SPOILERS FOLLOW FOR AVENGERS: ENDGAME
Avengers: Endgame, the latest blockbuster entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debuted last week to positive reviews and a stellar box office take. It will likely have another great weekend, and many people I know have seen it more than once. More than just a movie, Endgame is a fairly well-done wrap-up to the first eleven years of the MCU. Personally, I think it's a great bit of fan service, but a somewhat uneven, muddled film (you can hear my expanded thoughts, and those of others, here).
Perhaps my favorite aspect of Avengers: Endgame was how it treats male heterosexuality. Before we get into that, however, it's worth mentioning that the movie -- the 22nd overall in the MCU -- featured its first openly gay character, portrayed by co-director Joe Russo. It was a touching moment, though brief. My reaction to it is in stark contrast to what I normally think of such moments.
For the most part, I understand that progress can sometimes happen slowly (or slower than we'd like), and so any progress is good is good, right? Also, I'm not a fan of when people use the current year as some sort of argument tactic. Like, "It's [insert year here], so we should have [insert thing you want here]." That being said, it's 2019, and you're telling me that after twenty-two movies, the best Marvel can do is 1-2 minute scene with a one-and-done character who's gay? Sorry if I don't break out the champagne.
What Endgame does get right when it comes to sexuality is that it's okay to be a straight man and both admire another man's physique and be close physically with another man. Neither occasion disqualifies them from being comfortable with who they are, or at least it shouldn't. There's been a lot of talk lately about "toxic masculinity," much of it in ridicule or scorn of the term, but one aspect of toxic masculinity is to ridicule men for expressing emotions, especially toward another man. A variety of slurs are hurled at men who don't toe the uber-masculine line. Avengers: Endgame has two scenes that turn such ridicule on its head.
During the "time heist" sequence, where several of the Avengers go back to various points in their history to retrieve the Infinity Stones, there's a scene where Ant-Man mentions to the present-day Captain America that the costume he used to wear didn't do his ass justice. They are then joined by Iron Man in discussing Cap's posterior. Later Captain America fights his former self and, upon knocking him out, looks him over and says, "It is America's ass."
To be clear -- these are three heterosexual men. Or, at the very least, bisexual. Iron Man loves Pepper, Ant-Man loves Hope/The Wasp, and Cap loves Peggy. We, the audience who have followed these characters for years, know this. Their sexuality isn't in question, and that's what I love about it. These are men acknowledging the physical attribute of another man, and it's portrayed as no big deal.
Finally, as the big battle is about to commence toward the end of the movie, portals open up, through which several of our beloved heroes who'd previously been snapped out existence are triumphantly returned. Spider-Man is among them. During the previous movie, Infinity War, Spidey had turned to dust in Iron Man's arms. It was an emotional scene. It's just as emotional when he returns. Spider-Man proceeds to rapidly talk about what happened, and Iron Man just grabs him and hugs him. Spidey then says, "This is nice."
Avengers: Endgame isn't a perfect movie. It could stand to be improved here and there. But one things it does well is portraying close, male heterosexual relationships in a positive light. No judgment, not a "no homo" to be found, just some love and admiration. And it's playing to a huge audience (the film's made $1.7 billion worldwide, and counting). Hopefully, there's a good takeaway from this for all the guys watching, especially the straight ones -- it's okay to show your friends you love them. And to admire Captain America, because who doesn't?
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