With the success of Barbie and Masters of the Universe, is Mattel Studios now a player? What might we expect in the future of filmdom — Hot Wheels the Movie? Thomas and the Great Train Robbery? Oh, I know, how about Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Toddler Counting Toy: My Trip to Hell?
I didn’t have Masters of the Universe on my bingo card for hidden gems of 2026, and yet here we are. I am going to praise a movie whose lead character goes by [checks notes] “He-Man.” In fact, this film should have been titled “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” like he’s the lead singer for a cheesy cover band. To be fair, the words “He-Man” don’t come up until literally the very last minute of movie. The movie knows exactly how silly the name is. It also knows how silly He-Man’s loin-cloth-and-chest-square costume is, and how silly the villain is (“he has a skull for a head”), which are among several things to love about this tongue-in-cheek tribute to a cartoon I never watched.
Adam (Artie Winkinson-Hunt young, Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man) is 
the prince of Eternia. He lives in a castle whose opening is the mouth of a giant fanged skull. The castle itself (“Castle Grayskull” because of course) seems to be just a series of caves, but, hey, not my planet, not my castle. Li’l Adam gets bulled a bunch during daily combat training, all of which comes not at all in handy when Skeletor (Jared Leto) and his band of evil come to take Castle Grayskull. Long story short, Adam escapes with the Sword of Power, but loses the sword while escaping to Earth. Aw.
So … “He-Man” grows up wimpy. He becomes a human resources consultant, which is kinda hilarious. He-Man, master of loin cloth and sword, looks to solve problems with words instead of violence. Damn right! We should resolve all conflict with words ahead of fists. That said, Adam uses all of his free time to track down the lost Sword of Power, which is found in the backroom of a comic book shop. (A very crowded comic book shop, btw; it must be RPG day.) I can’t emphasize enough that the adult who will become He-Man seems quite a bit more comfortable 
with a bath and a good book than with anything resembling combat. This feeling is doubly emphasized when Beast Man responds to a signal released by the sword.
You get the picture: everybody is after the Sword of Power, which is currently in the hands of a guy who seems very reluctant to use it. How exactly is He-Man going to vanquish Skeletor and reclaim Castle Grayskull when he seems far more likely to say, “use your words” in patient-but-firm tones. And even that is a fantasy because Adam doesn’t seem to want to be firm with anybody.
Don’t worry; loin cloth Adam will show up eventually … and then wonder where his clothes went. Buddy, we’re all there.
Masters if the Universe is the kind of film where you could tell everybody was having a good time. Alison Brie as Skeletor’s mage-minion Evil-Lyn stands out especially. This is an actress who knows exactly how ridiculous this whole thing is and chooses to sell it, anyway, like any good performer should. In fact, I believe everyone in the cast knows the subject matter is silly; the plot is silly; the action is silly. However, there are five-year-old boys who will not get the humor, so Adam, his general Duncan (Idris Elba), and his Warrior Princess Teela (Camila Mendes), had all better be heroic to the kids who won’t get how funny it is to name a grown man “Fisto.” And they are. Masters of the Universe is neither perfect, nor fine art by any stretch, but it works of many levels, and is entertaining throughout. I went in knowing nothing of the Masters or their Universe and I had a delightful time.
Until we meet again!
There once was of Eternia
Exiled until his returnia
He grew up a doof
Yet the sword offers proof
Careful, “He-Man,” you might get a hernia
Rated PG-13, 140 Minutes
Director: Travis Knight
Writer: Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee
Genre: Camp Fun
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Anybody in a mood to smile
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: If you don’t have stomach for campy fun, this film offers nothing
