Chloé and Marvel shoot for the stars.

From Waititi to Raimi to Coogler, Marvel are certainly no strangers to the more auteurist end of the directorial spectrum, however, their move to collaborate with a director as utterly unique as Chloé Zhao is by far the studio’s boldest move to date.

Possessing such a singular filmmaking style, Zhao is a once in a generation talent whose achingly intimate, deeply humanist approach to her craft appears, on the surface at least, to be diametrically opposed to Marvel Studios’ brand of mega-budget, universe-building blockbuster. Yet here we are.

Striking while the iron was hot, Marvel’s move to welcome Zhao into their universe while the buzz of Nomadland was still ringing in everyone’s ears was an admirably bold one and, likewise, demonstrated a director willing to push herself beyond her comfort zone. And, while there were certainly some understandable worries that this odd couple pairing was just too incompatible, in hindsight, the fates of Chloé Zhao and Eternals were always cosmically aligned.

After living on Earth in secret for thousands of years, a group of ancient aliens known as the Eternals are forced out from the shadows by an unexpected tragedy. With no other option but to reunite after millennia apart, this fractured group of near-immortal demigods must put their differences aside to take on their sworn enemy, the Deviants, and save mankind from imminent annihilation.

As unquestionably successful as it’s been over the past thirteen years, much has been made of the ‘Marvel formula’. What this much-derided formula is exactly can be a little hazy, and while there’s no doubting the fact that there are several defining characteristics that make an MCU movie an MCU movie, the franchise has had to move beyond such strict definitions to survive.

There’s just no way this cinematic universe could remain at the top of the pack both financially and critically without growing beyond the confines of this ‘formula’. However, for all its evolution over the past few years, nothing has come close to Eternals.

Of course, there are elements within Eternals that mark it out as very much part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Quite frankly, it would be nigh on impossible for there not to. Yet, despite a few recognisable moments within the story and the characters, the overall package feels from another universe entirely.

Because, make no mistake, while Eternals has Marvel branding all over it, this is very much a Chloé Zhao joint. Utterly infused with Zhao’s unique sensibilities and distinctive filmmaking eye, it’s clear that, as much as they possibly could, Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige have stepped back and allowed their director to do her thing.

At its best when stripped down and intimate, Eternals may well come complete with many of the usual MCU trimmings yet feels absolutely of a piece with previous Zhao efforts like Nomadland and The Rider. At times more concerned with reflecting on the meaning of humanity than playing the superhero game, Eternals leaves Chloé Zhao’s brand intact and is all the better for it.

And this is the overriding element that, despite its issues, makes Eternals click. The film is absolutely huge, telling the tale of god-like beings and galaxy crafting Celestials, sprawled out across time and space. Yet, despite this epic scope, Eternals is admirably intimate in its approach.

For such a huge, millennia-spanning science fiction epic to feel so rooted and small scale is testament to Zhao’s commitment to her characters. Such an achievement is no mean feat, especially when placed in the context of Marvel’s ever-expanding universe, yet, despite a few wobbles along the way, Zhao makes her unshakably authentic, deeply humanist presence felt.

Like any team up movie, its ultimate success relies heavily on the cohesion of the collective and the ability to service them satisfyingly. While the Avengers movies have largely managed to balance their expansive casts pretty well, Eternals one-ups its MCU predecessors by keeping us invested in a group of largely unknown characters without breaking a sweat.

Reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy, the film has us caring about a bunch of relatively obscure characters far more than it’s got any right to. Sure, there are certainly some members of the team with more screen time than others, yet through Zhao’s balanced writing and engaging performances across the board, no one is left behind.

In truth, while main players like Gemma Chan’s Sersi and Richard Madden’s Ikaris are given the lion’s share of the limelight and do a solid job with it, it’s the fringe characters that pop the most. Although their time on screen is relatively restricted, the likes of Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, and Don Lee grab their moment and make every second count.

The impact of such relatively unknown characters really is testament to the strength and depth of the cast, as well as the wealth of their diversity as a collective. Sporting a level of inclusivity you rarely witness from any movie, let alone a huge franchise, this team are a true reflection of the humanity they’ve lived amongst for thousands of years.

Of course, the world being what it is, some will inevitably rile against such rich representation, but pay no mind to that. Without feeling forced in the slightest, the Eternals are there to reflect all of us. Not America. Not Europe. Not any one race, sexuality, or group. All of humanity. And reflect they most certainly do.

Meant 100% as a complement, Eternals is perhaps Marvel’s most DC film to date. As Zhao digs deep into the core of what it means to be a god among men, with all the burdens, worries, and inevitable grief that come with it, the film echoes the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Justice League in ways we’ve rarely seen from the MCU before.

Unfortunately, the enormity of this undertaking and the attempt to grapple with such god-tier themes forms the film’s major undoing. With a staggered plot structure, an over-reliance on lengthy exposition, and a rather hefty runtime, Eternals often struggles to keep up with its own lofty ambitions, as Zhao’s admirable desire to shoot for the stars occasionally comes up short.

Clocking in at a weighty 2 hours and 37 minutes, the film certainly could’ve benefitted from a little tightening up, however, despite this extended length, there’s rarely a dull moment to it, as its thematic weight and visual prowess succeed in pulling it through. Marked by Chloé Zhao’s signature naturalistic style and bathed in a warm magic hour glow, Eternals sets itself apart from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with an aesthetic that matches its epic ambitions while remaining admirably grounded.

With an emphasis on practical sets and natural light, there’s a tangibility to Eternals that you very rarely get from a Marvel outing (or many other modern blockbusters for that matter), and while of course CGI plays its part throughout, it never overwhelms the screen, as Chloé Zhao offers up a visual treat that we may never see in the MCU again.

Paired with Ramin Djawadi’s stirring yet delicate score, Eternals carries with it an energy that’s at once soulful and ethereal, whisking you up and pulling you through even the film’s roughest patches.

For better or worse, Eternals feels utterly unique, and despite being unmistakably part of the MCU, remains largely removed from it. Take away the odd reference to the Avengers or Thanos and the film stands out as its own thing entirely, and while this bold approach certainly won’t be for everyone, you have to admire the attempt to do something different.

After years of demanding Marvel step out of their comfort zone, Eternals arrives like a breath of fresh air. While the studio have certainly been more willing to take the odd risk or two in recent years, Eternals represents by far Marvel’s biggest swing to date, and although it may not connect quite as often as it intended, this latest effort is certainly a big step forward, and, like its protagonists, succeeds despite its imperfections.

Threaded through with Chloé Zhao’s distinctive, deeply personal style, Eternals marks a bold departure for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and while not all of it lands, its successes far outweigh its failures. Huge but intimate, dense but utterly relatable, unique but unmistakably part of something bigger; Eternals sees Zhao shooting for the stars and blowing a hole in the Marvel formula as she goes.