A late weekend review of Masters of the Universe

Speaking with some folks this weekend who are under the age of 21… the common question after saying I saw MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE was … ‘what is that?’

The latest review score for Masters of the Universe sits at less than 70% from critics but more than 85% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The question is, who exactly is watching it?

It’s pretty clear the audience is made up largely of people over 35, and probably even more so people over 45. Many dads are bringing their kids, and a lot of viewers are showing up with a sense of nostalgia for a time that’s long gone. That nostalgia is mixed with laughs, memories, and a chance to revisit characters they grew up with.

Here’s the thing: the movie is great. It’s perfectly fine entertainment, and in many ways it doesn’t deserve to be judged by the same standards people use for every other blockbuster because it creates its own path. The film is funny. It laughs at itself. It pokes fun at the excesses of the 1980s while simultaneously paying tribute to them. It even laughs at He-Man from time to time, but somehow still turns him into a genuine hero in a very unusual and surprisingly effective way.

The villains are buffoons and boobs, as Skeletor himself might say, but they’re also just scary enough to work. The army of evil feels more brutal than expected, and the movie itself has a surprisingly high body count. There are plenty of jokes for the adults in the audience too, including a few sexual innuendos that land well without becoming the type of over-the-top humor you’ll find in something like Scary Movie 6. The kids won’t catch most of them, and that’s probably for the best.

This is also the type of movie that should be seen in a theater. It made $29 million opening weekend .. probably not too good for a movie that reportedly cost $177 million to make, but honestly that almost feels irrelevant when discussing the experience itself for fans..

Yes it could have done better.. but it didn’t. Amazon seems okay with that, a new universe has been born..

As a standalone action film, this is one of the better ones I’ve seen in quite a while. It reminds me of the artistic creativity and visual confidence that made the original Guardians of the Galaxy feel special. The movie embraces colorful imagery and larger-than-life fantasy in a way that modern films often seem afraid to do. It’s refreshing.

It also gives of Four Non Blonds.. a young Adam naming heroes and villains (perfect way for characters to get their names) … and Skeletor in an office in a tie. Jared Leto surprised the detractors with his performance..

And yes, I’ll spoil one thing for you. Just like in the cartoons, good wins and evil loses. But the bad guys will be back because evil never truly goes away. Goodness has to remain strong and vigilant because darkness is always waiting for another opportunity. It’s a simple moral lesson, but one that has always been at the heart of He-Man.

What surprised me most was the battle itself. When I was a kid, the battles in the cartoon felt incredible. As I got older, they became a little laughable. This movie somehow managed to recreate that feeling of importance. The stakes actually felt real. You felt like the villains couldn’t win because if they did, the universe itself would somehow be thrown out of balance.

That’s why He-Man’s journey works here. He repeatedly offers Skeletor opportunities to choose a different path, but Skeletor remains what he has always been: evil. Well, mostly evil. We all remember that Christmas special where he briefly discovered a holiday spirit and didn’t quite know what to do with it.

If you’re planning to see the movie, stick around for all three post-credit scenes. They’re worth it and do a solid job setting up what could be a very fun sequel.

The only question is whether the box office will allow that sequel to happen. Is this the beginning of a franchise revival, or will it end up being a one-time celebration for hardcore fans, Generation X, and Xennials who grew up with these characters?

If I were giving it a rating, this would be five Power Swords out of five.

It’s a throwback to childhood, a classic hero’s tale for a modern audience, and somehow manages to be goofy, fun, and heartfelt without ever becoming ridiculous.

Or maybe I’m just a boob.