By Ben Wright (@Iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Masters of the Universe follows Prince Adam, a seemingly ordinary young man who is drawn into a conflict that spans worlds when he discovers his connection to the legendary power of He-Man. As ancient forces clash and the fate of Eternia hangs in the balance, Adam must embrace a destiny far bigger than he ever imagined.
My He-Man knowledge is fairly limited. I’ve seen a handful of episodes from the original 1980s cartoon, the 1987 Dolph Lundgren film, and Kevin Smith’s Netflix revival, but I wouldn’t exactly call myself a lifelong fan. So it surprised me just how much the first trailer for Masters of the Universe grabbed me. For a franchise I was only casually invested in, I found myself genuinely excited. And I’m glad I was, because as I sat down at my local Odeon in Derby, I was about to spend two hours watching an action-packed, funny, nostalgic adventure that left me walking out of the cinema with a huge grin on my face.
What we get is a film that fully embraces what Masters of the Universe is. It’s loud, colourful, packed with action, full of heart, and completely unashamed of its roots. The nostalgia is turned up to eleven, but, importantly, it never feels embarrassed by it. It knows exactly what it is and leans into it. The product placement is often hilariously obvious, the cameos are far from subtle, and some of the references are about as delicate as a Battle Ram crashing through a wall. Still, somehow it all fits the tone the film is aiming for.
The biggest thing the film gets right is its self-awareness. It pulls heavily from the toy line, the cartoons, and the wider mythology, embracing all of the wonderfully ridiculous character names, vehicles, creatures, and concepts that come with them. There are multiple moments where it feels like the filmmakers are holding up a mirror to the franchise and saying, “Yes, this is a bit silly, but isn’t that part of why people love it?” Thankfully, it never crosses the line into parody. The jokes land because they’re made with affection rather than mockery. Even some of the more obvious moments work because the film commits to them. A particularly blatant appearance from the movie’s paymaster in the form of an Amazon delivery van should probably have made me roll my eyes, but it somehow felt weirdly charming. The same goes for several nods to the 1987 film, which are handled with enough warmth that they feel more celebratory than cynical.
Story-wise, it’s a fairly familiar fish-out-of-water setup, but thankfully we don’t spend too long on Earth before the adventure properly gets going. Once the story reaches Eternia, the film really comes alive. We visit some fantastic locations, although it definitely feels like we’ve only scratched the surface of what this world has to offer. If the film performs well enough to warrant a sequel, there’s plenty left to explore. The post-credit scene certainly suggests they have bigger plans.
The humour works surprisingly well throughout. At my screening, there were plenty of laughs from both hardcore fans and more casual viewers. As someone sitting somewhere between those two camps, I found myself laughing regularly and smiling through a lot of the action scenes. The comedy never feels forced and, like the nostalgia, knows when to step aside and let the story breathe.
Speaking of the action, one thing the trailers promised was some impressive sword fighting, and for the most part they absolutely delivered. There are several genuinely excellent fight sequences featuring strong choreography and some really impressive long takes. The opening action scene involving Idris Elba in particular sets the tone brilliantly. There are a few moments where the filmmakers speed up the action slightly to emphasise the superhuman strength and speed of the characters. I understand why they did it, but personally I don’t think it was necessary. Thankfully, it’s used sparingly enough that it never becomes distracting. The film also does a good job of balancing those larger action moments with the more comedic and emotional beats. It never feels like it’s rushing from fight to fight just because it can.
The cast all do solid work. Nicholas Galitzine makes for a charismatic lead, and his version of Adam feels distinct from his He-Man persona. His awkwardness and uncertainty as Adam contrast nicely with the confidence and presence he brings once he transforms. He also has surprisingly strong comic timing, which helps keep the character engaging throughout. Camila Mendes is equally enjoyable as Teela. She shares good chemistry with Galitzine and gives the role enough determination and personality to avoid simply becoming a sidekick.
Idris Elba is one of the clear highlights. Whether he’s delivering action scenes, comedy, or emotional moments, he brings a huge amount of energy to the film. Some of my favourite scenes involved him, and he consistently elevates every sequence he’s part of. Alison Brie perhaps feels a little underused as Evil-Lyn, particularly given how talented she is, but she still makes an impression. Kristen Wiig, James Purefoy, and Morena Baccarin all have their moments as well, helping round out a very likeable supporting cast.
Now for the elephant in the room.
When the trailer first dropped, my excitement dipped slightly when I learned Jared Leto had been cast as Skeletor. Fair or unfair, he comes with a certain reputation these days, and given the mixed reception to some of his recent projects, I was a little concerned.
I have absolutely no issue admitting I was wrong.
Leto is genuinely one of the best things about the film. His take on Skeletor feels different from previous versions while still feeling completely right for the character. He captures both the menace and the ridiculousness, but most importantly, he nails the insecurity that sits underneath Skeletor’s constant need for power and validation. His vocal performance gives the character real personality, and several of the film’s most memorable moments belong to him. This version of Skeletor is fantastic.
The music deserves special mention as well because it’s a huge part of what makes the film work. The soundtrack is packed with brilliant song choices that perfectly fit the larger-than-life tone. A new version of Masters of the Universe by The Darkness works brilliantly, while Brian May’s unmistakable guitar work woven into the Eternia theme gives the whole thing a gloriously oversized 80s feel. I wasn’t expecting The Cure to feature as prominently as they do, but one particular arrangement was genuinely excellent and became one of the standout musical moments of the film. Even 4 Non Blondes make an appearance, which feels like a deliberate wink towards the famous “Heyyeyaaeyaaaeyaeyaa Prince Adam internet meme. It’s another example of the film’s self-awareness. Even through the soundtrack, it feels like the filmmakers know exactly what fans remember and aren’t afraid to have fun with it.
As for negatives, there are moments where it feels like a few different versions of Masters of the Universe are competing for space. With four credited writers, that isn’t entirely surprising. Occasionally the tone shifts a little awkwardly between comedy, fantasy adventure, and more serious mythology. Most of the time it works, but there are a few moments where the seams show.
The visual effects are mostly very good, but Cringer is easily the weakest element. He never quite looks convincing, and because characters like Beast Man and the Sorceress’ animal form are generally executed much better, his shortcomings stand out even more. It’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but it is noticeable.
Masters of the Universe is a self-aware, nostalgia-fuelled fantasy adventure that fully embraces the franchise’s campy roots without ever turning into a parody. Packed with fun action, strong performances, big laughs, a fantastic soundtrack, and plenty of heart, it’s the kind of crowd-pleasing blockbuster that simply wants you to have a good time. And honestly, I did. From the opening battle to the final tease of what’s next, this was just a hugely enjoyable trip to Eternia.
X-Geeks 