Matt Konopka reviews the new ‘Masters of the Universe’, a bloated fantasy adventure that relies on nostalgia but delivers cartoonish fun.
Created back in the early 80s, Mattel developed He-Man to become the next popular action figure. It worked. The barbarian from planet Eternia, paired with a sword that grants him god-like powers via the power of Castle Greyskull, became a hit. Multiple comics, animated series, and feature films followed. It’s important to understand that the character was derived as a toy for kids, because that’s exactly what the new Masters of the Universe reboot delivers. A campy, childish, dumb yet kind of fun fantasy adventure that doesn’t have the power of, say, another Mattel property adaptation (cough, Barbie, cough), but will satisfy the most diehard fans.
Directed by Travis Knight (Bumblebee), this new iteration of He-Man finds Adam/He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) stranded on Earth after narrowly escaping an attack by skull-faced villain, Skeletor (Jared Leto) on his home planet, Eternia. Adam was sent to Earth with a sword that has the power to bring him back home. The only issue is that he lost it all those years ago. All grown up and working in human resources, Adam finally discovers his sword in, where else, a comic shop. Within minutes, he’s whisked away by childhood friend, Teela (Camila Mendes), and taken back to an Eternia that has crumbled under the grip of Skeletor. Back home and reunited with old allies, Adam unlocks the power of the sword, turning him into the god-like He-Man. Together, he and Eternia’s heroes plan to crush Skeletor into dust, once and for all.
More aligned with the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe 1983 animated series, Knight’s Masters revels in the nostalgia of what we 80s kids experienced growing up. We find that drawings of Eternia’s heroes are plastered all over Adam’s apartment bedroom. Much like drawings of He-Man and the other characters filled fans’ notebooks. Having only ever witnessed them in battle but never really knowing them as a kid, Adam idolizes the people that he saw fight for his kingdom and stand for good. He’s a big kid who never really grew up, a lot like any of us who still talk about Masters like we’re that child watching it for the first time. The film even opens on Adam spoiling a date by ranting about Eternia. He-Man, he’s just like us.
Personally, I’m not a fan of films that prioritize nostalgia over good storytelling, but nostalgia is one of the few powers this Masters has. It relies heavily on fan excitement over things like seeing He-Man’s talking tiger, Cringer, while not giving the beast much of anything to do. Self-referential jokes abound, such as poking fun at how the cartoon characters would always break out laughing over just about anything. Adam, at one point, wonders why Skeletor pursues evil, to which Teela merely replies that the guy has a skull for a face, what else would he be but evil? Any time the iconic theme rises—and oh, does it rip—the inner Masters fan starts cheering, and it doesn’t matter that the film is almost pure exposition and one-liners. Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever, let’s hear Adam say he has the power one more time.
Though I’d argue the actors don’t have much to work with—including actual sets, since they’re almost always surrounded by green-screen—the cast all bring a charm as glowing as He-Man’s sword. Mendes lights up the screen with a captivating fearlessness. Idris Elba as Adam’s mentor, Duncan, plays the cliché-yet-effective father figure who lost himself after failing to protect Eternia but seeks to reclaim what he lost. Galitzine proves to have muscle-y charisma, putting him up there with guys like Channing Tatum, who can make you laugh while beating you up. And, as much as I’m not a Jared Leto admirer, I can’t deny that he’s one of the better elements of the film as a sassy Skeletor who embodies the iconic meme of the cartoon character shaking his fists. There’s never a dull moment when the skeletal villain is parading on screen, demanding servants like sorceress, Evil-Lyn (an always entertaining Alison Brie), laugh maniacally with him.
Speaking of, the wink-wink, hey, remember this, nature of the comedy gets real exhausting real fast if you aren’t fully into what Masters is selling. In that sense, it’s a lot like your average Marvel movie. Bloated. Joke-y. Never taking itself seriously at the expense of any real drama at the heart of it all. At times, I felt like one of Skeletor’s henchmen as he stared at me with those red eyes, daring me not to laugh. Not to say that no jokes land—some had me cackling like Skeletor himself—but many just come off as trying too hard.
Oddly enough, my favorite thing about Knight’s Masters isn’t the silly antics or Skeletor’s appreciation for He-Man’s thick thighs. No, what I cheered for was the film’s message that brawn alone does not make might. In this version, Adam starts off as a skinny little weakling pushed around by everyone. His father pummels concepts of being a man into the boy, believing that if he can’t fight, he’s worthless. Kids saw the muscle-bound He-Man on TV and believed that was what a real man was supposed to look like. Like Dolph Lundgren from the 1987 film. And sure, Galitzine looks the part. Yet he brings a softness to the role, an understanding of others, and even a willingness to try to talk to Skeletor rather than smash his skull in.
Obviously, that won’t appeal to some audiences, but it’s not about them. It’s about teaching the next generation of young men that muscles don’t make you a man. Supporting those you love does. So does respecting others. And having basic human empathy, yep, that does too. So, while I may not have adored the film overall, Galitzine and his He-Man represent a new wave of action heroes that are near opposites to their 80s counterparts. They’ll beat the crap out of you, but only after trying to handle the situation like real men first, without senseless fighting. We can never have enough of that kind of anti-toxic masculinity on screen. That matters for kids who are still discovering who they want to be, and Masters earns the tip of my cap for it.
The fantasy camp of something like Flash Gordon coupled with the bloated fan service of your average Marvel movie, Knight’s Masters of the Universe is a film made by fans for fans. If you’re a hardcore He-Man head with a replica of the sword sitting in a display case somewhere, you’re likely going to have a good time with a film that (mostly) feels just like the cartoon. If not, well, I doubt it will have the same power over you. But, despite the flaws, I can’t say it isn’t an entertaining enough time at the movies that kids and fans alike will enjoy. Grab yourself the Masters popcorn bucket, sit down, and experience a live-action Saturday morning cartoon on the big screen that asks you to do nothing more than have some lighthearted fun with He-Man and co.
Masters of the Universe brings the power to theaters on June 5th via Amazon MGM Studios.
