Following a press screening, the first reactions to Marvel Studios' Captain Marvel are rolling in. Overwhelmingly positive, the responses call the film surprising in all the right ways, defying expectation and bursting with fun and laughter.According to critics, Captain Marvel swings for the fences and makes some ambitious choices, even as it captures the atmosphere of its '90s setting. What's more, Carol Danvers herself Brie Larson "literally shines" and brings "sass, strength and energy" to the role. Ben Mendelsohn, who has hardly appeared in the trailers to date, earns a lot of praise for his scene-stealing portrayal of Skrull leader Talos. Carol's feline companion Goose also looks to be winning hearts.RELATED: Why Trolls Are Targeting Captain Marvel On Rotten Tomatoes

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Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck from a script they wrote with Liz Flahive, Carly Mensch, Meg LeFauve, Nicole Perlman and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Captain Marvel stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Jude Law as Mar-Vell, Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson, Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser, Djimon Hounsou as Korath the Pursuer, Gemma Chan as Minn-Erva, Ben Mendelsohn as Talos and Lashana Lynch as Maria Rambeau. The film arrives on March 8.