After decades away from the big screen, He-Man finally returns in MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, a colorful fantasy adventure starring Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, and Jared Leto. The long-awaited adaptation understands exactly what fans want: giant swords, larger-than-life heroes, outrageous villains, and plenty of nostalgia. The good news is that director Travis Knight delivers most of that. The bad news is that the movie never quite becomes the epic franchise-launching event Amazon MGM was hoping for.
Nicholas Galitzine steps into the role of Prince Adam/He-Man and proves to be a surprisingly strong choice. Rather than playing the character as a one-dimensional muscle-bound hero, Galitzine gives Adam a sense of vulnerability and humor that helps modernize the iconic character without completely abandoning his roots. He’s easy to root for, even when the script leans heavily into familiar chosen-one storytelling.
The film’s biggest strength is its willingness to embrace the inherent silliness of the franchise. Instead of trying to turn He-Man into a dark and gritty fantasy hero, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE proudly leans into its campy origins. The result is a movie that often feels like a cross between a Saturday morning cartoon and a modern superhero blockbuster. That self-awareness goes a long way toward making the film entertaining, even when the story becomes predictable.
Jared Leto’s Skeletor is exactly as over-the-top as fans would expect. His performance swings wildly between menacing and ridiculous, but somehow it mostly works. Every scene featuring Skeletor injects the movie with energy, and Leto appears to be having far more fun than he has in some of his recent franchise roles. Meanwhile, Idris Elba brings welcome gravitas as Duncan/Man-At-Arms, elevating material that could have easily become forgettable.
The supporting cast helps keep the adventure moving even when the pacing begins to drag. Camila Mendes brings warmth and charisma to Teela, giving the character enough personality to stand alongside the film’s larger-than-life heroes and villains. Alison Brie also makes a strong impression, embracing the heightened fantasy tone while adding another layer of energy to Eternia’s expanding cast of characters. Neither actress receives quite enough screen time, but both leave a memorable mark and help make the world feel more lived-in.
Visually, the movie is a mixed bag. Eternia looks impressive at times, filled with colorful landscapes and classic characters brought to life with obvious affection for the source material. However, some of the CGI-heavy sequences lack the polish expected from a blockbuster of this size. The action scenes are generally enjoyable and occasionally spectacular, but they rarely reach the level of the genre’s best recent fantasy adventures.
The biggest issue is the screenplay. At over two hours, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE often feels bloated. Several supporting characters are underdeveloped, and the film spends so much time setting up future adventures that the current story sometimes loses momentum. There’s a stronger movie buried somewhere inside this one, but it gets weighed down by franchise-building obligations and uneven pacing.
Still, there’s something undeniably charming about the entire experience. This isn’t a groundbreaking reinvention like BARBIE, nor is it the fantasy equivalent of THE LORD OF THE RINGS. It’s a straightforward crowd-pleasing adventure that remembers He-Man was always supposed to be fun. Fans who grew up with the toys and cartoons will likely find plenty to enjoy, while newcomers may appreciate its lighthearted approach even if they aren’t immediately converted into lifelong followers of Eternia.
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE may not have the power to become the next great fantasy franchise, but it succeeds as an entertaining summer blockbuster. It’s imperfect, occasionally messy, and sometimes overly nostalgic, yet it remains consistently watchable thanks to its likable cast, energetic action, and willingness to embrace the weirdness that made the franchise popular in the first place.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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