Despite the connotations a franchise where the lead character is unironically named “He-Man” may have, Masters of the Universe is not some self-serious slog fest. The adaptation of the toys-turned-cartoon instead joins the ranks of knowing IP films that play on nostalgia to serve up something fun and a little meaningful in a candy-coated shell.
Directed by Travis Knight, the story follows Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine), who was sent away from Eternia as a child to Earth. Fifteen years later, he must recover his Sword of Power to find his way back and save the kingdom from the rule of the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto).
The toughest stretch of the movie is the beginning, which covers Adam’s origin story and the mythology of Eternia. It’s earnest despite the bonkers fantastical elements and feels more like a children’s story, which isn’t a bad thing, but doesn’t jibe with the more winking humor and action in the rest of the film.
Once you realize Adam is telling all this backstory as an adult to his very concerned date in Kansas City, the movie really starts.
Galitzine is charming as the well-meaning, but not quite yet heroic Adam, whose time on Earth has made him less of a warrior and more of… a guy who works in HR and spends all his time looking up swords. He’s joined on his journey by royal guard Teela (Camila Mendes) and her father Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba).
Mendes gets the sometimes thankless straight woman role to Adam’s himbo-ness, but her fierce warrior will also be enjoyed by fans. Elba’s Duncan will be something fans of the show may not expect. Let’s just say the years have not treated him kindly.
Leto goes full camp as Skeletor, whose Shakespearean accent and undisguised thirst for Adam’s muscles lean into the zaniest version of the already zany cartoon villain. As the movie points out, he has a skull for a face; you can’t expect him to be anything other than an irredeemable villain!
The film’s framing, of Adam remembering Eternia through a child’s eyes, helps explain away some of the sillier aspects of the toys, like the crude character names, and opens viewers to accepting things as they are.
There is a heavy reliance on CGI to build the world of Eternia and its fantastical creatures (though some practical make-up effects are also clearly used), but unlike some other recent blockbusters, the CGI actually looks good. The artists embrace rather than try to hide that this is based on a wacky cartoon where giant talking tigers and swords are used alongside cannon guns and space ships.
Daniel Pemberton’s original score performed by guitarist Brian May adds zip to the film along with some well-timed needle drops of popular tracks.
The humor is reminiscent of another 80s franchise turned live-action film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. If you enjoyed that film without a personal connection to the material, you’ll probably enjoy Masters of the Universe as well.
At 2 hours and 20 minutes, the film does stretch long at times, and the battles can get repetitive in attempting to make full use of the arsenal of various royal guard warriors known to fans.
Much like Mattel’s last smash hit Barbie, there’s a lesson crammed in this story to hit you over the head with the full power of Grayskull. Adam’s muscles may make him a hero on the outside, but it’s his inner traits that make him the true champion of Eternia.
Maybe not the most original message, but spend more than 10 minutes on the internet, and you’ll realize it’s one we still need.
Masters of the Universe premieres in theaters on June 5.