10 (Spoiler-Free) Things Parents Should Know About ‘Captain Marvel’

Note: There are no spoilers in this article beyond what has already been shown or referenced in trailers, ads, and merchandise. Nothing mentioned herein will spoil a major plot point.

1. How good is it?

Captain Marvel is good; not great, but good enough. It’s really a classic superhero origin story, except it’s told out of order, and the fact that it’s pretty formulaic isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s the first woman-led movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), so the fact that they followed the formula shows a certain equitability; and if the origin story weren’t enough, the film even has a MacGuffin. It’s easily the most feminist superhero movie ever made. I realize that being the “most feminist superhero movie” sounds sort of like being the “most nutritious kids’ breakfast cereal,” but the film is better than it has to be to merely earn that title. The main character (known for most of the film as “Vers,” pronounced with a long ‘e’) never wears anything skimpy, or even shows her knees; there’s never even the suggestion of a love interest for her; and nobody rescues her except herself. The acting is generally very good, and Brie Larson is solid in the title role.

It should be noted that Captain Marvel also serves as an origin story for Nick Fury, in a way not very…