Movie Review: “Avengers: Infinity War” is overstuffed, entertaining, and devastating in equal measure

Movie Review: “Avengers: Infinity War” (PG-13)

It’s a little difficult to share one’s complete thoughts where “Avengers: Infinity War” is concerned, because this latest Marvel Studios superhero epic isn’t complete. It is but one half of a whole. This is to say that “Avengers: Infinity War” ends with more than a few unanswered questions, and fans will have to wait until May 2019 to have those questions answered.

Beyond that, your overall enjoyment of this picture will probably depend upon how much you enjoy superhero movies in general. Translation: If you’re not into comic book movies, or if you’re one of thousands of filmgoers who suffer from the real disease that is superhero movie fatigue, “Avengers: Infinity War” probably won’t do much to win you over. Regardless, the box-office revenue this juggernaut and the recently released “Black Panther” are pulling in suggest that comic book movies aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

“Avengers: Infinity War” wastes no time plunging viewers right into the thick of the action. From the get-go, we’re introduced to the film’s big bad guy, a bulky cretin of a survivalist called Thanos (Josh Brolin). This alien warrior has sinister plans in store for the universe, but in his eyes, those plans are all in the name of our best interests. In order to bring his master game plan to fruition, Thanos will have to hunt down a handful of mythical infinity stones to grant him the full power he so desperately craves, and doing that will require that he face The Avengers head on in the biggest superhero bout in history.

Of course, The Avengers are no longer the cohesive unit they once were, and this all stems from developments brought on by the shattering events in “Civil War.” So now, the question is whether Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Thor, War Machine, Falcon, Spider-Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Black Panther, Hulk, Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Guardians of the Galaxy — new to the equation — all come together in a courageous effort to put a stop to Thanos and his deadly plan?

As directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo, “Avengers: Infinity War” is a culmination of a decade’s worth of Marvel-inspired cinematic entertainment that has seen the release of a whopping 19 films, and it all leads to this exhausting motion-picture experience that’s as massive and purely entertaining as it it is overstuffed and devastating.

While “Avengers: Infinity War” is certainly overly long — crazy when you take a moment to consider that, again, this is only half of a much bigger story — there’s no doubt that this film gets a ton of mileage out of memorable character beats and undeniable cast chemistry. As was the case with 2012’s “The Avengers,” “Avengers: Infinity War” also deftly juggles multiple characters and star personalities to strong effect, and while the end result doesn’t measure up to the first picture — or to “Civil War” and “Black Panther,” for that matter — it is considerably more memorable than “Age of Ultron.”

While fun and brimming with the sort of witty banter and delightful chemistry you’ve come to expect from the Marvel universe, “Infinity War” also has a dark side that at times feels a little more akin to the likes of DC’s moodier cinematic efforts. This is a movie about failure and sacrifice, and “Infinity War” doesn’t shy away from either. Look no further than the much talked-about cliffhanger ending. Quite honestly, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. True, we’d be foolish as fans to take all of this stuff at face value for obvious reasons — the upcoming second half of “Avengers: Infinity War” being the primary one — but a decade’s worth of Marvel entries have essentially built towards this, and this studio has done such a great job at getting us invested in this shared universe and its characters that the emotional beats and the dark nature of this ending pay off, no matter how permanent or temporary this devastation might be.

Speaking of darkness, the ringleader of darkness at the heart of “Avengers: Infinity War” is Thanos. As powerful, deadly, and physically imposing as he is, though, Thanos isn’t necessarily the most memorable or most complex Marvel villain. That honor still belongs to Killmonger of “Black Panther” fame. That said, what does make this character worthy as a baddie is that he believes wholeheartedly in his own ideology, he always has his eyes on the ultimate prize, and he will do absolutely anything to get it. These attributes result in some of the most devastating moments you’re ever likely to see in a Marvel movie.

On the flip side, you can’t talk about the Marvel universe without talking about fun, and despite its overall grim nature, “Avengers: Infinity War” has plenty of fun to offer. As for our barrage of fearless heroes, Guardians Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, Mantis, Groot, and Rocket supply the film with its biggest laughs. Quill’s verbal sparring with an equally confident Tony Stark and his playful jabs at a bigger-than-life Thor are certainly highlights as is Drax’s inability to grasp the finer points of the English language.

One of the more miraculous aspects of “Avengers: Infinity War” is the fashion in which each character gets his or her moment to shine, and that’s no easy feat given that there are countless characters to speak of here. It should also be noted that two familiar Avengers have been written out of the proceedings entirely, but don’t worry — their absence is acknowledged, and you have to believe they’ll both make an appearance in the next film.

“Avengers: Infinity War” is not without its flaws. Again, in addition to only being half of a larger piece, there are lapses of logic — particularly where the power of the infinity stones are concerned — and there are certainly moments, including a doozy when Quill’s uncontrollable anger puts those around him in serious jeopardy, that are a bit on the aggravating side. Still, “Avengers: Infinity War” by and large delivers the kind of large-scale ass-kicking superhero action fans will be expecting, and while it might not be Marvel’s best movie, it’s still grand entertainment punctuated by a sucker punch of an ending that is sure to get fans talking. Also sure to get fans talking is a post-credits stinger that suggests who might play a major role in the second half of this epic story.

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