Avengers: Endgame | Film Review

“For men must never feel a cause is hopeless – men must never feel an enemy cannot be beaten!” – Stan Lee

Ever since we were first introduced to Tony Stark as Iron Man in 2008, Marvel has been building to this. Brick-by-brick, character-by-character, we have finally reached the conclusion of this series of “issues”. Essentially the 2^nd part of the opus that began in Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame has arrived to showcase the true measure of a hero. Belief, hope, sacrifice: these are the benchmarks. It is now time to get back to basics, and follow our original Avengers as they attempt to set their partially destroyed world right.

Thankfully, they can do this all day.

How do you review one of the most anticipated films of the year – one which audiences are going to great lengths just to avoid even the tiniest of spoilers from – and do so without ruining their experience? It’s a tricky one, but let’s give it a go.

Like most modern blockbusters, Avengers: Endgame is broken down into three arcs: the acceptance of the events of Infinity War, a hatched plan to correct the course of events, and the result. I will avoid any in-depth specifics except to say that what happened in Infinity War DID indeed happen. There is no cheapening or retconning at play, characters that died are still deceased, with that pain felt around the world, and occupies a large portion of the first hour. Once they have agreed on a strategy to move forward, the film finds its footing and lunges into action.

Those are the basics, and it’s truly all you need to know. The plan and the results from Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely’s script are stacked with surprises, nods to the previous films, and revelations that are far too easy to trip over, landing face-first in spoiler territory. Let’s just say – as ludicrous as everything appears – somehow, it works. What we are left with is yet another achievement in storytelling from a studio who seemingly couldn’t bomb an opening weekend even if they put Star Lord in charge (yes, we still blame him for the snap!).

SO, if I cannot wade into spoiler territory, what can I tell you? Let me break it down in Marvel terms:

TIME

Much time passes in this installment after the previous one. And unlike many movies in this franchise, our heroes are given actual character development to deal with all that has transpired, our stalwart heroes were absolutely affected. Captain America (Chris Evans) still lives with his choices, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson – giving her best performance in years) reels from both her losses and those which directly affected her best friend Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and then there’s Thor (Chris Hemsworth).

Is there any character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) that has been treated more boobish than Thor over his last few films? Yes, Hemsworth has made the most of his arc and there are moments of hilarious brilliance, but did they completely forget he was an actual character who is often known as the God of Thunder?

Well, prepare for maximum boobage. Thor – understandably devastated from his failure to thwart Thanos – has spent his time slacking off at the gym, guzzling ale, and playing video games with his friends. Essentially, he is what Clint Eastwood sees whenever anyone wanders onto his lawn. In a film that tastefully handles so many characters and their internal destruction, Thor and his depression is the only one woefully abused and treated as nothing more than a walking punchline. Taken at face value, it’s worth a few giggles. But not at the expense of one of the series’ most foreboding characters.

A potential plan is devised revolving around the Quantum Realm and a lot of comic book science that should truly bother no one. Let’s face it, if you can swallow Tony Stark building an unlimited amount of Iron Man suits which are always space-ready, a 100 year-old man who hasn’t aged and takes on intergalactic foes with nothing more than a metal disc, and the God of Thunder suffering through a ridiculously strong obsession with his own hammer; then you can soak up a bit of time travel mumbo-jumbo.

As with any film centered around time travel, there is always the possibility of cheating the stakes of it all. If you can just go back in time and fix your errors, would there ever be true failure? Thankfully, the powers that be have already wrapped their head around this conundrum, ensuring that our heroes cannot just continue repairing past whiffs and saving those they’ve lost. It’s an insanely clever premise they have concocted, and it manages to click while also paying respectful homage to their previous slate of films.

SPACE

Where Infinity War took us through the furthest reaches of space – taking the battle to Thanos in many respects – Endgame succeeds in pulling our heroes all back together on Earth. Last we saw, Tony was stranded on Thanos’ home planet, having just watched his protégé (Tom Holland’s Peter Parker) snapped into oblivion. With Nebula’s (Karen Gillan) help, they return to Earth. The old team is reunited just as Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) makes her appearance known, and she explains the effects of the snap have been felt throughout the universe. This is an important revelation, as we have been so focused on our own planet, we (the audience) easily forget half of the entire universe’s population is gone. Endgame never loses focus of the weight of this scenario.

