While watching “Masters of the Universe,” the next attempt at a summer blockbuster after “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” I had shifting thoughts going through my head.
At times, I’d be enjoying the bizarreness of it all, courtesy of ‘80s-era Mattel. The planet Eternia! Castle Grayskull! The Sword of Power! Not to mention, characters with names like Skeletor, He-Man, Fisto, Ram-Man, Meckaneck and Evil-Lyn.
A very young Prince Adam (aka He-Man) is sent to Earth by the Sorceress of Eternia to protect him as Grayskull comes under attack. Now grown up and known as Adam Glenn of Oklahoma, he constantly scours the internet for the Sword of Power from behind the desk of his human resources job. Said sword would be his ticket to back to his home planet.
“Masters of the Universe” features a grand home and stronghold that looks like a fanged skull, magic and spells, but also modern ships, and high-tech battle armor, some impractical costumes for combat, and characters designed with not much rhyme or reason but with a lot of imagination and humor. The silliness can be lots of fun, until it gets tiresome.
I can see Gen X and the oldest millennials going for the nostalgia factor, but I’m not sure if this would appeal to Gen Z or Alpha without that familiarity for the franchise.
Nicholas Galitzine is up to the task at Prince Adam, and Idris Elba (as Man-at-Arms) once again shows us how he can sometimes be in his own world offering class and gravitas in the oddest places.
There are a few thoughts in the movie about the role of empathy when it comes to exhibiting true strength and power. Some comparisons have been made with 2023’s Mattel movie, “Barbie” — however, the few bursts of insights on masculinity are overshadowed by the camp and chaos.
“Barbie” went on to become one of the highest earning movies in history. The opening weekend box office numbers won’t come in yet for “Masters of the Universe” by time this is out, and while the mid and post credits scenes set us up for a sequel, I’m really not sure we’ll get to see Princess Adora or much less Snout Spout, Stinkor, Yukkers, Moss Man or Crita.
In the meantime, the ‘summer’ movies continue their roll out. “Disclosure Day” (Steven Spielberg), “Supergirl,” The Odyssey” (by Christopher Nolan), the live action “Moana,” another “Toy Story” movie, and another “Spider-Man” movie will make their attempts to part movie goers from their cash.