Masters of the Universe Parent Guide

When the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto) attacks Eternia, the King and Queen (James Purefoy and Charlotte Riley) run to Castle Grayskull along with their young son, Adam (Artie Wilkinson-Hunt). Desperate to prevent the Sword of Power from falling into Skeletor’s hands, the Sorceress (Morena Baccarin) sends Adam and the fabled weapon through a portal to a distant planet with instructions to keep the sword safe and use it to find his way home.

Fifteen years later, Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) is a corporate HR drone who spends his time obsessively seeking the sword that was torn from him on his trip to Earth (and trying to convince people that he isn’t crazy). When he finally regains the weapon, he’s once again in danger as Skeletor’s monstrous minions hunt him down. Luckily, Eternia’s survivors are experienced in resistance, and they stand at Adam’s side as he learns what it means to wield a weapon of power and to become a hero himself.

This film is based off the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated TV series which ran in the mid-1980s. If you were a kid at the time, you will likely get a kick out of the show which combines non-stop action with occasional moments of comedy and a heaping serving of cheese. Almost any teen or adult who enjoys mindless, campy action flicks will get their money’s worth out of the latest iteration of the toy-based franchise. It isn’t innovative or clever, but this film is exactly what it sets out to be.

I’m not a big fan of action movies – I tend to find extended fight scenes dull – but I must admit that this movie moves along briskly, with creative fight scenes, an easy-to-follow narrative, and a cast that doesn’t take their roles or silly dialogue too seriously. I’m no fan of Jared Leto, but he’s found his place as Skeletor, plotting evilly and dropping wry one-liners. I’m more of a fan of Nicholas Galitzine who manages to be both earnest and tongue-in-cheek in his role as Adam. Idris Elba brings much needed gravitas as Duncan of the Royal Guard and Camila Mendes neatly rounds out the principal cast as Teela, Adam’s childhood friend and experienced fighter. I don’t love this film, but thanks to the cast, I don’t hate it either.

Masters of the Universe is not without its weaknesses, the first of which is its runtime. The show clocks in at a bladder-busting two hours and twenty minutes which is unnecessary for a movie that feels like a big screen video game. (It’s clearly too long for the fan base: the mostly middle-aged men at the screening I attended had a higher-than-average number of bathroom breaks.) The film also struggles with tone, lightly mocking Adam’s penchant for empathy, discussion, and “wokeness” (his “He/Him” pronouns at work), although the latter winks at his “He-Man” nickname. The Sorceress may praise Adam’s empathetic personality, but it’s clear throughout the film that his real value comes from his fists and his power to fight Eternia’s enemies. 

Those fists and the constant violence are the main concern for parents considering the movie for family viewing. Profanity, sexual content, and alcohol consumption are at low levels, but the violence is relentless. People are punched, stabbed, shot, thrown, attacked with fantastical weapons, crushed, dismembered, and vaporized. Violence is glamorized and valorized and is even perpetrated with glee – by both villains and protagonists. If your kids play video games, there’s nothing new here, but there’s nothing better either. 

About author

Kirsten Hawkes

Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.