After 39 years, He-Man finally returns to the big screen in a Masters of the Universe film that I never honestly expected to happen. After years of memes and speculation the franchise has finally made its comeback and surprisingly, this film was an absolute blast.

Going into Masters of the Universe, I had fairly low expectations. The plot is quite generic and predictable throughout, but it makes up for that with memorable moments, an energetic cast, and solid performances across the board. At times, it felt like Thor Ragnarok and Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves rolled into one. The film’s greatest strength is that it never takes itself too seriously. While not every joke lands, some of the humour particularly the running jokes involving Fisto worked surprisingly well.

If I had seen this film between the ages of 5 and 13, it probably would have been my favourite movie of the year. The action sequences are exciting, the visual effects are genuinely impressive in places, and the colourful world feels vibrant and full of life. Most importantly, it never comes across as a cynical cash grab blockbuster.

The scenes between He-Man and Skeletor are some of the film’s highlights. Nicholas Galitzine and Jared Leto both deliver enjoyable performances, and Skeletor’s character design is excellent. As a villain, he steals nearly every scene he’s in and ends up being one of the strongest aspects of the entire film.

Throughout the movie, there are plenty of Easter eggs, cameos, and references for longtime fans of both the original animated series and the 1987 film. These moments are handled well and add an extra layer of enjoyment for older audiences without overwhelming newcomers.

My only real criticism is that I wish we had spent more time with Adam before he fully embraces his role as He-Man. The opening scenes on Earth had the potential to develop his character further, and based on the trailers, I expected those moments to provide more of the film’s comedy and emotional grounding.

Overall, Masters of the Universe is an entertaining, fun filled adventure that never takes itself too seriously. Despite its 2 hour and 12 minute runtime, it flies by and delivers exactly the kind of crowd pleasing fantasy blockbuster that fans have been waiting for.