Mostly for Comic Character Fans

Rating: 6/10 (9 December 2019)

Watching this movie I imagine screenwriters struggling to write decent scenes while the producers demand a grand, comic-book-style finale to satisfy every fan of every Avenger character. The result apparently succeeds in thrilling long-term Marvel Universe fans. For the rest of us this is a bewildering and mostly tedious mix of melodrama and overwrought FX action
I have watched, and often enjoyed, the previous films from the Marvel Cinematic franchise. So I'm familiar with the backstory of the characters. And I know to come to these movies prepared not only to suspend critical thinking but also to let my eyes glaze over during the prolonged action scenes. To the extent I was able to do this for 3 hours I was rewarded with enough situation comedy to keep me in my seat.
But the melodramatic angst of the characters in the context of the plot is just irritating. Are you pining over the fact that your buddy might not survive the effort to resurrect the half of the living universe wiped out in Infinity War? Do you and every Avenger suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder?
The only protagonists that hold my sympathy and respect for "keeping it real" are Tony Stark and Thor. (I'm not sure who merits more credit for that: their actors or their writers.) Otherwise I actually found myself rooting for Thanos: Though we may disagree with his objectives, at least he thinks big and doesn't indulge in ennui. He hews to his principles and does not hesitate to sacrifice himself for them. He is the only true hero in this movie, which makes it a tragedy.