“Masters of the Universe” has fun with its goofy history
The success of “Barbie” sparked a wave of announcements that movie studios were snatching up toy IP to adapt into movies. Some made sense, while others were a movie based on the Magic 8 Ball. One that did make sense was “Masters of the Universe.” There are lots of characters, and the world is deep enough to have stories to tell. The only question was whether a character called “He-Man” could have a place in 2026.Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) was sent away from his home planet of Eternia to protect a powerful sword. He is separated from the sword and gets stuck on Earth with no way to return home. Years later, his childhood friend Teela (Camila Mendes) comes to find him, on a mission to bring him back to fight off the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto).
I had a ton of fun with “Masters of the Universe.” The movie isn’t amazing, but it does exactly what it needs to do. It had a blend of action, comedy, and real sincerity. Adam is not a fighter; after being stuck on Earth, he gets a job in HR, so he is all about non-violent resolutions. Even when he harnesses the power of the sword and becomes powerful, using that power is not his first choice. Galitzine believably showcases both sides of this character. It is a balance I know made some fans of the toys/catroon angry because “that’s not my ‘He-Man,’” but it fits in better with today’s culture; we need our heroes to be a little more complex than “I’m a big, strong dude.”
Then there is Jared Leto. The man is box office poison on top of being a very weird human. The last few movies he was a lead in have tanked at the box office, and while that’s not entirely his fault, his reputation certainly didn’t help. He is infamous for his on-set shenanigans: in 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” he reportedly sent a live rat to co-star Margot Robbie. For “Masters of the Universe,” he would cover his face in blood makeup because, since his face was going to be CGed out, he didn’t want the other actors to “see Jared” while filming. That being said, he is very good as Skeletor. He embraces the corniness of the role of a guy with a skull face. I hate to say it, since I think he’s terrible, but he is my favorite part of the movie.I am a child of the 80s, but my nostalgia for 80s culture is limited since I was very young for most of them. Now, the 90s- that’s my nostalgia sweet spot. I say this to point out that I have no connection to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon or toy line, which was made to sell. That is probably why I enjoyed “Masters of the Universe” more than most people. I wasn’t expecting anything, and what I got was a fun movie.7/10Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence/action, some suggestive material, and language.2h 21m