{"id":2442175,"date":"2026-06-02T20:37:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T20:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2442175"},"modified":"2026-06-02T20:37:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T20:37:48","slug":"masters-of-the-universe-review-he-man-teela-fight-jared-leto-in-kooky-toy-movie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/masters-of-the-universe-review-he-man-teela-fight-jared-leto-in-kooky-toy-movie\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Masters of the Universe&#8217; review: He-Man, Teela fight Jared Leto in kooky toy movie"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2026%2F06%2Fnewspress-collage-8fmhn9pxy-1780429572790.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall%261780415255\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--review alignleft\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n\t\t<span class=\"inline-module--review__eyebrow subsection-heading-semi__label\"><br \/>\n\t\t\tmovie review\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"inline-module--review__title subsection-heading-semi\">\n\t\t\tMASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"rating\">\n<div class=\"rating__stars\">\n<div class=\"rating__star rating__star--filled\"><?php \/**\n * Review star.\n * \n * @package nyp-editor\n *\/\n\n??><\/p>\n<style><![CDATA[\n\t.review-block-star {\n\t\t--review-block-star--empty-color: #585858;\n\t\t--review-block-star--fill-color: #000;\n\t}\n]]><\/style>\n<p><svg class=\"icon-star review-block-star\" stroke=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\" fill=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" height=\"13px\" width=\"13px\">\n\t<defs>\n\t\t<lineargradient id=\"half-gradient\">\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"50%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\"\/>\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"0%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\"\/>\n\t\t<\/lineargradient>\n\t<\/defs>\n\t<path d=\"M3.612 15.443c-.386.198-.824-.149-.746-.592l.83-4.73L.173 6.765c-.329-.314-.158-.888.283-.95l4.898-.696L7.538.792c.197-.39.73-.39.927 0l2.184 4.327 4.898.696c.441.062.612.636.283.95l-3.523 3.356.83 4.73c.078.443-.36.79-.746.592L8 13.187l-4.389 2.256z\">\n\t<\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating__star rating__star--filled\"><?php \/**\n * Review star.\n * \n * @package nyp-editor\n *\/\n\n??><\/p>\n<style><![CDATA[\n\t.review-block-star {\n\t\t--review-block-star--empty-color: #585858;\n\t\t--review-block-star--fill-color: #000;\n\t}\n]]><\/style>\n<p><svg class=\"icon-star review-block-star\" stroke=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\" fill=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" height=\"13px\" width=\"13px\">\n\t<defs>\n\t\t<lineargradient id=\"half-gradient\">\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"50%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\"\/>\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"0%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\"\/>\n\t\t<\/lineargradient>\n\t<\/defs>\n\t<path d=\"M3.612 15.443c-.386.198-.824-.149-.746-.592l.83-4.73L.173 6.765c-.329-.314-.158-.888.283-.95l4.898-.696L7.538.792c.197-.39.73-.39.927 0l2.184 4.327 4.898.696c.441.062.612.636.283.95l-3.523 3.356.83 4.73c.078.443-.36.79-.746.592L8 13.187l-4.389 2.256z\">\n\t<\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating__star rating__star--filled\"><?php \/**\n * Review star.\n * \n * @package nyp-editor\n *\/\n\n??><\/p>\n<style><![CDATA[\n\t.review-block-star {\n\t\t--review-block-star--empty-color: #585858;\n\t\t--review-block-star--fill-color: #000;\n\t}\n]]><\/style>\n<p><svg class=\"icon-star review-block-star\" stroke=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\" fill=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" height=\"13px\" width=\"13px\">\n\t<defs>\n\t\t<lineargradient id=\"half-gradient\">\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"50%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\"\/>\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"0%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\"\/>\n\t\t<\/lineargradient>\n\t<\/defs>\n\t<path d=\"M3.612 15.443c-.386.198-.824-.149-.746-.592l.83-4.73L.173 6.765c-.329-.314-.158-.888.283-.95l4.898-.696L7.538.792c.197-.39.73-.39.927 0l2.184 4.327 4.898.696c.441.062.612.636.283.95l-3.523 3.356.83 4.73c.078.443-.36.79-.746.592L8 13.187l-4.389 2.256z\">\n\t<\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating__star rating__star--empty\"><?php \/**\n * Review star.\n * \n * @package nyp-editor\n *\/\n\n??><\/p>\n<style><![CDATA[\n\t.review-block-star {\n\t\t--review-block-star--empty-color: #585858;\n\t\t--review-block-star--fill-color: #000;\n\t}\n]]><\/style>\n<p><svg class=\"icon-star review-block-star\" stroke=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\" fill=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" height=\"13px\" width=\"13px\">\n\t<defs>\n\t\t<lineargradient id=\"half-gradient\">\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"50%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\"\/>\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"0%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\"\/>\n\t\t<\/lineargradient>\n\t<\/defs>\n\t<path d=\"M3.612 15.443c-.386.198-.824-.149-.746-.592l.83-4.73L.173 6.765c-.329-.314-.158-.888.283-.95l4.898-.696L7.538.792c.197-.39.73-.39.927 0l2.184 4.327 4.898.696c.441.062.612.636.283.95l-3.523 3.356.83 4.73c.078.443-.36.79-.746.592L8 13.187l-4.389 2.256z\">\n\t<\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>Running time: 132 minutes. PG-13 (some suggestive material, sequences of violence, action, language). In theaters.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mattel\u2019s Oscars track record ends with \u201cMasters of the Universe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The toy company\u2019s latest movie is no \u201cBarbie,\u201d and Tony Kushner won\u2019t be hosting any classy for-your-consideration events for it come winter. Thank goodness.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>No, this decidedly summer flick, directed by Travis Knight, was made solely for your amusement. It\u2019s fun, helium light and doesn\u2019t have a single thought in its dumb head.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The trip will be nostalgic for some children of the 1980s and nineties, but I somehow managed to avoid 44 years of He-Man, She-Ra and Skeletor action figures, comic books and big-screen adventures starring Dolph Lundgren. To the uninitiated, just the title \u201cMasters of the Universe\u201d sounds pretty stupid.