In a film that feels like it was made for kids, captain marvel kid delivers exactly what you’d expect: a fun superhero flick with some serious action. It’s a solid addition to the Marvel canon that makes a strong case for why girls can be superheroes, too.
It’s important to note, however, that the movie is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence and brief suggestive language. The movie is a lot more nuanced than the trailers suggest, but it can still be difficult for younger kids to watch.
Kavya Dhillon is a 13-year-old eighth grader from Jersey City, New Jersey who loves reading comics and books, cooking with her mama and cosplaying with her papa. She and her little sister are big fans of Ms. Marvel and her “aunt” Carol Danvers, and she wants to be a superhero like them when she grows up.
In the comics, she has an amazing and diverse group of friends and is a whiz at math and science. She puts others’ needs above her own and is a great role model for young girls, both intellectually and emotionally.
Despite her precociousness, she’s also far from a brat and knows when to back down in the face of danger. Her biggest challenge is balancing her own needs with those of her family and friends.
The movie does a great job of portraying this complicated character. There are a few places where the writers fall short, though. They seem to think that, because Billy Batson has the heart of a child, he must naturally and obviously think like a 10-year old. It’s a similar mistake to the one they make with other characters who are meant to be big kids — such as Prime from Malibu comics, or Superior from Icon Comics.