Danielle Solzman
While Avengers: Endgame should be commended for having a character be openly gay, the way in which it was done was so poorly executed.
The spoiler ban lifts on Monday per the Russo brothers but I cannot contain this any longer.
We get a character during a support group who talks about the things that have changed over the previous five years. When you pay close attention, you learn that this man–played by director Joe Russo–was discussing a date with another man. On top of this, there is no name for his character. The fact that this guy doesn’t have a name makes it come off as a gimmick. It would be like having a transgender character only to serve as a gimmick. The point here is that gimmicks do not work. There are right and wrong ways to depict a character. The way that they go about doing this is in the wrong.
There’s talk right now about whether or not Avengers: Endgame should be considered for Best Picture. When you factor in all the things that weren’t executed all that well, I cannot get behind such an effort. Look at Captain Marvel, for one. I discuss this in my review and other writers have had similar issues. I get that the focus is on the original 6 characters but don’t go through the trouble of introducing her just to take her out of the film for the large majority of it!
Then there’s the scene were all of Marvel’s women are gathered together on screen. But can we talk for a moment about who isn’t there? Black Widow. Scarlett Johansson’s Agent Natasha Romanoff sacrificed herself on Vormir so that Clint Barton can bring back the Soul Stone to present day 2023. It’s the only way for them to get the stone but that doesn’t make her death hurt any less than it does.
Then we have what people are calling “Fat Thor.” I’ve heard both sides of this argument. If we look at it as Thor drinking away his pain and sorrow, it works. It doesn’t work because of the poorly written jokes at Thor’s expense.
This is a film that will no doubt score nominations for technical awards. But Best Picture? No, I cannot get behind this. Not when they could have done better by the LGBTQ community. Not when you introduce Carol Danvers but take her out of the film because let’s face it, she’s Marvel’s Deux Ex Machina. Listen, I love the MCU but even I know when something isn’t right.