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And yet the strength of Knight\u2019s reboot \u2014 a word which becomes murkier by the hour \u2014 is that it leans heavily into that silliness rather than strenuously contorting it into a portentous, dark epic. You can\u2019t very well approach characters with names like Fisto and Ram Man as if they\u2019re soldiers in \u201cSaving Private Ryan.\u201d But in hungry attempts to mint their own \u201cLord of the Rings,\u201d many studios mistakenly do just that.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter\">\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--more inline-module--columnist inline-module--more--thirds\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<h2 class=\"inline-module__heading subsection-heading subsection-heading--single-line \">\n\t\t\tMore From\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"subsection-heading__sub\">Johnny Oleksinski<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Not here. The zany tone of this appealing action-comedy-fantasy combo is a lot like that of 2023\u2019s very good \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/03\/30\/dungeons-dragons-honor-among-thieves-review-shockingly-good\/\">Dungeons &amp; Dragons: Honor Among Thieves<\/a>\u201d in how it goofily distills high nerdery for the masses and has a blast doing so.<\/p>\n<p>Will the masses actually show up? More on that later.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Nicholas Galitzine plays Prince Adam \u2014 a k a He-Man \u2014 in \u201cMasters of the Universe.\u201d <span class=\"credit\">Amazon MGM Studios via AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The story of the beautiful planet Eternia falling to Skeletor and his subtly named henchwoman Evil-Lyn (Alison Brie) is easy to follow since we\u2019ve seen many versions of it before. When the king and queen are captured, little Prince Adam is sent by a Sorceress (Morena Baccarin) with the Sword of Power to Earth in hopes that he\u2019d one day return and save his home.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>See? So far, that\u2019s the same plot as \u201cSonic the Hedgehog.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fast forward to Adam (Nicholas Galtizine) as an adult living in Oklahoma City. The dream! Everybody thinks he\u2019s weird but nice, and he\u2019s lost the all-important blade he came there with. He prowls message boards all day at the office trying to find it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou will be terminated if you don\u2019t stop looking for weapons on the clock,\u201d an HR person tells him.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Jared Leto has a Tim Curry flamboyance as Skeletor. <span class=\"credit\">Amazon MGM Studios via AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Lucky Adam recovers the sword and is whisked back by his warrior goddess friend Teela (Camila Mendes) to do battle with Skeletor and the cool looking Trap Jaw.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A good word for Adam \u2014 a k a He-Man \u2014 would be himbo. He\u2019s handsome, blond and there is no compelling evidence that he can read. Funny Galtizine, from \u201cRed, White &amp; Royal Blue\u201d and \u201cThe Sheep Detectives,\u201d is a little Luke Skywalker, a little \u201cI\u2019m Just Ken\u201d as he learns to harness his innate abilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Jared Leto plays Skeletor, though when doesn\u2019t he? Since the villain has a skull for a head and his voice is distorted like a kidnapper\u2019s phone call, you can\u2019t really tell it\u2019s him. However, he gives the baddie a Tim Curry flamboyance.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The meatiest arc goes to Idris Elba\u2019s Duncan. <span class=\"credit\">Amazon MGM Studios via AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Coming closest to a thoughtful character arc is Idris Elba as Duncan, Teela\u2019s dad and the general who trained a young Adam. He\u2019s a do-nothing drunk who has to get back on his feet. And the British actor lends the Pixie Stick some gravitas.<\/p>\n<p>The fights are upbeat and kaleidoscopically colorful for a palace called Castle Grayskull, if overabundant. But that\u2019s hardly a unique affliction. The sequences are punched up by a rather addictive arcade-game tune from Daniel Pemberton and Brian May.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Alison Brie is Skeletor\u2019s henchwoman. <span class=\"credit\">Amazon MGM Studios via AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Enjoyable though it all very much is, there is an inevitable problem \u201cMasters\u201d will face. I suspect there are a lot more people like me for whom this piece of mid-tier intellectual property holds little to no meaning or special place in their heart. It hasn\u2019t had the staying power of, say, \u201cTransformers.\u201d And unlike me, they don\u2019t have to see it for work.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Making a $200 million movie out of a lesser loved creation is foolish, and so this movie is likely an entertaining one and done. Can\u2019t see this franchise sticking around for all Eternia.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source celebrity.land \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>movie review MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Running time: 132 minutes. PG-13 (some suggestive material, sequences of violence, action, language). In theaters. Mattel\u2019s Oscars track record ends with \u201cMasters of the Universe.\u201d The toy company\u2019s latest movie is no \u201cBarbie,\u201d and Tony Kushner won\u2019t be hosting any classy for-your-consideration events for it come winter. Thank goodness.\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2442176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25174],"tags":[77120,21741,344754,346387,304995,21912],"class_list":["post-2442175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gossip","tag-alison-brie","tag-entertainment","tag-idris-elba","tag-morena-baccarin","tag-movie-reviews","tag-movies"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Masters-of-the-Universe-review-He-Man-Teela-fight-Jared-Leto.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2442175"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442175\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2442177,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442175\/revisions\/2442177"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2442176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2442175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2442175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2442175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}