Masters of the Universe (dir. Travis Knight)

By: Adam Freed

Masters of the Universe is a Regan era nostalgia property from the same Mattel corporation that gave cinematic birth to Barbie (2023) when most people thought it a fool’s errand.  Director Travis Knight breathes life into the modern day adaptation of what most forty-somethings will call “He-Man”.  Knight (Bumblebee, Kubo and the Two Strings) proves to be the perfect purveyor of adolescent intent as Masters of the Universe doesn’t completely beat the charges of corniness, but strikes an impressively winking tone regarding the absurdity of the once popular toy line and subsequent Saturday morning cartoon.  Armed with a remarkably lovable cast of characters featuring alluring fresh-faced actors Nicholas Galitzine (The Idea of You, Bottoms) and Camila Mendes (Upgraded, Palm Springs) as co-stars Prince Adam and Teela respectively, Masters of the Universe works because it earns undeniable magnetism by openly fighting its way through audience skepticism.  Remarkably similar in tone to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), Knight’s nostalgia project knows that it is dancing on the brink of disaster, which is part of what makes it such an enjoyable theatrical experience.

Masters of the Universe opens in the land of Eternia, a non-distinct digitally rendered world seemingly rooted in the binary belief that some characters are meant to be heroes, while others destined for villainy. While the film’s construction of Eternia comes up lightyears short of the complete immersion of Pandora, the central location of James Cameron’s Avatar (2009), Knight’s film leans more into character than it does environment, a choice that limits Masters of the Universe, while successfully narrowing its focus.  Eternia nestles the source of its magical powers deep within the literally named the “Sword of Power” a playful Macguffin housed deep within Castle Grayskull, the home of King Randor and his son Prince Adam.  Where there is power, there will always be evil in its pursuit, and this antagonistic being comes in the form of Skeletor, a beautifully rendered, skull-faced maniac voiced by Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club).  With no disrespect to the entirety of Leto’s filmography, Skeletor is easily the most memorable character the actor has played in the better part of a decade.  Equal parts maniacal, haunting and humorous, Masters of the Universe is lifted by its carefully crafted and devilishly detailed villain.  

If not for Travis Knight and the creative team at Amazon MGM, Masters of the Universe very likely could’ve become an atrocious abuse of CGI and a mindless, cash grab rooted in GenX nostalgia. Thankfully Masters of the Universe is none of those things, in fact, it knows exactly what it wants to be and delivers a fun and free wheeling adventure that never approaches self-seriousness.  Credit needs to be given to writers Chris Butler, as well as Aaron and Adam Nee for penning a story that allows a surfeit level of self-depreciation to permeate the ridiculousness of its proceedings.  By acknowledging many of the sillier sticking points of the film, ranging from He-Man’s costume to the brutally literal names of many of its absurdist characters, Masters of the Universe proves that when it comes to summer entertainment, it truly does have the power.

Target Score 6.5/10 - Travis Knight’s big screen adaptation of Masters of the Universe has no business being as entertaining and humorous as it is.  Thanks to a cast that balances fresh faces and reliable names and a story that leans into self-depreciation, the Amazon MGM property outpaces its initially muted expectations.