MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
Starring: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, and Kristen Wiig
Director: Travis Knight
QUENTIN
Masters of the Universe is goofy as shit. If you have any familiarity with the cartoon, you already know this. I mean, the hero’s name is He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine); one of his warriors is Fisto (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson). Thankfully, director Travis Knight and his team of screenwriters embrace that silliness, resulting in an incredibly fun movie that feels like watching a kid play with real-life action figures. That alone would have been enough for my nostalgia, but with complementary pieces like the 80s-inspired score, amazingly accurate costume design, and—believe it or not—a hilarious, scene-stealing Jared Leto as Skeletor, I could not have asked for much more.
NICK
I’ve never had any nostalgic attachment to the He-Man character, but from what I know of the IP, Masters of the Universe seems to be the best way to adapt this story to modern times. It’s cheesy, goofy, and cringy, but it doesn't shy away from those aspects as the comedy leans into its self-awareness. It certainly could’ve been funnier, though, especially with how long the film feels. Nicholas Galitzine embodies He-Man wonderfully, but it’s Jared Leto's sassy and flamboyant Skeletor who steals every scene. This is something that should please existing fans, but I don’t think it has the juice to make any new ones.
ADRIANO
Against all odds, Masters of the Universe is… fine. Unlike most of the $100 million slop we’ve been subjected to recently, director Travis Knight has an inkling of knowledge about what he’s making and genuinely cares. Don’t get me wrong… it’s visually repulsive at times, the humour is hit and miss, and its attempts at a masculinity message are laughable. But for a movie where He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) gets saved by an Amazon Prime truck, there is a lot of fun to be had with the colourful silliness, not to mention a banging score that matches the excitement.
KATIE
I have basically no familiarity with the IP, but nonetheless found Masters of the Universe to be a fun, goofy, and ultimately entertaining film. Granted, the CGI is awful, but the film is so silly and carefree that it wills you not to notice, or more accurately, care. The laughable effects almost suit the tone of the film, so it's difficult to criticise it too much, plus I was distracted by the catchy score. Nicholas Galitzine is fantastic as He-Man, giving a charming performance that suits the unserious tone, and Jared Leto gives my now favourite performance of his as Skeletor.
AMARÚ
Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Chuck Norris can now have Nicholas Galitzine’s name listed next to them as awesome action stars. And make no mistakes, Masters of the Universe is awesome. Travis Knight always understands how to direct retro franchises with nostalgia and reverence, and he fully understands that assignment here with a bodacious soundtrack and spot-on, heartfelt performances. Idris Elba starts it off fully embracing the 80s charm, Galitzine carries that into modern times with joyful optimism, and Jared Leto solidifies everything with perfect “until we meet again” energy. Great decision not using his real face, and great decision giving us this spectacular remake.
PAIGE
Masters of the Universe is a mixed bag. On one hand, its fight choreography is impressive, and its visual style is faithful to the animated series. On the other hand, its silliness is too over-the-top. The script is watered down by jokes that don't always fit in this universe. While the cast certainly embraces the wackiness and plays their roles well, most of the line delivery comes off extremely cheesy. Don't get me wrong, its gleeful energy lands at times, but overall, I found the tone of the movie to be a bit cringeworthy.
Want to hear even more of our thoughts? Nick and Quentin join Amarú to take A Bigger Bite out of Masters of the Universe HERE.