We can admit it now.The Marvelsbombed.
Marvel has had some misfires before, but they usually happened only on the critical end.
Audiences still rushed to see panned flicks likeAnt-Man and the Wasp: QuantumaniaandThor: Love & Thunder.
But withThe Marvels, audiences and critics came together to express their dissatisfaction.
No one thing explains the problems.
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And then, just as quickly as it began, it ends.
But most entries adhere to a house style thats intended to keep even the lesser entries enjoyably familiar.
However, the short musical bit inThe Marvelsproves that the MCU should consider more ambitiously handling other genres.
More importantly,WandaVisionearned acclaim by invoking classic sitcom styles without ever leaving its central superhero structure.
Even those who skipped out on the excellentMs.
Marvelseries caught Vellanis infectious energy.
Vellani is hardly the only new hero to capture fans hearts past Phase Three.
Simu Liu brought Kung fu action toShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringswithout losing the easy Marvel charm.
Bringing back Kamala Khan (and her family!)
gave us more time to play with characters we know and like.
The future for Marvel is bright with characters like her.
If the MCU would only give them more screen time.
She glowers at the camera and stares at her enemies with wide-eyed madness.
But thats about all the characterizationThe Marvelsis interested in giving Dar-Benn.
Dar-Benn harkens back to the first three phases of the MCU and not in a good way.
The best Marvel movies mix together compelling villains whose motivations and charisma challenge the heroes.
Audiences are no longer accepting villains who serve as generic placeholders.
Rather, it happened after the credits ofThe Avengerswhen the heroes sat around and ate shawarma.
The movie wants us to believe that they talked it out and got through, but we dont.
They were friends, and we like to watch our friends, whether theyre eating shawarma or jumping rope.
Audiences came out in droves forGuardians of the Galaxy Vol.
ButGuardians 3stood out because it felt not just like a Marvel movie, but aJames Gunnmovie as well.
Viewers came to see Gunns specific take on Star-Lord, Rocket, and Gamora.
They came for the filmmakers mix of inappropriate humor and heartfelt moments.
They came for bizarre imagery such as the space station made out of flesh and hair.
She has an exciting cinematic eye and a sense of character that works across genres.
And yet, very little of that flavor appeared on screen inThe Marvels.
DaCosta has the skills and deserved the chance to do the same.
Eventually, the crowds will turn toward some new genre or franchise, and thats a good thing.
If only theyd take the movies tagline seriously and go higher, further, faster themselves.
