Masters of the Universe is one of the biggest surprises of this year so far. Masters of the Universe is a little bit of “Barbie for Boys”, but if that means that any boy who sees this can learn that empathy and kindness should be intertwined with masculinity, then it’s worth it.

Masters of the Universe is based off of He-Man, a Mattel original toy that developed into comics, multiple television series, and a movie in 1987. It felt like a strange decision to develop a new movie considering there haven’t been loud cries for a new franchise entry, but Mattel’s success with Barbie must’ve encouraged them to continue pursuing this film. Although Masters of the Universe was never destined to reach the heights of Barbie, it was a delightful surprise. As someone unfamiliar with the IP apart from the appearance of He-Man himself, I was totally taken aback by how many genres it touches. While I knew there was an important sword, I had no idea that there were guns, spaceships, and aliens. The fact that everything integrates so well with the medieval and magic is surprising, but I never questioned it as I watched. Masters of the Universe was approached with an earnest attitude that made it all the more believable. 

Masters of the Universe follows the story of Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine), who was sent to Earth as a child with the Sword of Power after the Warlock Skeletor (Jared Leto) and Evil-Lyn (Alison Brie) take over his home planet of Eternia. Nobody on Earth believes his story about his previous life on Eternia (understandably so), and it’s easy to see how lonely he feels and how he struggles to connect with others. He works for a human resources company in Oklahoma City, where he has learned how to peacefully communicate and navigate uncomfortable situations. He lost possession of the Sword of Power upon his arrival to Earth, and has been searching online for any trace of it. He finally finds it in a comic book store and takes it back. Their connection alerted Teela (Camila Mendes), his childhood friend and badass warrior, to come and find him, but it also alerted Skeletor, who sent Beast Man to kill Adam and bring him the Sword of Power. They escape Beast Man and head to Eternia to the rest of the resistance, who dismisses Adam as a nobody.

One of the most important aspects of bringing Masters of the Universe to the film medium is the casting of He-Man. Any hope of expanding the fanbase relies on the film having a charming and charismatic lead at its center. Thankfully, Nicholas Galitzine was the perfect choice. He’s been in several Amazon/MGM films at this point, so it was ingenious of the studio to pull the large and broad hunk from their back pocket. He had grown a following from his roles in Red, White & Royal Blue and The Idea of You (both Amazon films), so Masters of the Universe, as his first foray into leading man territory, was a match made in heaven.

Galitzine is ridiculously handsome and has talent to spare, but what made his turn as He-Man perfect was his fearlessness of looking silly and uncool. His costume is undoubtedly the goofiest of the film, but his radical transformation and his confidence makes the He-Man skirt and harness seem like the most natural outfit choice. The creative decision to make He-Man not about an ultra-macho basic male archetype and instead use the character to redefine what masculinity should be in the 21st century wouldn’t be possible without Galitzine’s natural sensitivity. Also, he plays the innocence of a lost boy now all grown up perfectly.

As for our supporting cast, Camila Mendes as Teela was a great choice. Most known for her role in Riverdale as the smart and savvy Veronica Lodge, this feels like a natural continuation of her portraying self-assured and confident characters. A lesser film would’ve shoehorned in the romance between Teela and Adam immediately, but instead they reestablished their friendship, although there are plenty of flirty moments and romantic tension to keep the audience wanting more. Idris Elba plays Duncan, also known as Teela’s drunk father. He seemed like he was having a great time playing the Man-At-Arms and was happy to engage in some of the more humorous aspects of the film. We can’t mention comedy without talking about Skeletor, who is equal parts frightening and hilarious. Oftentimes, when Jared Leto is cast in a role, you can tell what the vibe is going to be like. As Skeletor, he was able to avoid preconceived notions and blended in naturally with the kooky world of Masters of the Universe. And one final shout out to Alison Brie who I love in Community, and she never fails to be good when she’s in a movie or show.

Luckily, I was able to catch Masters of the Universe in Dolby, and it highlighted how colorful the film is. There are many instances of new iterations of a show or movie coming back with a muted color palette, and thankfully, Masters of the Universe escapes this curse. It also harkens back to the 80s when He-Man was at its most popular and vibrant colors were the norm. The colors also stay in line with the comedic tone of the film. There is an air of whimsy about Masters of the Universe that is so refreshing.

One thing that has been talked about online is how great it is that Teela is wearing the practical outfit while He-Man is the one in the tiny outfit that shows off his features. This is a fun reversal of the unfortunate norm of women in action films wearing an impractical tiny outfit. The film makes a conscious effort to deconstruct gender stereotypes. Men communicate their feelings to each other and multiple men cry at natural points throughout. Also, Adam is bad at driving, and if he isn’t in his He-Man costume, he is wearing pink. Barbie’s role as a toy was feminist in nature from conception, but He-Man was never intended to inspire boys to become better versions of themselves. The creators could’ve chosen to go the basic route and allow toxic masculinity to be projected onto He-Man. Thankfully, they actively fought against it. Masters of the Universe is a little bit of “Barbie for Boys”, but if that means that any boy who sees this can learn that empathy and kindness should be intertwined with masculinity, then it’s worth it.

Masters of the Universe has been in development for years, with multiple rights acquisitions and purchases and recastings. For a film with such a convoluted history, the fact that it turned out as well as it did is a miracle. Considering there are six individuals with a screenplay or story by credit and given the few illogical instances throughout, it’s clear there are multiple drafts combined in the final film. For example, Adam’s roommate on Earth feels like a remnant from a previous draft where he had a bigger role. Also, there’s no background given about how Adam’s childhood on Earth went. Some context could’ve given a fuller picture as to who the character is, especially since there’s a flashback to him at a school on Earth. It also would’ve justified the necessity of Earth to Adam’s arc. Finally, what exactly is Snake Mountain and why is Skeletor there instead of ruling from Castle Grayskull? Since Masters of the Universe isn’t one of the most well-known franchises, a little more lore explanation would be warranted in this situation.

While there may have been a few script inconsistencies or plot holes to nitpick, director Travis Knight’s vision for the visual aesthetic was clear. The fights were so well choreographed, and they were captured mostly in wide shots where we could actually see the hard work that the stunt people and Galitzine put in. The visual effects and/or makeup of the creature characters felt of a piece with the magically cartoonish costumes and set design. Where you could see the cracks was when a creature or human jumped in the air and with the fur on the animals. Hair as a visual effect is hard enough, but that, combined with the animals being required to talk, makes them especially unreal. Overall, the characters were adapted well to the live action medium.

Masters of the Universe is one of the biggest surprises of this year so far. It’s silly and funny, with a rocking score that incorporates the theme from the TV show and includes legendary guitarist Brian May on several tracks. The film honors the iconic aesthetic of the 80s but adds a modern take on masculinity which makes it feel fresh. Between the charming cast, the zany world of Eternia, and the epic fight sequences, there is something for everybody to enjoy in Masters of the Universe.

Grade: B+

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should Be Considered: Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Original Score

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime