An extended scene from “Captain Marvel” showing the hero intimidating a male biker has drawn criticism for what some describe as its overly feminist message.
In the scene cut from the 2019 addition to the “Avengers” superhero franchise, the biker, portrayed by Robert Kazinsky, approaches Brie Larson’s character as she’s looking at a map, asking her if she needs a ride. He tries to flirt with her and asks her to smile because, as he’s offering her help, “the least you could do is give me a smile.”
Using her powers, Captain Marvel subdues the biker and forces him to give up his leather jacket and motorcycle, then asks him why he’s not smiling.
Get an EXCLUSIVE first look at @BrieLarson taking on toxic masculinity (in the form of @RobertKazinsky) in this extended #CaptainMarvel scene: https://t.co/vhB2Rqr8Pc pic.twitter.com/BTGwD9II3K
— USA TODAY Life (@usatodaylife) May 23, 2019
The scene was seen by some as being over-the-top with its message, with Twitter users calling it “cringe” and saying it was “pandering to the currently trendy brand of faux feminism.”
Ummm… ya don’t take on “toxic masculinity” with toxic “femininity.”
How is this going to help anyone? https://t.co/ImNtCdmGIl
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) May 24, 2019
As if it wasn’t obvious that this clip was pandering to the currently trendy brand of faux feminism, USA Today had to spell it out https://t.co/ZHpu6LpGwQ
— Cathy Young (@CathyYoung63) May 25, 2019
Jesus Christ this movie was so bad. https://t.co/rNAOrRV2fR
— Eric July (@EricDJuly) May 25, 2019
Uh this is so cringe https://t.co/gKu73vIIZ4
— Amanda Prestigiacomo (@AmandaPresto) May 25, 2019
Kazinsky responded to the criticisms with an animated GIF of Larsen, as Captain Marvel, laughing.
“I’m caught in the mentions of men who hate Cpt Marvel, and oh my god….” he tweeted.
I’m caught in the mentions of men who hate Cpt Marvel, and oh my god…. pic.twitter.com/7rAUOgoz4f
— Robert Kazinsky (@RobertKazinsky) May 24, 2019
During her acceptance speech for the Crystal Award for Excellence in Film, Larson called for more diverse movie critics.
“I don’t want to hear what a white man has to say about ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’ I want to hear what a woman of color, a biracial woman has to say about the film,” she said. “I want to hear what teenagers think about the film.”