Marvel Studios is still trying to find a way to rebuild its cinematic empire, something it has been unable to do since repairing the world at the end of Avengers: End Game, which was released six years ago. A dozen or so adventures since then have failed to do much except further fracture the disparate elements and characters that audiences loved. There have been highlights (Black Widow probably being the pinnacle) but it’s been a hard road, and probably will be until next year’s Avengers: Doomsday. In the meantime, all these characters have to keep busy doing something.
Jake Schreier’s newest attempt to get the band back together is like settling for the tribute band instead of the real thing. Despicable agency leader Valentina de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) needs to clear her name politically so she sends her agents Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen) and Antonia Dreykov (Olga Kurylenko) to wipe the physical evidence clean, as well as each other. But Valentina doesn’t count on Alexei the Red Guardian (David Harbour) or Congressman Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) to help uncover the truth — or some mysterious dude named Bob (Lewis Pullman), whose story nobody knows. Eventually it all comes to head, again, in New York where this group of motley misfits must learn to work together or die alone.
As obvious and clichéd as this material is, I did enjoy it for about an hour-and-a-half because it’s fairly witty and sarcastic and amusing, if not exciting. And then comes the Darkness, and the story turns into a psychological version of the Multiverse, which doomed it for me. I hate the Multiverse, and while this plot technically does not qualify to be that misguided excuse for illogical drama and overripe special effects, it’s too close for my comfort. Thanos was a misguided villain but he could be related to on an intellectual level. The villain here hates humanity and wants to permanently entrap us all into our worst past moments, reliving them over and over again for eternity. What a guy. It’s a good thing we have these intrepid heroes who can fight back with the Power of Love. Right.
Despite solid production values and some really good acting from the cast, especially Florence Pugh and David Harbour, I do not recommend this movie. It ignores or deflects important questions and casting absences while relying on banter and quips rather than actual storytelling. It is amusing, yet it is not a comedy. It is dramatic yet it has no real impact. It’s not an empty vessel but it sure doesn’t contain very much consumable content. ☆ ☆. 11 May 2025.