In the opening sequence of the new Masters of the Universe movie, we are introduced to a 10-year-old Prince Adam (pre-He-Man), as he fails spectacularly in a combat training session. Furious, his father, King Randor, reprimands him, essentially telling him to quit being a sissy and toughen up. The framing seems clear: the dad, representing masculine strength, is “toxic.”
I reflexively rolled my eyes.
Yes, the film was poised to subvert its source material’s basic premise: a hulking dude uses his sword and fists to vanquish evil and save the planet. I surmised in that moment that the film would end with He-Man, or perhaps another character entirely, defeating antagonist Skeletor by some means other than violence.
In a shocking turn, however, the next sequence lampoons “sensitivity culture,” as it follows adult Adam muddling through an unfulfilling career as a modern American corporate HR rep. This framing also seems clear: today’s non-confrontational conflict resolution milieu is dumb.
So, which should we be rooting for in this film? Traditional masculinity or empathetic diplomacy? The film spends much of its two-hour run time oscillating between the two….
Cole Powell is an arts and media commentator and award-winning singer/songwriter from Jayess, Mississippi, USA, with degrees in computer technology, liberal arts, and theology. Host Random Reactions, Words Like That, and Film Nerd by Night. https://colepowell.net