'Masters of the Universe' review: A charming flashback to '80s rock fantasy
BALI, Indonesia — Toy company Mattel is rolling the dice once more after the success of "Barbie," this time with another attempt at adapting "Masters of the Universe" for the big screen.
The new movie centers on young Prince Adam (Artie Wilkinson-Hunt) of Eternia, who does everything to impress his father, King Randor (James Purefoy) and his general Duncan (Idris Elba), the Man-At-Arms.
The kingdom is thrashed by the arrival of Skeletor (Jared Leto, unrecognizable underneath visual effects) and Adam is sent to Earth with the Sword of Power, which he loses in transit.
Adam (now played by Nicholas Galitzine) spends the next 15 years searching for the weapon and once he does, with the help of old friend Teela (Camila Mendes), he returns to Eternia to save it from its dreary state — all while struggling to accept if he's deserving of the hero mantle expected of him.
The 1987 movie adaptation starring Dolph Lundgren — who gets a cameo here — and Frank Langella was by and large a bomb on all fronts, and it took the massive haul of 2023's "Barbie" to convince Mattel this franchise was worth another shot.
Mattel shifted the directorial burden to Travis Knight, a stop-motion animation veteran with Laika whose sole live-action outing was 2018's "Bumbleblee" (which with respect is considered by many the best "Transformers" movie).
Knight takes the self-awareness from "Barbie" into "Masters of the Universe" by leaning into its campy and comedic nature. After all, heroes with names like Fisto, Mekaneck, and He-Man are meant to be laughed at but enjoyed all the same.
Screenwriters Chris Butler, David Callaham, and Nee brothers Aaron and Adam (who did the story with Alex Litvak and Michael Finch) also carry that weight to varying degrees of success, though admittedly, jokes fall flat by some stretches.
RELATED: Director praises Nicholas Galitzine for He-Man performance
The story does shine in several action sequences, again embracing '80s fantasy wonder that was kick-started by the likes of "Star Wars," so evident in the production-heavy set-pieces.
That is a major credit to Oscar-nominated production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas and costume designer Richard Sale, who are crucial in the world-building of Eternia.
Tying it all together is the rock-heavy score of Daniel Pemberton, who is on a roll after other successes this year in "Project Hail Mary" and "The Drama."
Whereas the 1987 film's music by Bill Conti was operatic akin to John Williams pieces of the era, Pemberton dives into '80s rock, particularly in the "Eternia" theme with the help of Queen guitarist Brain May.
Galitzine is charming as Adam, a man so clearly molded by working in human resources that it redefines He-Man's discussion on masculinity, which is one tightrope that Knight and the screenwriters had to balance on.
Elba and Mendes are very capable performers as is Evil-Lyn actress Alison Brie. Even under so many digital effects, Leto manages to be a scene-stealer by engaging the "drama queen" energy of Skeletor, now popularized in cult followings; one forgets the Oscar winner is still capable of such talent.
2026's "Masters of the Universe" is definitely an improvement on the 1987 entry on multiple margins, and while not a perfect movie, it does pave the way well for the June-July blockbusters that lie ahead.
The franchise will need time to see if it's a gamble that paid off — after all, what about She-Ra? — but in the meantime, this film can celebrate its renewed discovery of what He-Man and true power are meant to be.
RELATED: Anna Kendrick to direct 'Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' film adaptation
- Latest
- Trending
