The Marvels: First Reactions say the movie is underwhelming (but not awful)

Last Updated on November 21, 2023

After months of bad buzz resulting from rumoured re-shoots, lousy test screenings, a surprisingly short running time and abysmal box office tracking, the MCU’s The Marvels is upon us. Opening hot on the heels of the middling Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania and some poorly received Disney Plus shows, many predict The Marvels will be a rare box office misfire for the studio. To be fair to Marvel, their track record is second to none, with this summer’s Guardians of the Galaxy 3 outgrossing all other superhero fare this year, so perhaps their predicted demise is premature.

At any rate, critics’ screenings for The Marvels just went down nationwide, with our own Alex Maidy just out of a screening in Chicago. Here are his thoughts hot off the press:

Alex’s review of The Marvels drops at noon ET when the embargo breaks, but judging from his reaction, this is an underwhelming but not awful Marvel movie:

Our first reaction to #themarvels https://t.co/OhIVGsV1Pc

— JoBlo.com (@joblocom) November 8, 2023

The other reactions were similar, with many saying the film is breezy fun, but the villain is yet another week addition to the MCU rogues’ gallery:

The Marvels is a fine MCU entry.

Carol, Kamala, and Monica are really great, especially together in very creative action scenes! First 25 minutes really rocked, exciting MCU stuff by the end.

Villain is forgettable. VFX vary, both good and bad. Some silly scenes didn’t work. pic.twitter.com/dflCP2hOPX

— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) November 8, 2023

The Marvels is such a disjointed mess. It feels like there are countless scenes missing from the film. Characters appear and disappear without much explanation. Energy levels are high but so much of this film is way too childish for its own good. It feels like a Disney+ Movie .… pic.twitter.com/pea1Te9HcV

— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) November 8, 2023

The Marvels is a whole lot of fun! Hilarious, action packed! Kamala Khan & her family steal the show, but seeing this teamup of 3 powerful ladies is something special! The most excited I've been for the future of Marvel in a LONG time! Mid credit scene 🤯! #TheMarvels pic.twitter.com/bKEoYXo1R6

— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) November 8, 2023

Our full review drops at noon ET. Stay tuned!

The Marvels has the following synopsis: Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. However, unintended consequences see her shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with two other superheroes to form the Marvels.