MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS REVIEW (2023)

 

Movies featuring colossal creatures often turn into unexpected talkathons, leaving audiences wondering if they stumbled into a debate club instead of a monster showdown. Yet, I'm usually game for the bureaucratic banter in films like "Shin Godzilla" or the forced perspective of flicks like "Monsters." With the deep pockets of Apple TV+, you'd think they could conjure up the non-stop spectacle of "Godzilla vs. Kong" in an episodic format, but alas, it's a tall order. So, imagine my curiosity when the MonsterVerse lumbered onto the streaming scene, knowing full well that the human characters would need to be as captivating as the titans, or else we'd be drowning in a sea of mediocre writing. And oh boy, does "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" dive headfirst into this potential pitfall, offering viewers fewer reasons to care than a cat does about your problems, except for those rare bursts of action that show up less often than a reliable plumber.

Now, the real special effect gem in "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" is purely genetic genius. Picture this: the brilliant minds behind the show, Chris Black and Matt Fraction, decided to cast Kurt Russell and his son Wyatt Russell as the same character. Talk about a family affair! Both Russells bring their A-game to the table, delivering performances that'll make you wonder if they share a brain. It's like a father-son acting masterclass, with Wyatt channeling his dad's '80s charm in a way that'll make you wish he'd been doing it all along. This isn't just some gimmick; these guys actually put in the work to portray a young hero and the toll of time and tragedy on his character. It's like they're reading each other's minds, or at least their scripts. Sure, there are a couple of other decent performances floating around in the underdeveloped ensemble, but make no mistake, this is the Russells' show. Only a legend like Kurt Russell could steal the spotlight from Godzilla himself.

"Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" unfolds across two timelines. In the present day, we're knee-deep in the aftermath of Godzilla's San Francisco rampage, with survivor Cate (Anna Sawai) hot on the trail of her missing father, only to discover he had a double life in Japan. Cue the family reunion with half-brother Kentaro (played by the charismatic Ren Watabe, stealing scenes like a pro) and tech whiz May (Kiersey Clemons) tagging along for the ride. Oh, and there's a legend named Lee Shaw (guess who?) thrown into the mix, because every monster flick needs a grizzled soldier with a secret or two.

Then there are the flashbacks to the 1950s, where a young Shaw (Wyatt Russell, doing his best mini-Kurt impression) teams up with a lady named Keiko (Mari Yamamoto) and a researcher named Bill Randa (Anders Holm, who you might recognize as the future John Goodman from "Kong: Skull Island"). Sure, the idea that Holm morphs into Goodman in less than three decades is a bit of a stretch, but hey, we'll let it slide because Holm is just so darn likable.

These flashbacks serve up some military drama as our heroes grapple with Godzilla and ponder the age-old question of whether mankind should just stop meddling with Mother Nature already. But it's all a bit undercooked, like a microwave dinner that's still frozen in the middle. The themes and characters barely get a chance to stretch their legs before we're back to square one, reciting stuff we already know or will figure out in the next monster mashup.  Every human subplot in "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" feels like it's stuck in first gear, as if the writers ran out of ideas halfway through the brainstorming session. Dialogue drags on longer than a Monday morning meeting, leaving viewers wondering if they accidentally hit the pause button. It takes a snow-covered titan attack to inject some life into the proceedings, but by then, we're already halfway through the season. Sure, audiences will binge-watch a ten-episode season in a weekend, but expecting them to sit through four hours of lackluster content just to find the silver lining is pushing it.

So, after trudging through five episodes of "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," I'm left feeling about as enthused as a sloth on a Monday morning. Sure, Kurt Russell's charisma could power a city, and Wyatt Russell is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing actors of his generation, but even their combined star power can't save this sinking ship. It's like the show was custom-made for me—a die-hard Godzilla fan, MonsterVerse enthusiast, and card-carrying member of the Russell fan club—and yet, here I am, struggling to muster up enough interest to finish the first season. If I'm barely hanging on, how on earth is this supposed to reel in anyone else?

But hey, if you're into world-shattering revelations, sibling bonding, and uncovering family secrets, "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" might just be your cup of radioactive tea.