Masters of the Universe Review: Is It Worth Watching?

The setup is elegantly simple. Fifteen years ago, the Sword of Power was lost, and young Prince Adam was separated from his home world of Eternia. Now a reluctant, self-doubting young man on Earth, Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) is pulled back through a cosmic portal when the mysterious blade re-emerges. He arrives to find his kingdom in ruins, his family scattered, and a skull-faced menace named Skeletor (Jared Leto) sitting on the throne. To save his mother, his world, and his own identity, Adam must team up with his old friends - the fiercely loyal Teela (Camila Mendes) and the wise, battle-hardened Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba) - and finally embrace his destiny as He-Man. The plot is a classic hero’s journey, no apologies. Think Thor meets The Lord of the Rings by way of a Saturday morning cartoon. It knows exactly what it is, and it wears its simplicity like a gleaming battle-axe.

Let’s start with the heavy lifting: Nicholas Galitzine absolutely nails the dual role. As Adam, he’s a lost, charmingly awkward fish out of water - a guy who can barely bench-press his own insecurities. Then he raises the sword, shouts the line, and suddenly transforms into a mountain of muscle and pure confidence. Galitzine sells both sides completely, making you believe that the same actor is both the insecure prince and the “most powerful man in the universe.” Camila Mendes is a revelation as Teela - she’s not just a love interest or a damsel; she’s a fiercely capable warrior with her own emotional arc, and her chemistry with Galitzine is electric. Idris Elba, as expected, brings gravitas to Man-At-Arms, grounding the cosmic silliness with a fatherly weight.

The visual world-building is where Masters of the Universe truly shines. Eternia feels real - a sprawling, neon-and-obsidian fantasy realm that looks like Blade Runner got a makeover from a heavy metal album cover. The action sequences are kinetic and creative, with He-Man’s super-strength used in surprisingly clever ways. A fight against a giant, metallic Trap Jaw (Sam C. Wilson, stealing scenes) in an Eternian foundry is a clear highlight.

Where the film falters is in its villain department. Jared Leto’s Skeletor is… fine. He’s menacing in a theatrical, almost operatic way, and his costume is a marvel of practical effects and CGI. But the performance lacks the unhinged, gleeful malevolence that made the cartoon Skeletor so iconic. He’s more of a brooding warlord than a cackling madman. Alison Brie’s Evil-Lyn is similarly underused - she’s given one great monologue about ambition, then relegated to spell-casting duties. The film also suffers from a slightly bloated runtime. At 141 minutes, the middle act drags as characters wander through magical deserts and have “destiny” conversations. A trim of 10-15 minutes would have made the third-act payoff hit harder.

Pros

• Nicholas Galitzine is a dual-role revelation, bringing genuine heart and muscle to He-Man.
• Camila Mendes and Idris Elba are fantastic, adding emotional depth and cool-headed authority.
• The visual design of Eternia is stunning - practical sets and CGI blend beautifully.
• Action sequences are inventive and hugely entertaining.
• The film takes its core theme of embracing one’s true self seriously, landing emotional beats you don’t expect from a toy-inspired movie.

Cons

• Jared Leto’s Skeletor is solid but lacks the iconic, cackling energy the character needs.
• Alison Brie is criminally underused as Evil-Lyn.
• The film overstays its welcome by a good 15 minutes in the second act.
• Some supporting characters (Fisto, Ram Man) feel like afterthoughts - cool designs, little substance.

Masters of the Universe is a glorious, over-the-top, and surprisingly sincere adaptation that understands the assignment: it’s about a reluctant hero finding his strength, his family, and his place in a universe that needs him. It’s not perfect - the runtime needs trimming, and Skeletor could use a little more maniacal laughter and a little less cosmic brooding - but the heart is in the right place, and the heart is pure. It’s a movie that wears its ‘80s action-figure roots proudly, without ever being embarrassed by them. Go see it with a group of friends, whisper the famous lines under your breath, and prepare to have the theme song stuck in your head for a week. By the power of Grayskull… you’ll have a good time.