Masters Of The Universe film review: Flickers of interest
The hunt for a magical sword leads to high camp fare that entertains despite its lack of charisma or poignancy
He-Man becomes HR-Man in this irony fuelled, sword and sorcery adventure which rides the seemingly endless wave of nostalgia as it resurrects some potentially profitable 80s IP. Rising British star Nicholas Galitzine (The Sheep Detectives, The Idea Of You) is the weedy office goon turned preposterously hench hero, with Travis Knight (Kubo And The Two Strings, Bumblebee) on directorial duties. It follows Prince Adam of Eternia (played by Artie Wilkinson-Hunt as a ten-year-old before Galitzine takes over) whose home world falls at the outset to Skeletor (Jared Leto) and his evil army, which also includes Alison Brie’s Evil-Lyn. Adam grows up on Earth where he pursues a career in human resources and is viewed as delusional by co-workers and peers as he hunts for his magical sword.
Camila Mendes stars as ‘warrior goddess’ Teela, who tracks down Adam on Earth, with Idris Elba as Teela’s father and Adam’s former mentor Duncan, and Kristen Wiig voicing a former battle droid. If it lacks the charismatic crew of 2023’s more satisfying Dungeons & Dragons, Galitzine is great, hilariously hiding his muscles under an unflattering shirt before his iconic transformation, and making light work of both the comedy and arse-kicking. Leto, who has really embraced campy genre fare of late, goes for it vocally as Skeletor which, to be fair, probably fits the brief.
Sasheer Zamata steals some scenes as Adam’s exasperated boss Suzie, while Evil-Lyn’s masochistic relationship with Skeletor brings flickers of adult interest. However, the CG action feels tedious and samey, and moments that strive for poignancy fall short. The film is at its best in mickey-taking mode, with the scenes on Earth amusing, and Adam’s attempts to employ his HR training during battle nothing short of inspired.
Masters Of The Universe is in cinemas now.