ETERNALS – Review

So who’s ready to “make up” for “lost time” (well, maybe 2020 was a “lost year”), and take a third 2021 trek into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)? Now, this visit is a bit different as it delves more into the “universe” area of that label. BLACK WIDOW bounced about Eastern Europe, while SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RING zoned in on Asia (after a brief, but memorable San Francisco battle in the first act). The entry opening everywhere this weekend is almost everywhere and begins in the deep recesses of outer space (but don’t look for that pop-music-lovin’ crew of the Milano). Oh, and like Shang-Chi its comics roots sprang up in the (if they were the “swingin” 60’s” then the next decade would b “sparkly 70s”. Plus they were created solely (not with Stan Lee) by the artist extraordinaire behind most of the Marvel heroes we’ve already seen on screen, the man still affectionately known as the “king of comics”, Jack Kirby. Ah, but does it have plenty of that “Kirby crackle”? We’ll find out as we meet (and greet) those extraordinary ETERNALS.

Prior to the now-familiar Marvel Studios logo, we get a short “title prologue” (now there’s no “chapter heading” and the words don’t recede into the star backdrop). It seems that the galaxies were fashioned by the Celestials, one of which, Arishem, oversees its work, our solar system. In order to protect the emerging humans of Earth from the brutal, ravenous creatures called the Deviants, Arishem created a group of human-like immortal warriors known as the Eternals. We first see them in battle when the Deviants attack ancient Mesopotamia. They’re led by Ajak (Salma Hayek), a healer who communicates with Airshem. Sersi (Gemma Chan) can transform matter (turning heavy stone into water proves useful). Dashing Ikaris (Richard Maddin) can fly while shooting destructive yellow beams or rays from his eyes. Teenage Sprite (Lia McHugh) uses deceptive illusions on her foes. Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani) fires energy bolts from his fingertips, while Gilgamesh (Don Lee) uses his enhanced fists to pummel the “baddies” as Makkari (Lauren Ridoff) unleashes her super-speed skills. Thena (Angelina Jolie) can create all manner of weaponry which she masters in combat, while Druig (Barry Keoghan) uses his mind to take control of humans. But the humans have a great ally in Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) whose projected “creations” gently “nudge” humanity toward industrial progress.

As that battle ends, and the Eternals actually celebrate with the people, the story springs ahead to modern-day England where Sersi along with Sprite (posing as sisters) reside. Actually, Sersi teaches at a big museum alongside boyfriend Dane (Kit Harrington). The calm ends when an earth tremors interrupt a class. Later, after an evening out, the trio is attacked by a Deviant (not seen in many years). Luckily Ikaris pops up when this monster proves more powerful than any they’ve fought over the centuries. It’s a mystery that prompts the three Eternals to seek out the rest of the crew (as Jake Blues would say, “We’re getting the band back together”). When tragedy strikes a teammate, the truth is slowly revealed through several “time jumps over several spots in history. The secret behind the attack will pit Eternal against Eternal, as the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance.

Whew, the casting folks really earned their paychecks in assembling a most interesting acting ensemble for this big (ten members) “super-team”. Still, the main story “hook” is the relationship of Sersi and Ikaris, the “defacto’ parents of this fantastic “family”. Chan projects a regal intelligence as Sersi, who struggles to grasp the new challenges thrust upon her as the leadership “shifts”. Madden is intense and fairly stoic as the high-flying “frontman”. McHugh gives Sprite a tragic quality as she tries to deal with having a youngster’s appearance through eternity (kind of like Kirsten Dunst in INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE). On the flipside, Nunjiani is having lots of fun as the snarky, wise-cracking Kingo who has used his longevity to become a dynasty of “Bollywood” stardom. Also having fun is Jolie whose Thena relishes combat with the creatures, but is sadly the most vulnerable as she deals with a sort of “immortal madness’ that compels her to take on her teammates. It’s a bit more complex than Ajak, played with sincerity and gravitas by Hayek, who becomes the “go-between’ with the Celestial Arishem. Henry is also quite amusing as the often flustered inventor Phastos, who just wants to settle down with the mortals. Lee’s blustery bravado hides a tender caring soul (and a great chef) as the man with the furious fists. Ridoff is a bright burst of energy as the speedster which offsets the often sinister vibe from Keoghan’s mind controller (who appears to be leading a forest-based cult). Representing the humans is Harrington who has a shaggy bewildered charm as the audience’s surrogate (almost immediately he asks why Sersi and her pals didn’t take on Thanos), Dane.

Nobody can accuse the MCU of trying to “rest on their laurels” by “playing it safe”. You could even say that they’re “swinging for the fences” by attempting this cosmic adventure showcasing a largely “unknown property” in the Marvel comics staple. It worked a few years ago with GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. Sad to say that this time “at bat” only yields a solid double rather than a grand slam. Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao gives us a taste of her versatility with this sprawling saga giving us a few great action “set pieces” (the first “beach fight’ is wondrous, but a battle in a forest near dusk is needlessly murky), and even an engaging musical number (the set of Kingo’s newest blockbuster). Unfortunately, the script she created with a trio of screenwriters needed at least a couple of “passes’ to tighten the story flow and trim the excess (perhaps less time on the road and a jettisoning of Thena’s malady), as it feels all of two and a half hours (though much longer, AVENGERS: ENDGAME sped by). The rapport between the main group is fun (mainly due to Kingo, who needs a spin-off at Disney+), but they’re too set apart from the rest of the MCU, though several Avengers are mentioned (and a couple of non-MCU heroes). Part of the problem may be the Deviants who are pixel-filled “creepers” with little weight (in form and writing). I will commend the producers for making sure some of the crew paid the ultimate price for their heroics, and kudos for the solo Jack Kirby credit (as opposed to “based on the Marvel Comics characters”), but it doesn’t make up for the sluggish pace nor the bland romantic subplot between former lovers Sersi and Ikaris that just “spins its wheels” (and the “beach consummation” seems wildly out of place). All the artistic effort to create this new mythology is often eye-popping, but it’s not enough to make ETERNALS not feel like an eternity.

2.5 Out of 4

ETERNALS is now playing in theatres everywhere