Jared Leto and Alison Brie absolutely rule a spectacular villain side in Masters of the Universe, but weak writing and an annoying hero hold back this 80s nostalgia trip.
I really, truly wanted to love Masters of the Universe. Director Travis Knight clearly understood that assignment on a visual level. From the vibrant, colorful costuming to the massive, retro-futuristic set designs, the film visually channels the exact Saturday-morning-cartoon energy of the 1980s. It looks like the live-action Masters of the Universe film we’ve been waiting decades to see. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for me to realize that beneath that gorgeous, nostalgic armor, the movie simply wasn’t for me.
The biggest tragedy of the film is the massive, irreconcilable gap between the villains and the heroes. While the story falls flat as a whole, I had an absolute blast every single time the camera shifted to the bad guys. Jared Leto’s Skeletor and Alison Brie’s Evil-Lyn are, by an incredibly wide margin, the best things this movie has going for it.
They are campy, menacing, and utterly magnetic. In fact, they almost feel like they are operating in an entirely different, much better movie. The writing for them strikes the perfect balance of 80s theatricality and genuine fun, and their chemistry is so infectious that I would eagerly watch an entire spin-off dedicated solely to their villainous antics.
When the focus shifts back to the hero side, however, everything falls completely flat. The writing for Prince Adam and his crew is incredibly hit-or-miss – and it misses far more than it hits. The script seems obsessed with meta-humor that wears out its welcome almost immediately.
For example, making fun of how absurd the classic character names are is a solid gag the first time around. They are silly names, and leaning into that is a fun nod to the franchise’s roots. But by the third or fourth time the movie makes the exact same joke about someone’s name, the humor evaporates, and it actively ruins what was initially a well-done reference.
This lazy comedic writing extends directly into the characterization of our main hero. Nicholas Galitzine’s Prince Adam spends most of his screen time acting like a bumbling idiot, which quickly transitions from mildly amusing to deeply annoying. To be fair to Galitzine, I don’t think this is a reflection of his acting abilities at all. He is clearly executing the specific, flawed task he was given by the script and direction.
Thankfully, the women of the film are given much more respect on the page, serving as the sole saving grace of the heroic camp. Camila Mendes’ Teela is fantastic, standing out as the only genuinely compelling part of Adam’s team. The female characters are well-written, strong, and highly capable, with Teela routinely taking charge exactly when the situation demands it. It’s just a shame she is anchored to a narrative that feels so hollow.
There is a mid-credit scene that serves up a decent jolt of excitement, but instead of making me hyped for a sequel, it actually left me fearful of what beloved lore they might ruin in the future.
I know plenty of people who genuinely enjoyed this ride, and it will surely find its audience among fans who just want a flashy, nostalgic aesthetic. But for me, the weak writing and lackluster story couldn’t be saved by a coat of 1980s paint. Come for Jared Leto and Alison Brie’s exceptional villain turn, but don’t expect the magic of Grayskull to save the rest of the script.
Rating: 1 out of 5
About Masters of the Universe
In MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, Director Travis Knight brings the legendary franchise back to the big screen in this epic live-action adventure. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
Masters of the Universe comes to theaters everywhere on June 5th.
