Captain Marvel

— With 21 Marvel films and scads of Batman, Superman, Spider Man, and Wonder Woman films, to say nothing of Aquaman, Wolverine, X-Men, Hellboy, and even the Incredibles, it’s easy to find a super hero if you want one. I’ve seen most of them and they’ve become about as predictable as Hallmark movies. Recently they’ve gone out of their way for equity and inclusion, but otherwise, the formula’s set and you can almost always find decent acting, a quick pace with lots of special effects, and something to cheer about. “Captain Marvel” ticks off most of the boxes well and was a couple of hours spent that I don’t regret, but it’s not among the top tier of this genre. That’s not to say you shouldn’t see it even if there are enough flashbacks to make you wonder if a little more linear storytelling might be helpful. Brie Larson does an adequate job and, thankfully, the script doesn’t focus on her gender or try to turn the film into a “woman power” statement. Unfortunately, when she’s Carol Danvers instead of Captain Marvel, she’s pretty dull, without the streak of humor or quirkiness that adds interest to "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Ant Man," "Deadpool," "Iron Man, and "Thor." As Captain Marvel, she's a little more interesting, although she often has the look of someone who’s constipated, not someone who’s saving the universe. The standouts in this film are a wonderful cat named Goose (the Flerken), and Annette Bening who’s always a joy to see. There were also times when the music was particularly catchy. If you’re like me and just enjoy these things as entertainment, you’ll like this one too!

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[2019. 124 min. Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. Starring Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, and Annette Bening.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/captain-marvel-2019