The Marvel Cinematic Universe has single-handedly rewritten how the movie industry operates, and it’s become the new template for how franchises can successfully function. The MCU has only grown bigger and has now tackled television much in the same way that it has movies, but many are skeptical that the movies can top the spectacle that was the culminating event that is Avengers: Endgame.
Endgame is a cinematic feat for a number of reasons, but the performances from these famous actors who have embodied classic characters for over a decade are a valid area of discussion. Some actors used the film as an elegant swang song for their Marvel characters, while other actors failed to stand out at all.
10 Nailed It: Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man Provides Much-Needed Levity During Dark Times
Paul Rudd is another slam dunk in terms of casting for the MCU, and the Ant-Man movies have helped bring some humor to the franchise while scaling back some of the apocalyptic danger. Scott Lang is absent throughout Avengers: Infinity War, but this is only because he plays such a vital role in Endgame due to what he discovers about the Quantum Realm. Rudd makes sure that each one of Lang’s lines land and that his superhero still feels like the odd one out in contrast to the rest of the surviving Avengers.
9 Fell Short: Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye Gets Lost In The Shuffle
Hawkeye often feels like the odd man out when it comes to the Avengers, right down to his flimsy introduction in Thor rather than his own origin story movie. Hawkeye is conspicuously absent during Infinity War, which left many to jump to the conclusion that he’d play a large role in Endgame, which he does. Jeremy Renner’s return as Hawkeye, as well as in his updated Ronin look. It is very satisfying, but the character still recedes into the background once Endgame really starts moving. A lot of the powerful material that could go to Hawkeye ultimately falls on Black Widow.
8 Nailed It: Scarlett Johansson Makes Sure Black Widow Goes Out On Top
An unfortunate but understandable issue with films like Infinity War and Endgame is that there are just so many characters to juggle and focus on that the end result can sometimes leave no one getting the right amount of attention.
Johansson’s Black Widow immediately rises to the occasion in Endgame and she’s a stabilizing force alongside Captain America. Johansson properly conveys how her character has become more hardened since the last movie and her actions and sacrifices are some of the best parts of the movie.
7 Fell Short: Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel Can Feel More Like A Plot Device Than A Character
Brie Larson hasn’t had it easy after being cast as the MCU’s Captain Marvel. Larson faced the difficult task of playing an extremely powerful, important character that gets introduced much later than all of the other established Avengers. Avengers: Endgame has to do a lot of the heavy lifting with Captain Marvel, both in terms of how much of her character gets to come through, as well as what limits of her power are available. Brie Larson is the right choice for this crucial player, but Endgame treats her more like a deus ex machina than a fully-developed hero.
6 Nailed It: Karen Gillen’s Nebula Is Endgame’s Secret Weapon
Thanos’ extreme actions become the focus of both Infinity War and Endgame, but the precarious dynamic that’s established with his fractured family becomes much more compelling material for the tyrant. The tension that exists between Thanos, Gamora, and Karen Gillen’s Nebula gives so much energy and subtext to all of their scenes together. Gillen has to tackle some surprisingly complex territory with the different renditions of Nebula that the film chronicles, but there’s depth to everything that she does. Nebula’s struggle becomes highly powerful and she’s hopefully a character that we will see more of in the MCU.
5 Fell Short: Josh Brolin’s Mad Titan Loses His Way In Endgame
Intimidating villains that resonate as much as the heroes continue to be one of the MCU’s biggest obstacles, which means that there’s extra pressure put on Josh Brolin’s Thanos. The threat of Thanos patiently brews in the background of many movies.
However, part of the problem in Endgame is that it features a version of Thanos that’s largely checked out because he’s already accomplished his goal. Endgame has to jump through many hoops to get back to the cutthroat version of Thanos, which is no fault of Brolin. Infinity War is more of the character’s showpiece.
4 Nailed It: Chris Evans Proves Why He’s The Perfect Captain America
There’s still endless debate over who’s the best member of the Avengers and which of the MCU’s cast truly gives the most moving performance. The MCU has positioned Iron Man and Chris Evans’ Captain America as the two pillars of the Avengers, which is a detail that Endgame doesn’t diminish. Chris Evans’ work as Steve Rogers is always exceptional, but he showcases his full range as the character in Endgame. Evans’ is silly, threatening, inspirational, and infinitely relatable in his iconic role. It’s hard to not get chills during his legendary “Avengers, Assemble!” battle cry.
3 Fell Short: Chris Hemsworth’s Thor Processes Grief In A Controversial Manner In Endgame
Chris Hemsworth does excellent work as Marvel’s God of Thunder, but many audiences didn’t grow to truly appreciate the character until his more humorous side comes to the surface in Thor: Ragnarok. Avengers: Endgame takes this energy and runs too far with it with the idea that Thor’s depression has turned him into a bloated, lazy version of himself. Hemsworth still shines as this hampered version of the character, but it’s a direction that either works for fans or doesn’t. Redemption for Thor is on the way, but Endgame views the character as more of a punchline than a hero.
2 Nailed It: Endgame Turns Into A Glowing Tribute To Robert Downey Jr.’s Journey As Iron Man
Avengers: Endgame functions as the conclusion to the MCU’s first decade of movies, but it’s also the bittersweet sendoff to both its original Captain America and Iron Man. These exits are extremely emotional, but Robert Downey Jr. kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man, so it’s only fitting that he helps close this chapter. Robert Downey Jr. truly embodies a hero and there are multiple layers to his pained and thoughtful performance in Endgame. Downey Jr. makes sure that Tony Stark’s losses are felt and that his goodbye is the emotional gut-punch that it needs to be.
1 Fell Short: Samuel L. Jackson Is Easy to Forget In Avengers: Endgame
Samuel L. Jackson has become the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s connective tissue and although there’s no Nick Fury solo film, he’s still appeared in the most Marvel movies. One of Infinity War’s big cliffhangers is that Nick Fury is one of the many civilians to get “snapped” away by Thanos. Accordingly, Samuel L. Jackson spends most of Endgame as ash, but he makes a brief return during Tony Stark’s funeral. The dismissible nature of Nick Fury in Endgame once again is not an attack on Jackson’s performance, but more a criticism of his extremely brief use in the film.
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