"Captain Marvel"

In spite of massive trolling against it, "Captain Marvel" had a very good opening weekend, and one that was well deserved. Brie Larson is an excellent addition to the Marvel superhero crowd, making Vers/Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel a natural and unpretentious character who works against the super-stereotype. 

It's as if an ordinary audience member was dropped into the middle of the Marvel Cinematic Universe -- and could relate only to the equally down-to-earth Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Even better, "Captain Marvel" designs the origin story of the Avengers around Danvers, underscoring that there is no tokenism at work here; she is central to the overall, multi-movie narrative continuing in "Avengers: Endgame" as well as launching a story that makes more "Captain Marvel" movies a welcome idea.

And, by the way, she does all that without needing a boyfriend. But with a cool cat.

Really, a cat.

In short, "Captain Marvel" is both an important movie and an entertaining one. On the latter score, however, it is somewhat flawed at the beginning and at the end. 

The beginning is muddled and confusing for the viewer, bouncing through time and perception in a way that reflects a soul-deep troubling in the Kree soldier Vers -- but that doesn't make it any easier for the audience to settle in. The Kree are at war with the Skrull, and in a battle between the two Vers is taken captive -- and quickly shown to be very important to her enemy. 

Vers gets away, ending up on Earth in the 1990s -- nicely conveyed with gadgets, fashion and a Blockbuster store complete with VHS's. Her dramatic arrival draws the attention of Marvel mainstays Fury and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), as well as pursuit by a Skrull band. Twists and turns follow*, among them Vers trying to sort out her past as an Earthling pilot, and figuring out her connection to a scientist (Annette Bening) whose work could change the course of Earth's history and the Kree-Skrull war. Bening is briefly seen but very good when she's around, as are Ben Mendelsohn as a Skrull leader and Jude Law as Vers's Kree mentor.

What makes them particularly good is that, like Larson, they avoid the extreme craziness that can sometimes accompany both heroes and villains in comic-book movies. (The DC movies are especially guilty of melodramatic excess much of the time.)

 Writer-directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck have yielded to the need for some big-adventure moments, including the film's overlong concluding battle sequence, but they are more at ease when they make this a character piece. (Following up on that previous parenthetical, "Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins also found the joy in the quieter scenes, and in a hero who could keep her cool -- even when the villain opposing her is chewing up the cosmic scenery.) It matters that Carol Danvers is at her happiest when she's among old, trusted friends, and that her compassion at "Captain Marvel's" end is sincere.

Not that she's incapable of physical harm when needed. And it may be that a lot will be needed when she returns in "Endgame." (Yes, you have to stay for the closing credits to see her "Endgame" arrival and another intriguing scene.) At the same time, though, as much as any recent Marvel hero, Larson offers us one who could be not only our protector but our friend -- at least, for those of us who think powerful women can be our friends.

*Also, the traditional cameo by Stan Lee, who passed away last year, and is also honored in the Marvel Studios logo at the beginning of the movie.