Eternals

On the heels of the Avengers, the X-Men, the Justice League, the Fantastic Four, and others, Eternals is the latest superhero conglomerate off the comic-book adaptation assembly line.

Indeed, a whiff of familiarity and formula pervades this big-budget behemoth in which all of the effects-driven spectacle serves a silly and overwrought story that leaves little room for meaningful character development or emotional depth.

Spanning centuries into both past and future, the story tracks the titular collection of immortal, and basically invincible, superheroes trying to preserve peace in a world where humans are pawns in an intergalactic power struggle.

Long ago, having been dispatched by the ruling cosmic creators called Celestials from a distant planet, our humanoid heroes eradicated a race of apex predators known as Deviants, which enabled the Eternals to disperse and assimilate on Earth.

However, as the Deviants rise again in the present day, the Eternals must hastily reassemble for Round 2. They also must confront hints about Celestial motives, wondering if their true mission isn’t what they thought all along.

Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao (Nomadland) greatly expands her canvas while retaining a sense of stellar visual craftsmanship. It doesn’t seem like she’s overwhelmed by the scope of the material as much as she’s compromised by a screenplay more intent on fitting into the Marvel Cinematic Universe than standing out.

This convoluted origin story is overstuffed with chronological shifts, half-hearted moral complexity, and high-minded references to creationism and ancient mythologies in an effort to appear ambitious.

Interspersing philosophical mumbo-jumbo with some amusing one-liners, it’s ultimately just setting the table for a parade of elaborate action sequences staged with a certain self-referential smugness while inventing the rules along the way.

Even with some lazy expository plot devices, those unfamiliar with the source material might struggle to keep track of all the characters, their powers, and how they fit together. Things improve once the film becomes more focused on the second half, leading to the obligatory final showdown with the future of the universe at stake.

There are some highlights, of course, such as the lavish costumes and the appealing performances from a diverse ensemble cast topped by Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Brian Tyree Henry, Richard Madden, and Kumail Nanjiani. However, while it scores points for inclusivity, Eternals egregiously emphasizes bombast over substance. Like its title suggests, the characters will live on regardless.

Rated PG-13, 157 minutes.