April has been a record-breaking month at the box office this year! Impressively starting the month off was John Krasinski’s directorial debut, A Quiet Place. The white-knuckle horror is performing monstrously, prompting Paramount Pictures to announce the beginnings of a sequel just two weeks after it opened. The monster-movie dropped from number one to number two at the domestic box office this past weekend, earning a cool $10.65 million in its third week, while I Feel Pretty starring Amy Schumer finished in the number three spot. Rampage starring Dwayne Johnson (in his second major blockbuster in five months) drops from number two to number four.

These popular spring movies are sandwiched in between two Disney/Marvel Studios productions: Black Panther, which climbed the charts yet again (rising from number eight up to number five this past weekend), and Avengers: Infinity War, which debuted at number one with an explosive $250 million domestically and $630 million globally. But it doesn’t stop there –  Infinity War now holds the record for the biggest opening weekend ever, beating out the previous record holder, Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($248 million). The irony isn’t lost in space, however, considering Infinity War unfolds like an epic Star Wars fantasy in and of itself. 

In retrospect, The Avengers are no strangers to the big screen (or space); they’re collectively responsible for 18 major motion pictures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), beginning a decade ago in 2008 when Robert Downey Jr. delighted fans with his finessed portrayal of Tony Stark in Iron Man. All these years later, we have what is noted as the 19th instalment in the third phase of the MCU – Avengers: Infinity War! After this past weekend’s mega debut, it’s also Marvel Studios’ most successful movie to date. Previous opening-weekend record holders (Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi) were both knocked down a peg by Infinity War. The exciting new live-action comic movie took a bite out of Jurassic World and beat-out its predecessor, 2012’s The Avengers, as well, rounding up the top five. These interstellar, avenging heroes have created a legacy! Is there anything these crusaders can’t do?

Infinity War managed to meet the majority of movie-goers’ expectations, earning solid reviews from both fans and critics alike, but leading up to the biggest motion picture event in history, rumours circulated and speculations ran rampant: would Infinity War measure up to February’s Black Panther or November 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok? Was there such a thing as too many characters? Would the film’s villain, Thanos, obtain all of the “Infinity Stones?” And one of the most frequently asked questions- will any of the Avengers die? Theory after theory flooded the internet prior to release, and without giving away any spoilers (because there are literally so many spoilers), Joe and Anthony Russo, known as The Russo Brothers, flexed their collective muscle off-screen, directing a superhero movie that translates as a solid, riveting, and shocking thrill ride on screen. Bucky- I mean, buckle – up and enjoy the ride!

From the movie poster alone, it’s obvious that Avengers: Infinity War is the biggest superhero movie of all time. With a total of 40 Marvel characters gracing the screen at one point or another, you would think the weight and depth of these characters would have a hard time sharing the screen. Personally, I was worried that all this star power would dizzy audiences into trying to keep up. But Infinity War impeccably moves from one group of heroes/villains to the next, navigating the events surrounding the powerful Infinity Stones simultaneously, with little to no uncertainty, even if you haven’t seen any of the 18 MCU movies leading up to it. Rumoured to cost $400 million, Avengers: Infinity War may just be the most expensive (and profitable) film ever made.

Listing the entire cast is redundant at this point in the game, especially since these characters (and the actors who play them) are well-known worldwide. All the key players from the original squad – Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) – rise to the occasion to lead their respective teams. All except Hulk, actually, who disappointingly has only one scene in green. Hawkeye (Clint Barton) is noticeably missing as one of the original Avengers, and is left out of Infinity War completely, but it’s rumoured we will see him again in 2019’s Avengers 4. Other missing characters include Ant-Man, Wasp, and Captain Marvel, all of which have their own movies coming out soon: Ant-Man and the Wasp will open this July, and Captain Marvel is slated for a March 2019 release. To infinity, and beyond! 

Overall, Avengers: Infinity War takes fans on an intergalactic mission with all of your favourite MCU heroes – everyone from Spider-Man (Tom Holland) and Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), but in between the explosions and gasps, there is a serious lack of T’Challa aka Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman). Perhaps Disney/Marvel didn’t anticipate Black Panther to be the phenomenon that it is, but I was surprised to see the Wakandan King so underused.

Another disappointment was the happenings surrounding the Soul Stone – the only Infinity Stone we haven’t seen in the MCU (until now). Admittedly, the scene where the Soul Stone is revealed packs an emotional punch, but considering all of the fan theories that surfaced, what played out on screen was underwhelming. Infinity War makes up for its blunders in big ways, however, focusing almost entirely on Thanos and his riveting Infinity Stone hunt, the delightfully evil Dark Order who aids him, and the tempestuous lengths the Avengers are willing to go to keep the galaxy out of harm’s way. Avengers: Infinity War is indisputably epic – an action-packed, CGI thrill ride that is sure to keep you laughing, crying and cheering until the very last frame!

“In time, you will know what it’s like to lose.”

Tip: Catch this movie in IMAX 3D / 4DX and stay after the credits for a bonus scene!

4.5 Popcorn Kernels / 5

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About the Author

Joey Viola is the Co-Founder of MoJo Toronto and an LGBTQ community leader who utilizes his passion and flair for the art of writing by bringing a fresh perspective in reviewing entertainment and advocating for equality, tolerance, and social/political justice.