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We are officially knee deep in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and this week’s Eternals looks to keep fans engaged in the franchise’s overarching narrative even as it introduces just under a dozen new heroes. But it was only two years ago when Marvel’s grand experiment offered its greatest payoff to date after more than a decade of origin stories, expansive sequels, explosive team-ups, and cheeky end-credits scenes. Avengers: Endgame was the ultimate culmination of 21 movies’ worth of storytelling, tidily wrapping up what we now know as The Infinity Saga (OK, yes, Spider-Man: Far From Home is technically the final film of Phase Three) and earning not only several boatloads of cash at the box office but also a Certified Fresh 94% on the Tomatometer.
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It was a lot to ask of anyone to try and tie up such a massive storyline, and most folks think directors Joe and Anthony Russo did a fairly superheroic job of accomplishing that. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few Negative Nebulas out there who don’t think Endgame deserves its status as the second-best reviewed film of the MCU.
On one hand, you’ve got Captain America wielding Mjolnir against Thanos; on the other, you’ve got the infamous “girl power” moment. On one hand, you’ve got a thoughtful examination of grief and loss; on the other, you’ve got a rat saving Ant-Man from the Quantum Realm by sheer chance. On one hand, you’ve got Fat Thor; on the other, you’ve got, well, Fat Thor.
So is it fair to judge Avengers: Endgame as the narrative bookend it’s meant to be, or does it succeed on its own merits? Our returning guest this week, Screen Junkies vet and host of the Binge Boys podcast Lon Harris, says Endgame feels more like a “good season finale” than a great standalone episode of an epic TV series. He argues that the Russos did a serviceable job bringing the Infinity Saga to a close, but the end result is maybe a tad generic and too bogged down by its larger storytelling universe to earn its spot in the upper echelon of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
This week, he joins regular co-hosts Jacqueline Coley and Mark Ellis to talk about what Endgame did right, and what could have been done even better. They mourn the character deaths they feel got short shrift (Heimdall, anyone?) and debate whether Marvel really earned the film’s big moments with its 11 years of build-up, or if it was all just low-hanging fan service. And now that the franchise has essentially reset the stakes, can they even hope to replicate what they achieved with the first 22 films?
Check in every Thursday for a new episode of Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong (A Podcast From Rotten Tomatoes). Each week, hosts Jacqueline and Mark and guests go deep and settle the score on some of the most beloved – and despised – movies and TV shows ever made, directly taking on the statement we hear from so many fans: “Rotten Tomatoes is wrong.”
Check out some more episodes of Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong:
If you have a suggestion for a movie or show you think we should do an episode on, let us know in the comments, or email us at rtiswrong@rottentomatoes.com.
Meet the hosts
Jacqueline Coley is an editor at Rotten Tomatoes, with a focus on awards and indie coverage but with a passion for everything, from the MCU to musicals and period pieces. Coley is a regular moderator at conventions and other events, can be seen on Access Hollywood and other shows, and will not stand Constantine slander of any kind. Follow Jacqueline on Twitter: @THATjacqueline.
Mark Ellis is a comedian and contributing editor for Rotten Tomatoes. He currently hosts the Rotten Tomatoes series Versus, among others, and can be seen co-hosting the sports entertainment phenomenon Movie Trivia Schmoedown. His favorite Star Wars movie is Jedi (guess which one!), his favorite person is actually a dog (his beloved stepdaughter Mollie), and – thanks to this podcast – he’s about to watch Burlesque for the first time in his life. Follow Mark on Twitter: @markellislive.
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