Prince Adam discovers that the strange memories shaping his life are real when the lost Sword of Power resurfaces, forcing him to return to Eternia and challenge the tyrant who shattered his family and kingdom.

To steal a quote from my friend who forced me to watch this, Masters of the Universe is a movie that knows exactly what it is. While the lesson from 2023’s Barbie shouldn’t have been “more movies about toys!” this is still a fun story based on the action figures and characters created in the 80s, most notably lead hero He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine).

Idris Elba is slumming it here as sidekick Duncan (known originally as Man-at-Arms). Jared Leto is both unnecessary and unrecognizable as He-Man’s foe Skeletor. Camilla Mendes (Teela), Alison Brie (Evil-Lyn), Morena Baccarin (The Sorceress) join in the fun and fill out the cast with nary a character arc to be seen. The movie fully makes fun of itself and even the idea of itself, including the character names that felt like an 8-year-old named them back in the 80s (Fisto! Ram Man! Roboto!).

Is it a good movie? Not really. Is it bad? Not at all. It’s a fun, slight, quick and inconsequential, but mostly breezy movie that barely justifies its existence but is better than you would expect a movie based on a cartoon solely to sell toys would be.

Jonathan’s grade – C+