Is Avengers: Infinity War OK for children?

Avengers: Infinity War and the overall view of the cinematic MCU is fascinating. It’s an amazing cinematic experiment that, for better or worse, redesigned what people think of films. Avengers: Infinity War brings together almost all of the characters from the first ten years of the MCU on film in a fun-yet also quite dark at times movie that will satisfy most fans, but leave others in a lurch.

Bottom line: As an adult who has seen most of the Marvel movies I really liked it. It’s very quickly paced and has some great action sequences that will entertain people regardless of how many, if any, Marvel movies they’ve seen. The joy in seeing Avengers: Infinity War is the interaction that happens when the superheroes who don’t know each other finally meet.

Tony Stark and Doctor Strange initially carry most of the entertaining dialogue. Then Peter Parker enters their fray and Stark’s snarky comments are kicked into a higher level. For me though, the Infinity War was more enjoyable when the Guardians of the Galaxy joined the party. The team divides itself into two groups and each group has great dialogue and interaction with their new partners as they battle Thanos or his minions.

Some fans of the MCU will be critical of which heroes got the most or least screen time. Gamora receives most of the heavy plot points due to her relationship with Thanos. To an extent this weighs the film down because Thanos explains his love to her numerous times, which also rationalizes his desire for the Infinity Stones. By the third time of him explaining why he wanted all of the stones I was eager for him find them just so he’s stop talking about it.

That is not to say that I didn’t like the film. On the contrary, I really enjoyed it. However, with all of the Marvel movies out there, it’s difficult to classify Infinity War in the pantheon of the MCU. It’s not as funny or bright as Thor: Ragnorak. It’s more fun than Doctor Strange and it has slightly less Wakanda than Black Panther.  Avengers: Infinity War is a very solid film, but its tone is dramatically different than any other MCU film.

To that end, Infinity War isn’t a culmination of anything, nor is it supposed to be. It’s simply the first time that the band is getting together. One time in the future when the band plays again they’ll have a new drummer, Captain America or Iron Man and as long as the story, action and characters are akin to this version audiences will be OK. It’s worth noting that there are some fake outs in the movie’s marketing, some shots in the trailer aren’t in the film and there are a couple really great surprises that fans will appreciate.

Having said that, is Avengers: Infinity War OK for children? It’s rated PG-13 and is on the harder end of that movie grade. That’s due to the sustained action sequences, dramatic deaths, grief and language. The language is slightly harsher than that from Guardians of the Galaxy. If that film had four objectionable words then Avengers: Infinity War had at least ten. There were no F bombs, but there were some other choice words that parents don’t want children repeating certain words. At just over two and a half hours the film is long for children. It is quickly paced, but kids will start to squirm at around two hours even with everything that’s happening on screen.

Aged 10 and up will be fine with the content and be able to watch the film without asking mom or dad about the time, who that character is or if they can get another snack. Kids younger than that should be advised that while they would probably enjoy the film, it could be best viewed at home, if at all.