s fun, it’s light, and it’s a reminder that if these stories are your speed, there are still fun ones out there.