Streaming on Amazon Prime
One thing about modern Hollywood that still bothers me is its abandonment of being comfortable with silliness. Rather than allow a particular project to simply be weird or unusual, producers (and some screenwriters) often demand that such properties be treated with irony and ridicule rather than allow the creators to let loose and have fun. In some cases, like Michael Bay's Transformers, they try to insert darker and more "grown up" themes and elements to make the silly thing appear more adult than it needs to be.
Masters of the Universe, a nostalgic property from the 1980s, is a grand example of something that needs to be silly to be properly enjoyed!
For those who may not know or would like a quick refresher, Masters of the Universe was a cartoon show set in a fantastical world (Eternia), combining elements of fantasy, science fiction, adventure, and moral-driven storytelling of good vs. evil. Like many cartoon shows at the time, its primary purpose was to sell toys and merchandise. Still, like many other shows of the time, it managed to surpass its commercial intentions, and become a fun and engaging show with memorable characters, grand adventures, and occasionally clever stories that were more mature and nuanced than expected. It is also the source of that infamous internet meme featuring the song "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes.
This IP was adapted into a feature film before in 1987, starring Dolph Lundgren as the hero (He-Man) and Frank Langella as the villain (Skeletor), and it may very well be his greatest and most enjoyable over-the-top performance of his career; other actors dream of hamming it up as much as he did!
This brand new adaptation, courtesy of director Travis Knight, late of Bumblebee (the one good Transformers movie) and Paranorman (the greatest stop-motion film ever made, and not for the reason you think), is probably the closest we may ever get to a studio-produced product, that embraces as much of the inherent silliness from the source material as possible. While it is not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, and it is abundantly clear that it went through some challenging growing pains (as evidenced by the number of screenwriters attached), it is still a fun and enjoyable mess with just enough charm to forgive its flaws. Also, let's be real, it deserves bonus points for punching Jared Leto in the face, however symbolically!
The story follows Prince Adam/He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) of the fantastical kingdom of Eternia, who has been living in hiding on Earth after the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto) stages a coup d'état and takes over the kingdom. Adam was sent away with Eternia's most powerful weapon, the Sword of Power, but lost it in transit to his temporary home. Adam spends the next fifteen years living his life, holding onto the memories of his true home, and searching for the sword so he may finally return to Eternia, and save his family. Soon enough, Adam finds the sword and gets swept away back to the desolate Eternia, and must now reconnect with his true inner strength to take down Skeletor, and reclaim his true home.
What makes this film so charming, at least to me, is how it does its best to be a story about the importance of fantastical ideas in a modern world that's dominated (at least perceptively) by overwhelming cynicism; as if having dreams and being empathetic are things to be scoffed at and discarded in reality. While I argue that this kind of message was done significantly better in last year's Superman movie, I appreciate the effort presented in this new iteration of another childhood classic.
Having said that, it must be said that the film is, regrettably, disjointed and a bit messy.
The script feels like it went through a series of arguments between too many writers fighting over what story to tell. Every so often you can see where the movie went from being one kind of story to another, without any real connective tissue binding them together. While some effort was made to at least incorporate all of the different ideas the various writers had in mind, it doesn't make for an experience as compelling as it wants to be; the occasional bits of wit and inside jokes could only go so far to cover the makeshift patchwork. Not to mention the less-than-stellar dialogue choices that are, at times, a bit too on the nose for their own good.
On the bright side, the action scenes are pretty fun, everyone's performances are appropriately delivered, the VFX is top notch, and the production and costume designs are spectacularly true to the source material. Also, Idris Elba absolutely kills it as Duncan Man-At-Arms!
While this new movie adaptation of one of my beloved childhood properties isn't quite as polished as it should have been, and the themes of toxic masculinity and the power of empathy are always appreciated and worth exploring, it has enough charm and good will on its side to warrant a curious viewing. If nothing else, I would not mind it if director Travis Knight got to make more movies of other fondly remembered 80s cartoon shows; Thundercats anyone?
Good for a laugh and unironic positive affirmation of the things that made our childhood entertainment fun. Give it a shot.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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