The very name of the character in his godlike form, “He-Man,” was already distracting when I was a kid, and even more so as an adult. It’s why I entered the cinema for Masters of the Universe with very low expectations. Unless the filmmakers were going to lean into how silly it all really is, there was no way I could imagine this narrative taking itself seriously. Luckily for me, director Travis Knight along with screenwriters Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee, and David Callaham knows how to have a good time. Masters of the Universe is a 141-minutes of self-referential comedy that tries to stay true to the show’s spirit while poking fun at itself.
In Masters of the Universe, the story begins with a narration by Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine), as he reflects on growing up on the world of Eternia. As a prince, he is a bit of a clown who doesn’t take his role very seriously. This upsets his father, King Randor (James Purefoy), who wants him to grow up stronger and take his role more seriously.
However, their family friction is cut short when the mystical warlord Skeletor (Jared Leto) launches a surprise attack on the kingdom. Because Randor’s bloodline comes from a long line of champions who can wield the Sword of Power, the Sorceress (Morena Baccarin), the guardian of that power sends Adam to his mother’s home planet, Earth, to keep the blade out of Skeletor’s hands. But Adam, still a child, loses the sword and finds himself standed on Earth for over 15 years.
Now an adult, Adam is isolated and unhappy in his corporate HR job while trying constantly searching for the sword that can bring him home. When he finally locates the blade, he enlists the help of Teela (Camila Mendes) to make his way back to Eternia. Upon arrival, he discovers that Skeletor has completely destroyed his homeland, forcing him to wield the power within to become the champion of his homeworld.
What is hilarious is just how silly the creators of this movie think the whole premise is. Adam’s extended stay on Earth serves as a clever a way to acknowledge the property’s inherent campiness; that way, when the narrative finally shifts to the science fiction and fantasy, they can go completely all out and have as much fun as they want. There is very little story involved here, though Adam does experience a lovely reckoning regarding his relationship with his father, but character’s depth remains secondary to a barrage of fight scenes and there’s even a chase scene on a space ship.
Knight and his crew deliver a lot of fan service here while acknowledging at the source material’s questionable names and abilities in the first film – like Fisto (played by Johannes Haukur Johannesson), who seems very much aware of the joke as well. Ultimately, everyone, including Galitzine and Leto, are not afraid to amp up the homoeroticism in the imagery of the classic 80s cartoon.
Galitzine attacks the role with such childlike wonder. He is clearly having a blast playing a kid who never really grew up but now finds himself inside the body of a muscle-bound god. There’s a levity and whimsical nature to his performance that really makes Masters of the Universe an absolute joy to watch. He is entirely in on the joke without ever overplaying it.
The rest of the cast is having an equally fantastic time, from Idris Elba (who brings a wonderful gravity to Teela’s father, Man-at-Arms) to Mendes, and even Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, who gets to play the evil henchwoman to the absolute hilt.
It’s incredibly refreshing to encounter a movie that proudly decides to have fun and brings the audience along for the ride. There is immense reverence and love for the original 80s cartoon here, but the affection is so secure that the filmmakers can openly poke fun at the property’s inherent absurdities. They masterfully weave in various nostalgic references, even reaching outside of He-Man universe like playing songs and soundtracks of from other iconic fantasy franchises. Because the plot is secondary from the very get-go, we are directed to just what happens and enjoy the journey.
For a film that looks so glossy and expensive, it’s great that the filmmakers were cool enough to embrace irreverence rather than attempt to be serious. This was absolutely the right creative direction to take and make sure you stick around, because you will definitely want to watch all the post-credit scenes.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Masters of the Universe trades self-serious fantasy for glorious, unapologetic 80s camp. It is an absolute blast that gives Nicholas Galitzine plenty of room to shine. Don’t miss out on the fun, check showtimes here, and make sure to stay through the credits!
