The 26th movie in the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe and third of Phase 4, Eternals introduces an entirely new team of superheroes to Marvel Studios' franchise world. The film is directed by Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) from a script she co-wrote with Patrick Burleigh (Ant-Man and the Wasp), Ryan Firpo (Bet Raise Fold) and Kaz Firpo (Refuge), and based on a story by the Firpos. Eternals adapts the Marvel Comics characters of the same name, which were created by Jack Kirby in 1976, bringing the alien heroes to the world of the MCU. While Eternals has most of the benchmarks of a Marvel movie, Zhao's sprawling superhero epic is unlike anything the MCU has produced before.

The story of the film kicks off in 5000 BC, showing how the Eternals are sent to Earth to protect the planet and the humans who live on it from the evil aliens called Deviants. Throughout time, the team battles the Deviants until they're all but extinct, though the Eternals are forbidden from getting involved in any human conflict. The movie picks up in present day with the team having split up. Sersi (Gemma Chan) is living in London with Sprite (Lia McHugh) and dating the human Dane Whitman (Kit Harington). When a Deviant attacks, Ikaris (Richard Madden) arrives and the Eternals realize they must reassemble their team. The three of them travel the world to visit their former team members: Ajak (Salma Hayek), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Thena (Angelina Jolie), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), Druig (Barry Keoghan), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) and Makkari (Lauren Ridloff). Together, they must figure out why the Deviants are back and come up with a plan to protect the Earth.

Related: Marvel's Eternals Powers Explained: What Each Team Member Can Do

Ikaris and Sersi about to kiss in Eternals

Despite the number of characters included in Eternals, Zhao's movie does an excellent job of weaving their stories together and showing the various ways each hero is affected by their time on Earth. However, a central thematic storyline is achieved by focusing much of the plot around Sersi and Ikaris. Their romantic relationship has ended by the time the film picks up in the present day, but it works as an emotional core to Eternals. Their romance is genuinely sweet, if rushed, with a montage — that includes a marriage scene that is followed shortly by the MCU's very first sex scene — doing most of the work to establish Sersi and Ikaris' relationship. Their dynamic is much more complicated in the present day storyline, and the tragedy of their failed romance gives Eternals much of its heart, providing a depth to the story.

While Sersi and Ikaris receive much of the movie's attention, Eternals also gives the other characters their due. Sprite has her own tragic storyline as she struggles to fit into a world that sees her as a child, and McHugh  fantastically pulls off the delicate balance such a character arc needs. Nanjiani's Kingo often acts as comedic relief in Eternals, which the actor is well-suited for, though the third act seems like it doesn't know what to do with him. Thena and Gilgamesh have their own deep connection that's not quite as explored as Sersi and Ikaris', but Jolie and Lee are an immensely fun duo to watch. Keoghan, Henry, Ridloff and Hayek are all given something to work with, even if their characters are slightly more one-note. Still, there is a surprising amount of depth to Druig, Phastos, Makkari and Ajak that is either explicitly laid out for viewers or hinted at through the characters' actions and interactions with the other Eternals. Overall, the film was given the monumental task of introducing ten completely new characters to the MCU and developing them enough to ensure audiences would root for them all - and Zhao deftly pulls it off.

Kumail Nanjiani, Gemma Chan and Lia McHugh in Eternals

Though Eternals is essentially a character drama, Zhao still manages to include most of the major hallmarks of a Marvel movie, particularly action and humor - for better or worse. The action of Eternals is, for the most part,  grounded in reality largely because Zhao films the fight scenes in daylight and on location. There's little of the grayish half-light or CGI backgrounds. This makes the movie feel more immersive and the action more thrilling as a result, with the exception of certain shots of Ikaris flying and fighting deviants. As for the comedy, Eternals has humor in spades thanks to both Kingo and Sprite. While much of the comedy is fun and entertaining like most Marvel movies, there are other times when a joke undercuts an important emotional moment (though Eternals does this less than Thor: Ragnarok). For all Eternals attempts to stand apart from other MCU entries — and it does, mostly, achieve this — it's still very much a Marvel movie. That might be comforting for those who really like the Marvel formula and disheartening for others hoping to finally get a truly different MCU film.

Ultimately, Eternals is worth seeing for all fans of the MCU, from casual to diehard. Zhao is able to provide enough of a different Marvel movie experience for Eternals to feel fresh (at least compared to past phases). Phase 4 is proving to be one of Marvel's most experimental, with Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings and now Eternals bringing something new and never-before-seen to the MCU, which is exciting both in terms of each individual viewing experience and for the franchise as a whole. The 26th film in the franchise may set up an exciting future for the MCU (though it should be noted the post-credits scenes were not show during this reviewer's press screening), but Eternals is a thrilling, epic superhero adventure all its own, with a captivating emotional heart brought to life beautifully by Zhao's direction. It's a Marvel movie unlike anything the MCU has seen thus far.

Next: Eternals Movie Trailer

Eternals will be released in theaters on Thursday evening, November 4. It is 157 minutes long and rated PG-13 for fantasy violence and action, some language and brief sexuality.

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