Action
Adventure
Review: ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ is Marvel’s Most Lighthearted and Fun Live-Action Series Yet
August 17, 2022Ben MK
|
As comic book fans know all too well, with great power comes great responsibility. Yet, in spite of the enormous risks that go along with being a superhero, the protagonists of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have rarely shown reluctance when it comes to defending the innocent from the schemes of such villains as Ultron, Dormammu and Thanos. Whether it's a teenager from Queens or a fighter pilot from Boston, the MCU has churned out tale after tale about ordinary people whose lives have been altered in extraordinary ways. And in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, it's Jennifer Walters' turn, as the mild-mannered cousin of the Hulk finds herself thrust unexpectedly into the superhero spotlight. Starring Orphan Black's Tatiana Maslany as the series' titular character, the story follows Jennifer's journey as she goes from being a successful, career-driven Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney to a super-strong media personality who also happens to be able to literally deadlift a ton without even breaking a sweat. The younger cousin of Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Jennifer has never once felt an inkling to partake in the multiverse-saving heroics of his alter ego, the Hulk, preferring instead to make her contribution to society via convincing legal arguments in the courtroom. However, when she and Bruce are both involved in a car accident and she's inadvertently exposed to his gamma-infused blood, Jennifer quickly discovers that he may not be the only member of her family with a knack for transforming into a muscular, green-skinned warrior. In what follows, Jennifer must learn to control her newfound abilities while also juggling her day-to-day duties as a legal professional. But when a super-powered influencer named Titania (Jameela Jamil) rudely disrupts one of Jennifer's court cases and she's forced to change into her Hulk form to put an end to the chaos, Jennifer's world is turned completely upside down, as she's dubbed "She-Hulk" by the media and is suddenly fired from her position at the D.A.'s office. Out of work and down on her luck, it seems that Jennifer’s law career is all but at an end. Luckily for her, one of the partners at the law firm Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway has been keeping a close eye on her, and when he makes her an offer she can't refuse — tapping her to lead a new Superhuman Law Division — it sends Jennifer's star soaring, as she's put in charge of handling such high profile clients as the Abomination himself, Emil Blonskly (Tim Roth), and Wong (Benedict Wong), the Sorcerer Supreme. Created and written by Jessica Gao and directed by Kat Coiro and Anu Valia, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law marks a noticeable departure from the likes of Moon Knight, Loki and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, as the show leans more towards the humorous side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe rather than the overarching drama that has defined Marvel Studios' episodic projects to date. Make no mistake, though, the result still delivers on all the action, character crossovers and world-building that the MCU has become known for. And while the shift to a lighter, more self-aware tone may be off-putting to fans hoping for a bit more gravitas in their storytelling, it's definitely in line with the studio's recent attempts to shake up their tried-and-true formula. Suffice to say, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law proves to be a genuine surprise and may very well be Marvel's most fun and enjoyable live-action series yet. Unfortunately, the CGI can be somewhat dodgy at times, and this origin story can occasionally feel rushed. However, Roth and Wong manage to steal every single scene that they're in; and when it comes to breaking the fourth wall in the MCU, Tatiana Maslany does a smashing job following in the footsteps of Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, providing further affirmation that Canadians indeed do it best. |
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law begins streaming August 18th, exclusively on Disney Plus.
0 comments