After the massive critical and boxoffice success of Barbie in 2023, Mattel is determined to turn more of its billions in toy money into real boxoffice gold. Masters of the Universe is the first presentation under Mattel Studios, and demmit, it’s another winner.
At the heart of this universe is a fusion of fun, action-oriented fantasy and comedy just like the 1980s cartoon . It embraces camp and celebrates nostalgia just as it speaks the language of today.
Several factors were at work here to make this version more satisfying than the 1987 Golan-Globus production featuring Dolph Lundgren.
First, a character-driven story from actor-writer Chris Butler that acknowledges the source material is an irreverent children’s cartoon made to sell action figures. Next, director Travis Knight (of the Academy-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings) keeps the movie highly watchable by peppering it with self-awareness and colorful goofiness. As Prince Adam and He-Man, Nicholas Galitzine pivots from mushy to muscular. He comfortably carries the film, though tbf the script demands little dramatic weight. Visually, the world-building of Eternia looked like it was a cross between Avatar, Dungeons & Dragons and a little bit of Rey-era Star Wars. Did the film hit all the marketing points aimed at the target young boys demographic? It sure feels like it.
Day in and day out, Adam Glenn (Galitzine) thinks about nothing else but to find his missing sword so that he can return to his magical world, Eternia. That’s what he tells his roommate (Christian Vunipola), that’s his preoccupation at work in Human Resources, that’s what he tells his dates. A world where magic happens, talking animals and brave warriors. However, his HR manager, Suzie (Sasheer Zamata), dismisses it as an unhealthy, nerdy fixation, while others simply think he’s crazy.
an anonymous text tips him off: someone found his sword. It sits inside a comic book store, gripped by the statue of Vikor (a nod to the origins of He-Man.) The physically clumsy Adam snatches it and flees, only for police to arrest him at his home the next day. Poor Adam just wants to go home. While physical comedy may not be Galitzine’s strongest suit, the role successfully utilizes his ability to play a clumsy, gentle giant.
En route to the police station, a giant Beast Man (voiced by Gary Martin) wreaks havoc on the freeway, hunting for the sword still in Adam’s possession. Teela (Camila Mendes) springs from nowhere to rescue Adam, whisking him away to Eternia. There, Teela explains that the planet has deteriorated in his absence. The evil Skeletor (Jared Leto) has devastated the world, and he now covets the Sword of Power to rule their side of the universe.
Teela takes Adam to an underground city, where he is reunited with the warriors of the royal palace who naturally don’t recognize him. He also runs into a drunken Duncan (Idris Elba), the former Man-At-Arms general who trained Adam during his childhood.
Unfortunately, Skeletor’s minions, led by a scene-stealing Trap Jaw (Sam C. Wilson), track them down. The ensuing escape forces Adam to wield the sword and utter the magical phrase, transforming him into the warrior hero He-Man. The sequence mirrors an anime “magical girl” transformation, complete with blinding light, body morphing, and costume assembly, all punctuated by a POV shot of Adam admiring his new, glorious abs. Suddenly, he possesses fantastic fighting coordination and total invulnerability to guns and swords.
A few more action set pieces through Eternia’s rainbow-colored forest as well as in Skeletor’s lair Snake Mountain, Adam is subdued after an emotional reunion with this father Randor, the former King of Eternia (James Purefoy.) Skeletor takes the sword of power, but it won’t work for him uness he takes it to Castle Grayskull, says Evil-Lyn (hamming it way up Alison Brie). Luckily, Leto understood the assignment, and gave us the insult-spewing goofy Skeletor minus the squeaky voice.
Thanks to his HR training, Adam rouses the rest of the captives and heroes to escape the dungeons, and the heroes finally make a last effort to stop Skeletor. A rousing battle ensues, set to the rock n’ roll tune of “Eternia” by composer Daniel Pemberton, with electric guitars by the legendary Brian May of Queen. It’s so 1980s and WWE-coded. Speaking of coded, there’s tons of gay-coded double-entendres in the film that are mostly hilarious, parents be advised if your male child starts asking questions.
Two more ladies complete the cast, even though they are barely on screen. Charlotte Riley plays Adam’s mother Queen Marlena, and Morena Baccarin who plays the mysterious Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. The Sorceress guided Adam to his destiny, while Queen Marlena was responsible for hiding Adam on Earth. As fans of the cartoons already know, Marlena was an astronaut from Earth who got marooned in Eternia and eventually married the king.
In the end, we get a rousing, witty, colorful, and cartoonish piece of escapism that gladly, doesn’t bother to take real-world issues into its goofy world. And yes, the message about true power coming from within is welcome, given that the audience includes young, impressionable boys. A muscle-bound superhero speaking against machismo at at time when male supremacy is being preached by podcast bros and looksmaxxers. Didn’t expect any progressive ideas from an Amazon property, but here we are.
Remember, a true master of the universe can definitely make a spectacular comeback. Until we meet Adam and the rest of the gang again. (Which means, stay to the very end of the end credits.)
Masters of the Universe is out in cinemas now June 3rd.
Images and trailer from Columbia Pictures Philippines.
I saw this film in remembrance of my little nephew Jerome who was very fond of this show. It was his favorite. Jerome passed away a long time ago at the age of seven, during the lowest and most challenging times in our family. This one’s for you, Ogie. You absolutely would have enjoyed seeing this. Say hi to everyone up there in Eternia.
Leave a Reply