In the late 1990s, as the elder two of my three sons were growing up, it would not be unusual to hear the words “By the Power of Grayskull!” being shouted from the playroom as the two role-played. And of course, the younger one would have no choice but to play Skeletor to his kuyas’ He-Man/Prince Adam. It would be Eternia this and Eternia that, and how the imaginatively named Sword of Power would rule the day.

So fast-forward to 2026, and it’s not without a dose of nostalgia that I enter the SM Megamall IMAX to watch the latest reboot film, directed by Travis Knight (CEO of Laika and son of Nike co-founder Phil Knight). The first live-action “Masters of the Universe” film came out in 1987 and starred Dolph Lundgren, under the direction of Gary Goddard. Given the popularity of the He-Man cartoons, it was touted as the new “Star Wars” franchise of the 1980s. As it turned out, that was empty hype, as the 1987 film was both a critical and commercial failure, though it has since attained cult status. And hence, the green light for this new 2026 iteration.

This “He-Man” stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Camila Mendes as Teela, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, and Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn. The immediate crowd favorite is Battle Cat, the talking tiger with green-hued fur.

Long-take action sequences punctuate the film’s more than two-hour running time, serving as welcome breaks from the campy, self-deprecating narrative that allows us to reach back and remember why this cartoon was so beloved in the 1980s.

The film never takes itself seriously. If you analyze the tone, it’s clearly aiming for the territory occupied by the early “Guardians of the Galaxy” films and Taika Waititi’s “Thor.” Unfortunately, the humor is not as sharp as in those superhero outings, which makes the pacing vulnerable to criticism, along with the rather formulaic rite-of-passage journey Adam must undergo to fulfill his destiny.

The very knowing silliness works wonderfully when we’re on Earth but feels strained whenever the action shifts to Eternia. As a result, the rapid transitions between the two settings can feel downright schizophrenic at times.

What does work is Travis Knight’s obvious love and affinity for the IP. It’s evident from the start and sustained with gusto throughout. This is a family-friendly potential blockbuster: old fans will be pleased and react favorably to the numerous Easter eggs, while younger, uninitiated moviegoers will simply enjoy all the bells and whistles.

And like “Guardians,” there’s a rousing vintage-rock soundtrack assembled by Daniel Pemberton, with Queen guitarist Brian May contributing.

Galitzine possesses both the goofy sweetness and the physical presence needed to pull off this portrayal of He-Man. Meanwhile, Jared Leto is virtually unrecognizable as Skeletor, bringing a lurid intensity that allows him to steal scenes at every opportunity.

A salute, then, to the original colorful and cheerful spirit of the cartoons and television series for successfully making the leap to this film adaptation.

I watched this on an SM IMAX screen, and that certainly helped give the film a larger-than-life dimension. Sure, you may not recall much of the movie the moment the closing credits roll, but you won’t feel short-changed. It’s a fun ride that isn’t aspiring to be anything more.