MICHAEL LOMAX: ‘Endgame fitting finale of Marvel franchise

A row of little kids sat in front of me in the theater. I leaned over and pointed them out to my friend. I told him, “Those kids weren’t born when the first Marvel movies came out.”

Eleven years. Twenty-two movies. Billions in box office receipts. One of the single most impressive sagas committed to film reached its conclusion with “Avengers: Endgame.” And man, what a conclusion it was.

Set shortly after the events of “Avengers: Infinity War,” what few heroes remain band together to assess the damage and figure out their next steps. They quickly learn the coordinates of Thanos and leave to confront him.

To say more would spoil too much.

Before continuing, it’s worth acknowledging that superhero films aren’t for everyone. To critics, they’re too hokey or underdeveloped or inconsistent. They’re too bland — written and directed simply enough to reach as broad an audience as possible. Spectacle, not education, is the goal here.

To be perfectly fair, Marvel Studios has always erred on the side of inclusion. Their films are supposed to be easily digestible. It’s an approach that has earned investors billions. But what I’ve personally always marveled at is the quality of this “cheap” entertainment.

Because it’s not cheap.

Starting with 2008’s “Iron Man,” Marvel has delivered one unique character after another. Each with a different motivation and approach. Each with a distinct take on what it means to be a hero. And watching these characters interact through the several stories, landscapes and moods, you can’t help but start to get invested.

I daresay you even begin to care about them.

To have wrangled together this many competing threads is an achievement that cannot be understated. To have done so without losing the heart — not just the visual feast — that made you follow in the first place is another thing entirely.

“Avengers: Endgame” is the light at the far side of the tunnel. A collection of moments and nice little touches, it is the fitting finale for an inspired franchise — crafted over a decade for fans faithful to the end.

Marvel Studios is not done by any means. With a new “Spider-Man” due in two months, there will be more films. There will be more arcs. But “Infinity Saga” was something special.

I’m glad I got to see it all unfold.

IMAX/Marvel Studios