If you wanted to create enmity among 1980s film critics, one of the easier ways was to release science fiction epic not produced by Steven Spielberg. Your chances for achieving that goal increased a lot if the said film was based on toy line. And success in enraging the critics was all but guaranteed if the film was produced by firm (in)famous for making cheap exploitation films. Masters of the Universe, 1987 science fantasy film directed by Gary Goddard, met all required criteria.
The film is based on the characters created for the line of action-figure toys produced by Mattel. Toys were popular enough to spawn comic books, video games, animated television series and, finally, live action adaptation produced by The Cannon Group. The plot begins on distant planet of Eternia where forces of evil Skeletor (played by Frank Langella) capture Castle Grayskull and take Sorcerer of Grayskull (played by Christina Pickles) prisoner whose powers he would start to syphon in order to become master of universe. Heroic warrior He-Man (played by Dolph Lundgren) wonders how Skeletor’s forces managed to suddenly overcome Grayskull’s defences and the answer comes in form of Gwildor (played by Billy Barty), Thenorian inventor who made Cosmic Key, multi-dimensional portal which was ultimately stolen by Skeletor’s cunning henchwoman Evil-Lyn (played by Meg Foster). Gwildor has remaining prototype and, when He-Man’s attempt to free Sorceresss fails, uses it to transport He-Man, Man-at-Arms (played by Jon Cypher) and his daughter Teela (played by Chelsea Field) and himself to planet which is later revealed to be Earth. There, recently orphaned teenage girl Julie Winston (played by Courtney Cox) and her boyfriend, aspiring musician Kevin Corrigan (played by Robert Duncan McNeill) accidentally discover Cosmic Key and begin to toy with it, inadvertently giving away its location to Skeletor and his hordes.
The Masters of the Universe was made during Cannon’s brief and ultimately fatal attempt to transform into first tier Hollywood studio with their own summer blockbusters (first being abysmal Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. Although ambitiously promoted as “Star Wars of 1980s”, production was affected by Cannon’s financial woes and penny-pinching ways of its executives Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. This reflected in script by David Odell removing large number of popular franchise characters and most of the plot taking place on Earth in order to save budget. Despite those limitations, The Masters of the Universe, mostly due to skilful direction of Gary Goddard and excellent work by experienced editor Anne V. Coates, functions as solid family entertainment. Budget, which was still very high for Cannon standards, is reflected in good production design, interesting costumes and special effects that are quite effective for 1980s standards, and some look decent even now. Highly respected composer Bill Conti delivers an adequate music score.
The most noticeable flaw of the film is the casting. He-Man was first starring role for Swedish martial artist Dolph Lundgren, cast on the account of his physique. Lundgren in this film still lacks proper acting experience and this was later admitted by actor himself, who often blamed this role for the rest of his career being relegated to star of low budget action films. Lundgren is easily overshadowed by the rest of cast. Frank Langella is much more enthusiastic about his role of the film, accepted for the sake of his young son who was great fan of the He-Man. He has great fun in playing Skeletor as over-the-top villain, often improvising lines and delivering great performance despite being burdened by heavy makeup. Meg Foster with her expressive icy blue eyes is a formidable villainess and the script even allowed her to build some depth in the character. Future Friends star Courtney Cox, until that time known mostly for Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancin the Dark” video, is good in the role of damsel in distress, and same can be said as Robert Duncan McNeil (who would later become famous as Tom Paris in Star Trek: Voyager). But the most impressive member of the cast is character actor James Tolkan who, in the role of tough police detective Hugh Lubic, almost steals the whole film.
Studio’s budget problem in the affected the ending of Masters of the Universe with rather underwhelming final showdown. Its initial box office release, turned into a flop, often explained with the youngest audience already being out of favour with He-Man and older considering the whole film too silly. It represented another major fiasco for Cannon, which would file for bankruptcy few years later. The franchise, however, survived and most of the cast involved used this film as a springboard for future careers. Those who watch today, unafraid of its initial bad reputation, will be rewarded by solid piece of 1980s family entertainment that proves how good film could be made even out of something originated as line of toys.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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I used to watch this movie almost every day in the 1980s, I don't know if I ever remember the story again.
Yay! 🤗
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