MIND

Though it’s often led to bouts of destruction (we’re looking at you, Ultron), science is effectively put to the test responsibly in Endgame. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo, evolving his Hulk take yet again, while simultaneously proving this world never needed Edward Norton) even handles a rather complicated explanation of how time works in this universe with a simplistic manner sorely lacking in films of this ilk. Scott Lang (Paul Rudd, Marvel’s secret comedic weapon) finally gets in on the action, and his presence evolves into one of the most important of the entire series.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is given grander stakes this go-round, for once weighing the effects of using his mind versus letting the past remain there. Before he will even help, Stark actually takes the time to organize his thinking, ponder the outcome, and establish the odds. Basically the opposite of everything Tony Stark would do before Thanos. This has been a common problem for the character – understanding his own limits – and it’s fitting that he finally arrives at common sense in Downey’s final at-bat with the character.

Downey Jr. is the Godfather of the MCU, upon his back this entire franchise was built. The weight of that – and Tony’s personal investment – is never lost here, it’s felt in his every breath. In fact, Endgame might be Downey Jr.’s strongest and most nuanced performance of the renowned billionaire. I have personally been up-and-down on the character’s excessive overuse in the MCU, but if this is indeed Downey’s last run at the character, it was an absolutely beautiful send-off stuffed with humanity, determination, and hubris.

SOUL

It should come as no surprise that Chris Evans once again functions as mankind’s walking representation of humanity. For nearly a decade, Evans has imbued Captain America with a warmth and depth rivaled only by Gal Gadot in modern comic book adaptations. Whether it is a handsome smirk or embattled wince, Evans evokes emotion with nary a word uttered better than most actors working today.

Unlike Infinity War, where Cap was a bit scruffier and less relatable (Cap-lite), Evans returns to form for his final run in the MCU. And fear not, like Downey Jr., Evans also receives a heroic send-off from the franchise, including one moment where I – a seasoned film critic and grown ass man – leapt from my seat to applaud, grinning from ear-to-ear. It’s the single greatest moment in the film, and one that also brought tears to my eyes.

What IS surprising is Scarlett Johansson’s performance. Black Widow has always felt like a solid supporting player, but failed to impress as a character that demanded her own solo venture. For years, audiences have demanded she get her own series, and it never seemed justifiable as she was never one of the strongest characters in her respective films. Like the snap itself, those concerns are in the past.

Johansson – nipping at the heels of her upcoming Black Widow film – knocks it out of the park. Between suffering due to her part in the loss of half of the world’s population and watching her process Hawkeye’s evolution because of it, Johansson approaches Evans level of empathy in Endgame. Her character has come so far from her origins, and we as the audience have witnessed first-hand her acceptance of these spandex-clad man-boys as her family, as well as the toll this responsibility has taken on her. A truly impressive performance.

Between Downey Jr., Evans, and Johansson, every MCU fan should prepare to have their hearts wrung out several times over the course of Endgame’s three-hour runtime.

REALITY

The truth of the matter is Avengers: Endgame is a great movie, but it’s not a perfect one. While the first hour is solid, establishing the world we’re left with after Thanos retired to his garden, it also languished far too long before kicking into the overall plot. Where Infinity War had truly only one lull in its entirety (with Thor again at its center, wandering around searching for his new axe), Endgame has several moments of watch-checking before the final hour kicks into overdrive. And with so many talented actors and beloved characters at play, there is zero excuse for this misstep in pacing.

Other than Thor’s arc (which is again, no fault of Hemsworth, who is a perfect Thor), Captain Marvel yet again arrives with a whimper. For the most powerful character in this universe, played by a vastly talented actress, I cannot understand for the life of me why her Captain Marvel is delivered with all the aptitude of a block of wood. She only has a few moments in Endgame, but none of them land with the earnestness or ferociousness of anything close to Cap or Black Widow’s scenes. We should be fist-pumping when Captain Marvel takes charge, instead of eye-rolling. As we gear up for the new iteration of Marvel heroes, I can only hope Kevin Feige and the gang understand this dilemma and course correct it for our next phase.

POWER

Despite a minor stumbling with the pacing and a couple of questionable character choices, the final hour of Avengers: Endgame is pitch-perfect. Every single comic book fan can breathe a sigh of relief, because directors Joe and Anthony Russo absolutely nail the climactic conclusion to one of the greatest achievements in cinema history. You will cheer, applaud, and yes, you will cry. It’s a glorious return to what we love about these films, and by the film’s final frames, you can collapse in your chair with the revelation that you have just witnessed a culmination of history, nostalgia, and sheer fan-service unrivaled in today’s theaters. The Russo’s understood that they held a great power in wielding this story, and the responsibility they demonstrated in delivering closure to every single arc is utterly breathtaking in hindsight.

Like many fans, I have no idea where we go from here. I’m just thankful Stan and friends allowed me to watch these classic Avengers assemble one last time, and witness a childhood dream come to life.

Avengers: Endgame is now playing in theaters worldwide
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Paul Rudd
Screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo