This sequel picks up where “Avengers: Age of Ultron” left off. Their villain-fighting good becomes controversial because of the collateral damage left by their epic battles. As a result, the world votes to regulate their services, which causes a split in the ranks: some agreeing with the new controls, others resisting. Ultimately, a dozen Marvel universe superheroes duke it out, using their assorted powers to keep it interesting. At 146 minutes, it’s too long: the dialogue often drags and every action scene (although edited with dizzying velocity) runs longer than necessary. In its favor are some expectedly neat special effects and a likeable cast. Each member gets to create a few moments of character (esp. the new Spidey delightfully played by Tom Holland). This movie crams a relatively simple story with too much clutter (vs. the cool simplicity of “Deadpool”). Fans of the genre will find plenty to like, but in the big picture (pun intended) this blends into the formula.
(3.5 / 5)