He-Man, Ram-Man, Skeletor, Trap Jaw, Goat Man, Mekaneck, and… Battle Cat? If someone had read me that character list for Masters of the Universe before I bought my ticket, I would have turned around and gone home.

Sure, I like superhero movies as much as the next person. I've watched every (and I mean, every) Marvel film. Most of the DC adaptations too. But I'd be lying if I said the genre hadn't started to feel like homework. Which is why, when Masters of the Universe was first announced, I barely paused from scrolling on my phone.

But what can I say? A few trailers featuring a very beefed-up Nicholas Galitzine, and suddenly I was invested. I had to see it.

Watch the trailer for Masters of the Universe, in cinemas now.

Before watching the new movie, I had a very basic understanding of the lore: a line of action figures created by Mattel, an animated TV series, and a 1987 live-action adaptation that looked like a neon-soaked, fever-dream time capsule. But that was about it. I didn't know the characters, the music, or the plot lines — meaning I walked in with zero baggage and zero loyalty.

Thanks to a recent slew of disappointing IP reboots (looking at you, Madame Web), I was bracing for impact when the lights dimmed. And as a chronically short-attention-spanned Gen Z-er, I was certain my mind would wander. But it didn't. I was hooked from the first frame.

The concept is simple as far as sci-fi superhero plot lines go (which is a major selling point for me; I firmly believe a superhero movie doesn't need a plot complex enough to challenge the MCU's multiverse, but I digress).

After tracking down the Sword of Power, Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) finds himself returning to Eternia, a world now under the tyrannical rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto).

Teaming up with Teela (Camila Mendes) and Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), Adam must embrace his destiny as He-Man — aka the most powerful man in the universe — to beat the bad guys and restore peace.

Look, at this point I have to make it clear. By no means will Masters of the Universe win an Oscar or be applauded for its cinematic excellence. But it is, without question, a genuinely fun viewing experience.

The new adaptation leans into the silliness of its origins. It's colourful and campy, paying homage to its gloriously over-the-top 80s roots (and soundtrack) and not shying away from the retro source material.

Yes, the villain of the film is a skeleton named Skeletor. Yes, the guy with a large metal fist who hits people is called Fisto. Yes, Prince Adam has a green talking tiger named Cringer. No, they didn't keep the bowl cut. What of it?

While the cast of the movie is undeniably stacked, I initially held reservations about Nicholas Galitzine playing the titular role. As a fan of his work, I've watched him opposite Anne Hathaway in The Idea of You, and as the Prince of England in Red, White & Royal Blue. Not to mention his most recent role in the endearing Sheep Detectives. But could he join the likes of Chris Hemsworth and Henry Cavill as the lead of a bulked-up superhero franchise?

The answer is a resounding yes. Bringing the perfect blend of self-aware humour and action-packed sequences, Galitzine proves he has the literal and figurative chops to carry a blockbuster.

But it's not just Galitzine's tanned and oiled-up transformation that makes this film such a fun time. It's the full spectacle. The music. The action sequences. The world-building. It doesn't take itself too seriously, which I think was key considering He-Man was nobody's most-anticipated film of the year.

Whether you're a die-hard fan who'll catch every Easter egg, or you're going in completely blind, Masters of the Universe is a delightful two hours of fun.

And sometimes, a man in a loin cloth is exactly the cinematic reset the year needed.

Feature Image: Amazon MGM Studios.

'I had no idea what I was walking into. Somehow, this was the most fun I've had at the cinema all year.'

Madison Scott