From the very second this film was announced, I could’ve predicted how this film was going to perform. Nothing about this film screamed box office success from the cast, to the property, to the director, even to the studio on the whole. The marketing didn’t make it feel anything particularly special, and made it just feel relatively predictable, and like films we have now seen countless times.
After Adam is sent to Earth to escape from Skeletor as a child, 15 years later Adam is looking for his sword. Once he tracks it down, he is now able to return to his home, and help the people overthrow Skeletor who has destroyed Eternia, and is desperate for the power of the gods.
Contrary to my initial thoughts on what the film was going to be, once word of mouth started to spread that the film was pretty decent, I reminded myself that director Travis Knight had already delivered us a couple of really fun films. Knight’s previous work of Kubo and the Two Strings, and Bumblebee are really enjoyable films, fully understanding the tone and delivering a good time, anyone watching can enjoy some aspect of it at the very maximum, no matter the age.
Nicholas Galitzine feels like someone that Hollywood want to make a leading man, but has yet to find the perfect role for him. He has been in a couple of decent films and shows, but I’m yet to see anything that has blown me away particularly. It feels like he’s operating in a similar sphere of roles as the likes of David Corenswet or even Jacob Elordi, and yet doesn’t quite have their level of talent or been given the right chances to show it. I think he does a decent enough job in this role of He-Man, as much as I think anyone could with the script he’s got to work with.
Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee, Dave Callaham, Alex Litvak and Michael Finch. 6 people were all given writing credits for the film in different capacities. I think that’s likely due to the amount of time this film was probably in production for. It’s striking how when there are typically more writers on the film that it becomes less original. There are many similarities with the likes of Thor and Star Wars, which isn’t a bad thing those formulas work for a reason, but don’t help push it into being anything special that standouts in a very crowded summer movie season.
The supporting cast did an okay job. I’ve seen a lot of Camila Mendes down the years thanks to being someone that watched all of Riverdale for some reason, she’s produced some good performances for streaming films but has yet to break out of that TV mould, similar to her Riverdale costars. She manages at least to match Galitzine in this one, which is the bare minimum, and does an okay job when paired with Idris Elba, who plays her character’s dad. Elba is a funny one, he left the MCU after his character was killed of in Avengers: Infinity War, and was seemingly frustrated that he never got a bigger role in the MCU, since then he has tried to become part of a franchise with his role in The Suicide Squad, and even popping up in Hobbs and Shaw in the Fast and Furious universe, never fully being able to get the long term role he seems to be after. He’s never bad in any of them, just seems to be unlucky more than anything, and not getting the right projects.
Perhaps the biggest surprise, is that this is the first time since Blade Runner 2049 that I’ve enjoyed a film with Jared Leto in. Yes, this film has Jared Leto in, something you wouldn’t know if you had seen any marketing for the film. Leto voices the antagonist of the film, Skeletor. A character, arguably more iconic than He-Man himself. The character of Skeletor might be the best part of the film, we often get forgettable villains in these types of films, and yes it helps that it’s a name we know already. But what is absolutely nailed is the tone of what Skeletor is and should be. They don’t go down the dark, serious avenue for him, when they easily could’ve, but keep the fun of not just the character but the universe it takes place in, giving him multiple laugh out loud moments.
Overall, Masters of the Universe is a fun film, but struggles from being fairly generic in what is a very crowded summer blockbuster season. With The Mandalorian and Grogu out a couple of weeks ago, Toy Story 5, Minions and Spider-Man: Brand New Day all around the corner for films that will get families in the cinema, it felt inevitable this film would crash out, even if it was fun. I’m sure it’s one that will pick up when it hits streaming, I’d love to see a sequel to this because I do think it could grow, but with this box office performance it’s extremely unlikely.
What did you think of Masters of the Universe?
Let me know in the comments below, or on social media @floodersfilms!
Flooders Films 
Leave a comment