A movie like End Game comes once a generation if you are lucky. There have been few franchises that have garnered the level of expectations that End Game has, and none with the foundation of over a decades worth of movies that have made billions of dollars. It goes without saying that the bar was set pretty high. With Infinity War ending on a cliffhanger of epic proportions, fans have been speculating on how Marvel Studios could possibly bookend a saga that has become a pop culture phenomenon. With the release of End Game the speculation has come to a close and we now have an ending to the culmination of works from over a dozen directors, hundreds of actors, and thousands of behind the scenes workers that have brought an amazing universe to life. End Game is truly the curtain call many fans wanted but comes at a cost that some fans may not want to pay.

There is really no need to go in depth on acting performances. The cast has been playing these roles for quite some time and fit into them like a comfortable pair of slippers. Keeping this review spoiler free means leaving out specifics on character direction and in many ways participation. What you can expect is the same level of performance you have come to know from a cast that has embodied what it means to be a part of a franchise with such fandom. Every actor knows what this means to the audience and put in the work worthy of every ticket you have purchased, blu ray you own, tee shirt you wear, and in many cases tattoo that you love.

Ending a franchise that has earned so much love is not easy. You can tell the Russo brothers cared a lot about this. One can only imagine the immense pressure they felt to please such a large and demanding audience. Under that pressure they produced a movie that many, if not the majority, of fans will love. Myself, unfortunately, am not a part that majority. Instead of another innovative storyline that spans across multiple character story arcs, we received a story that plays out more as a photo album of the past rather than an ending to an established plot. End Game was made for the fans that like to clap and cheer at the theatre, not the fans that like to immerse themselves deeply into a compellingly complex story. It’s not that in three hours they didn’t have some great moments. There were scenes that truly drew out a massive amount of emotion and expanded on and took characters in great directions, however, the majority of the movie was a lazy plot used to invoke nostalgic feels and produce cameo opportunities. End Game is a triple decker burger with some great meat, but with way too much cheese and a stale bun. What we now know for sure is what we have come to know as the MCU is being handed off to the next generation story tellers and characters. Where we all go from here is yet to be seen, but we do know it is not the end. As I may not have enjoyed the movie as much as those sitting next to me, I am still happily proud to have been a part of this journey since day one. I am glad so many others enjoyed so much about the movie, but I have to say that it wasn’t my cup of tea. The future still looks bright for the MCU and I look forward to seeing what the next decade brings.

As I’m sure many of you probably think I’m crazy, we would love for you to tell us why. Leave your comments or call the voicemail (815-905-1414) and let us know how you feel. I will enjoy defending my stance in depth once the spoiler time frame has passed.