Event Review: Marvel Universe Live!

The high-octane show is exciting for kids and a welcomed activity for dads.

Review by Matt Cummings

It's not often when dads can get into the event side of the familial outing. That's usually reserved for moms and shows like Disney on Ice. But with this weekend's showing of Marvel Universe Live! in Sacramento, dads can add a new activity that won't bore them to tears and might actually entertain along the way.

When Thor destroys the Cosmic Cube, sending the fractals to distant parts of the the planet, Loki returns to re-assemble it in his quest for worldwide domination. To do so, he'll need a cast of Marvel's most fearsome villains: Red Skull, The Sinister Six, and A.I.M. But there's a little group called The Avengers, led by Captain America and Iron Man, who have put together their own team to stop them. Hawkeye, Thor, and Black Widow join Bruce Banner, Wolverine, and Spider-man as they race across the continent to find the fractals before Loki recovers them. In the show's final battle, good and evil square off to determine whether the Earth will leave under a shadow of oppression or a life of freedom.

The action will be fun for 4-10 year olds, as Marvel heroes like Spider-man battle villains like The Sinister Six, or Ms. Marvel flies around the stage zapping and punching agents from Hydra. We also get some nice motorcycle stunt work and lots of acrobatic jumps that actually add a level of excitement to the show's 1:45 runtime. But be warned: there are explosions and pyrotechnics which might shock the little ones if they're not ready. They're harmless, with its bark much worse than the bite. Kids are the show's main audience, so be prepared for less of this and plenty more cheesy one-liners and a overly simple plot that's just a vehicle for the action. It's like being at a boy's night out that's actually made for boys, with laser lights, big sets, and recognizable costumes causing lots of "Look, daddy! It's (enter hero's name here)!

Teens will most likely laugh at the silly stuntwork, that is until the special guest smashes his way into the climactic battle. But not everything was smashing on opening night. Wardrobe malfunctions and a near disaster during a motorcycle jump provided extra commentary from the audience that probably wasn't intended. This is part of an 85-city tour, so experiences like these are bound to happen. Sadly, someone seemed to have forgotten the museum portion, as all one could peruse were cheaply-made, overly-priced memorabilia from the show. This is where the Star Wars: In Concert experience so much better, as we got actual props from the movies. That's a minor complaint, and perhaps something only the nerds like me in the house would have liked. Gotta remember those target demographics.

In the end, Marvel Universe Live! is harmless entertainment that dads and families should enjoy. But be prepared that your children might become Marvel converts afterwards, begging you to let them have at the aisle of your local Target or Toys 'R Us. If that's the worst you get out of this, count the experience as a success.

The show plays this weekend, with performances on Friday at 7:00 PM; Saturday at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 7:00 PM; and Sunday 1:00 and 5:00 PM.

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