Masters of the Universe is a light-hearted superhero fantasy that is equal parts ridiculous and entertaining

🎥 He-Man? He’s the man. Between the DC Universe reboot, MCU’s back-to-back blockbusters, and even The Boys’ complete takeover of the internet, the superhero genre is becoming increasingly oversaturated. This begs the question: Where does Masters of the Universe fit in the genre? Well, it doesn’t, and that seems to be the point.

Based on Barbie parent company Mattel’s classic ‘80s franchise, director Travis Knight’s USD 200 mn fantasy action film isn’t interested in being taken too seriously, leaning heavily on comedic chops, awkward exchanges, and ludicrous action scenes — which is to say: it’s a breath of fresh air. Starring Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, and Kristen Wiig, the star-studded film takes viewer expectations and throws them out the window.

First things first, what’s the plot? Prince Adam (Galitzine) is a scrawny young boy who’s the heir of a long-standing lineage of warriors on Eternia. Under the scrutiny of his king father, Adam is crushed by the weight of expectations, finding solace in his mother’s love and his best friend Teela’s (Mendes) tough love. When Eternea is attacked by “Lord of Destruction” Skeletor (Leto), young Adam is entrusted with the Sword of Power and sent through a portal to save him from imminent death… where he eventually lands in Oklahoma City, with the sword nowhere to be found.

Adam then spends the next 15 years trying to convince everyone of his extraterrestrial origins, which eventually costs him his job as an HR professional when he becomes obsessed with finding his lost sword. Labeled as an unstable young adult with a traumatic childhood, Adam is then vindicated when Earth is attacked, and Teela retrieves him back to a broken Eternea, where he reunites with his people, including his childhood trainer, played by Elba. Reunited with his sword, Adam is tasked with saving his home and his people after becoming He-Man, the “most powerful man in the universe.”

What we liked: Masters of the Universe isn’t for everyone — as evident in its shoddy USD 29.3 mn domestic opening weekend debut — but we thoroughly enjoyed it. Despite its massive budget (and subsequent flop), the film is consciously ridiculous, unapologetically awkward at times, and just… campy — all the fantasy goodness with none of the dark backstories or convoluted storylines. Performances aren’t phenomenal by any means, considering the nature of the work, but Galitizine certainly shines through as the undisputed highlight of the film.

The verdict: If you’re looking for a fun time and find yourself in the mood to watch something at the theater that doesn’t require much mental participation from your end, Masters of the Universe certainly fits the bill. It’s fun, funny, and action-packed. Just don’t expect anything even close to what the MCU or the DCU has to offer.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- Masters of the Universe is screening at Vox Cinemas at City Center Almaza, Mall of Egypt, and City Center Alexandria. You can also catch the film at D5 and CFC’s Scene Cinema, City Stars Cinema, P90, and Cima Arkan. Watch the trailer on YouTube (watch, runtime: 2:45).