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James Marsh

3.5/5 stars
Beloved 1980s action hero He-Man returns to the big screen in his first live-action feature in almost four decades. Helmed by Bumblebee director Travis Knight, Masters of the Universe is a gloriously camp sword-and-planet adventure that feels less concerned with bringing in new fans than revelling in unbridled nostalgia.
Nicholas Galitzine provides the glistening torso of Adam, Prince of Eternia – He-Man’s unassuming alter ego – who returns to his homeworld after years in exile on Earth to defend Castle Grayskull against his skull-faced nemesis Skeletor, hilariously realised by an unrecognisable Jared Leto.
Idris Elba, Camila Mendes and the voice of Kristen Wiig lend their support, while Alison Brie all but steals the show as slinky sorceress Evil-Lyn.


It is easy to forget that the iconic animated series, which first aired in 1983, was conceived only after Mattel – the makers of Barbie – launched a toy line of muscle-bound action figures in the hope of competing with the success of Star Wars.
The mythological lore that blended sword-and-sorcery with science fiction came later, pitting He-Man against Skeletor in an ongoing battle for control of the magical Sword of Power – drawing heavily from established characters such as John Carter of Mars, Conan the Barbarian and Thor.
Nevertheless, the cartoons came to define the franchise with their wholesome blend of action, humour and educational moralising, and it is this winning formula that Knight’s film strives to recapture.
Admittedly, Masters of the Universe gets off to a bumpy start, introducing us to a wimpy 10-year-old Adam (Artie Wilkinson-Hunt) who could not be further removed from the “most powerful man in the universe” he will become.

When the castle is besieged by Skeletor’s army, the Sorceress (Morena Baccarin) teleports Adam and his sword to the distant realm of Earth for safety. But upon arrival, he loses the weapon and spends the next 15 years languishing in suburban Oklahoma.
Only after this lengthy and uneven opening does the film really hit its stride, as Adam is reunited with his sword and returns to Eternia to face his destiny. From this moment on, Knight dazzles us with a romping fantasy adventure packed to the hilt with endless nods to every previous incarnation of these characters.
In one of its funniest moments, the film even pays reverential homage to the disastrous 1987 version, which starred Dolph Lundgren and Courteney Cox and helped bankrupt Cannon Films.

Ironically, Masters of the Universe is finding itself once again going toe to toe with Star Wars, this time at the box office. While The Mandalorian and Grogu feels derivative and undercooked, however, He-Man’s glorious return to our screens proves that even after all these years, he still has the power.
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Nicholas Galitzine stars as He-Man beside Idris Elba, Jared Leto and Camila Mendes in a film that shows the 1980s hero still has the power


Nicholas Galitzine stars as He-Man beside Idris Elba, Jared Leto and Camila Mendes in a film that shows the 1980s hero still has the power.


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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Nicholas Galitzine stars as He-Man beside Idris Elba, Jared Leto and Camila Mendes in a film that shows the 1980s hero still has the power

Nicholas Galitzine stars as He-Man beside Idris Elba, Jared Leto and Camila Mendes in a film that shows the 1980s hero still has the power