SYNOPSIS: In “Masters of the Universe,” a new live-action sword-and-sorcery adventure now playing in theatres, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam back to Eternia and his alter-ego of He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe. “”Hang on,” says Teela (Camila Mendes), “it’s about to get weird.”
CAST: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Kristen Wiig, Jared Leto, Idris Elba. Directed by Travis Knight.
REVIEW: “Masters of the Universe” doesn’t take itself seriously and neither should you. The irreverent tone harkens back to “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” and “Thor: Ragnarok,” movies that captured the spirit of their source material.
Stranded on Earth at age ten after fleeing his home planet of Eternia, Adam Glenn’s (Nicholas Galitzine) fantasy world of “nerd stuff and sword things” stands in stark contrast to his soul crushing corporate HR gig.
“All that stuff that exists only in legends and bedtime stories,” he says, “talking tigers, spaceships and magic swords that can make a man as mighty as a god, where I come from, that stuff is real.”
His daydreams become real when he is reunited with The Sword of Power, an ancient weapon that grants its rightful owner the power of the gods. He’s transported back to Eternia to find his once peaceful planet transformed into a battlefield by the sadistic Skeletor (Jared Leto), an evil warlord who says things like, “The universe shall quake in my shadow.”
With the help of Captain of the Guards of Eternia, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Heroic Warrior Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), Adam reclaims his true legacy as He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe. “This is my home,” he says. “I’m gonna fight for it.”
Silly but sincere, “Masters of the Universe” is a mix of old and new.
It’s touched with 1980s fan service—1987’s He-Man, Dolph Lundgren even makes a cameo—and Adam’s feathered hair would not have looked out of place on Rick Springfeild, circa “Jesse’s Girl.” I don’t remember discussions on toxic masculinity or teamwork-makes-the-dream-work style speeches in the animated series or the 80s live action movie, but the new version wears those on its sleeve along with souped-up CGI and self-aware humor.
“He’s bad,” Teela says of Skeletor.
“There has to be more to him than that,” says the naïve Adam.
“He has a skull for a face,” Teela shoots back, stating the obvious.
The old and new come together to create a canvas for several giant action set pieces, and smaller moments of exposition, but it’s the characters that bring the fun.
An unrecognizable Jared Leto hands in a theatrical performance as Skeletor that mixes menace with immaturity. He’s an evil diva and the movie is way more fun when he’s on screen. “Hello insignificant wretches,” he says by way of introduction to the people of Eternia. “You are but buttworms under my feet.”
As Adam’s childhood friend turned warrior, Mendes plays Teela with heart, spirit and a great deal of charm.
At the film’s center is Galitzine. As Adam he’s the most powerful man in the universe, but he’s also kinda goofy and naïve. It could have been played strictly for laughs, but instead, he comes across as a sweet and silly himbo, who’s muscly enough to dropkick baddies through a brick wall. He provides something often missing from large scale blockbuster action movies like this, and that’s heart. “My whole life,” he says, “I dreamed of being something more.”
“Masters of the Universe” succeeds in what it sets out to do, update a nostalgic favorite with high stakes action and a modern sensibility. To paraphrase He-Man, “I HAVE THE POWER…. TO ENTERTAIN!”
