Chris Hemsworth stars in a scene from the movie "Avengers: Endgame." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. (CNS/Disney)

By Catholic News Service

Primarily set five years after a cosmic villain (Josh Brolin) used a set of energy-endowed gems to wipe out half of all the living creatures in the universe, this sweeping Marvel Comics-based epic charts the efforts of the titular ensemble to harness time travel via Ant Man’s (Paul Rudd) quantum realm to undo the catastrophe. To achieve this, they need to win over tech whiz Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), the only person who can safely engineer such a cutting-edge feat. But he’s reluctant to endanger his happy home life (shared with Gwyneth Paltrow) for the sake of such a risky mission.

Vast, intricate and impressive, directors (and brothers) Anthony and Joe Russo’s grand finale deftly weaves together whole franchises spanning 21 previous films and determines the fate, among many others, of Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) while also showcasing teamwork, self-sacrifice and reconciliation. Possibly acceptable for mature teens.

Much stylized violence with some gore, possible cohabitation, a few uses of profanity and of milder oaths, brief references to homosexuality, a half-dozen crude and several crass terms. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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