Review: 'Eternals' Dazzles But Ultimately Disenchants

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) saga continues with a sprawling origin epic that evokes a plea for inclusivity and diversity, introducing ten God-like heroes forced to reunite amid an existential threat looming Earth.

“Eternals,” co-written and directed by Oscar-winning “Nomadland” filmmaker Chloé Zhao, is 2 hours and 37 minutes long, and much of the first half involves a lengthy exposition of the premise, while laying out the landscape to reassemble a group of superheroes.

Watch the trailer.

Based on the comics created by Jack Kirby in 1976, the film opens with a “Star-Wars”-like text, a brief prologue about the “Eternals,” the powerful 7000-year-old immortals sent by the Celestial God Arishem from the planet of Olympia.

For centuries, they have been living among us, secretly hiding in plain sight with one mission to undertake: To protect humans from the alien predators known as Deviants. Hence, through various times in human history, we see them fighting these mythical and ravenous monsters across continents and ancient empires, ultimately decimating the last of these species in the year 1521.

However, 500 years later, in the present day, the Deviants are mysteriously back, prompting the Eternals to reemerge and band together.

Soon, audiences will learn about these powerful immortals, the most diverse and inclusive in MCU’s history: Eternals’ matriarch Ajak (Salma Hayek), the humankind-loving Sersi (Gemma Chan), the brain-addled Thena (Angelina Jolie) and the super-flyboy Ikaris (Richard Madden).

But wait! There’s also the forever-young Sprite (Lia McHugh), the fun-loving Gilgamesh (Don Lee) and the techy-genius Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry).

Plus, let’s not forget the extrovert Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), the intense Druig (Barry Keoghan) and the hearing-impaired Makkari (Lauren Ridloff).

With all their might of superpowers ranging from transmutation and telepathy to flight and speed and to energy projection and molecular manipulation, these Eternals will stop at nothing to save humankind from the Deviants once more.

However, there is one puzzling question that the screenplay seemingly fails to answer with conviction: Why are the Eternals protecting us from the Deviants in the first place?

Marvel fans’ inquiring minds might also wonder as to why the Eternals did not help stop the cataclysmic events of “Avengers: Infinity War.” Luckily, the movie has the answer. Still, it might not be convincing enough to address Thanos’ hybrid nature.

Meaningful relationships abound in “Eternals,” but they barely get enough screen time to pique our interest and get us all emotionally invested. One of them is the millennia-old on-and-off love affair between Sersi and Ikaris.

As it turns out, Sersi has moved on to a new beau named Dane Whitman (Kit Harington), a dashing mortal who is making Ikaris seethe with jealousy. Is Ikaris hell-bent on ruining Sersi’s budding new romance with Dane? Can an immortal really love a human?

Another notable relationship is the de-facto partnership between Thena and her protector Gilgamesh. Is there more to it than meets the eye?

There are some unforgettable moments from the movie such as Nanjiani's colorful flair in the role of an Eternal moonlighting as a Bollywood star. Meanwhile, Chan and Jolie simply beam with sublime gravitas when they manifest their emotions.

Finally, do you need to know the entire MCU lore to see the movie? No. It has the vibes of a standalone film.

All in all, while “Eternals” dazzles with visual poetry and impressive performances, the film ultimately languishes with overly long expositions, rushed scene executions, uneven pacing and a convoluted storyline full of digressions.

Tip: Make sure not to miss the two post-credit scenes.

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