Avengers: Endgame

Much like I started my Infinity War review, I have to say that it's absolutely incredible that we're here. Perhaps this review even acts as a thought-piece on this massive experiment that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A spoiler-free review though, mind you. 

After the traumatic ending of last year's Infinity War, fans of the MCU around the world - and even casual movie-goers it would seem - were left devastated, but also more eager than ever to see what would happen next. The excitement and curiosity reminded me of some of the best cliff-hangers of LOST back in the day. Almost shockingly, you realize that with this 22nd film, the first "season" of Marvel is nearly over, 11 years later. 

I'm someone that loves comic book movies, but was never really into comic books. It's a combination of the constant quality of the MCU and The Dark Knight saga where I found myself consistently enjoying superhero films. And I think many others share in that same evolution - or else these movies wouldn't consistently make > $1B. 

With Avengers: Endgame, we're at the "end" and it appropriately feels like it. There will be more films from the MCU after this one, but it's almost sobering to think and wonder about how they'd ever top themselves from the Infinity Saga. Maybe this is for a later time but the incredible amount of forward-thinking, planning, strategy, and organization displayed by Kevin Feige and his team is more than commendable: it's one of the most impressive achievements in the history of cinema.

And Endgame proves it was all worth it. 

Wow! Thanos has lost a lot of weight...

Shockingly, this may be a shorter review (we'll see where it goes) because I don't want to write a single iota about the plot. I don't even really want to share my opinions about it because it could allude to details too easily. Suffice it to say that, as with any of these superhero films, some stuff you just have to "go with it" which for naysayers is easily countered by a line from Black Widow in the film: "I get emails from a racoon, so at this point, there's not much that surprises me." For me everything made enough sense and I didn't go to the film to try to hunt plot holes. Poor souls that did...

OMG gurrllll.
I luv the way your hair color blends!

What I will say about Endgame is that it's one of the most satisfying conclusions I'm ever likely to see. Where other "trilogies" (I sometimes count the Russo's Civil War as the start of this one) often falter with the third, *cough Matrix Revolutions cough cough* Endgame sticks the landing, and then some. Often when I leave a film this big that I've been excited for for a long time, there's only a couple adjectives that I continue to see, dancing around in my mind. For Endgame, that adjective was: well-earned. So many moments - they become countless really - stem from the fact that we've been with these characters for 11 years. So many moments feature subtle (or not so subtle) call-backs to previous films. It's a really unique thing to feel in a theater, almost as if there's a note of nostalgia with a hint of sadness that it's ending but the film continuously reminds you that all of this has been worth it. Some of these moments could be labeled as fan service, sure, but it's fan service done right and logically without really ripping you out of the film and screaming "Look! Did you see what I just did?". 

A significant portion of this "well-earned" sentiment stems from our core cast too. We've grown with these characters, as have they, and their performances reach deeper than just the three hours of this film. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, and Paul Rudd (not an original Avenger, but still worth mentioning) are at their best here because they know these characters; they've been them for over a decade. Downey Jr. gives a fun (as always), but poignant performance as Tony Stark that is likely his series best - which is saying a lot. Evans, whose Cap has always been more reserved than Tony, gets to have a lot of fun throughout the film but is always classically stoic. My other MVP would likely be Johansson who, while not being a superhero, has always seemed to be the unofficial "glue" that held this team together. She's having a hard time coping and you can tell it's wearing on her and her performance is emotional as it has ever been because of it. Not mentioning Hemsworth, Ruffalo, Renner, and Rudd shouldn't be interpreted that their parts or performances are lesser, and each of them, as always, continuously feels like the character they're supposed to play. Josh Brolin's Thanos gets less screen time this time around, but he was still a perfect choice for the role and delivers haunting lines of dialogue as if he truly believes them.

Comparing Endgame to the other Russo films, this one has decidedly less action and when it does have action, it's not as bombastic as their previous films - Civil War is still the pinnacle of incredible action in this franchise - but it's still highly entertaining. The film's somber tone and plot direction are good indicators that this was never going to be the case and in exchange for that action, we get a lot of heartfelt character moments. Again, the phrase "well-earned" comes to mind. As is the case with Marvel and their insane budget, the film and all the CGI that comes with it looks amazing and the sound is...ahem...marvelous. For opening night I went to a normal theater, but I'm already ready to go back and watch it in IMAX. And much to my pleasant surprise, Endgame features probably the best original score in a Marvel film, maybe sans Black Panther.

Call me a fanboy, call this glowing review a sign that I'm a bad critic: I really don't care (though I'm also not the only one praising this film). Perhaps my final score was even pre-determined to a certain degree. Maybe subconsciously I was just going to judge this film on if they [Feige and his team] "pulled it off". Well Endgame pulls it off, and then some. Combined with Infinity War, it's easily the best Part I and II saga we've ever received (and will stand the test of time, I'd bet any money on that) and to the degree that Endgame sets out to not only conclude that story, but be the culmination of 21 previous films, it succeeds greatly. And that's a feat that no other movie has needed to achieve so it shouldn't be swept aside as some "superhero" movie. It, and the entire MCU, should be recognized as one of the most electrifying and spectacular events to ever happen to film.

CONS

• Lesser action, which we know the Russo's are good at, and less impressive action when it does happen
• Couple of fan service moments are less well-earned than others
• Some confusing plot explanations the film quickly skirts over

PROS

• This will likely be one of the fastest 3 hour films you ever watch and it's paced, more often than not, at a breakneck speed. Never feels like a slog
• Per usual with the Russos and a bunch of characters, their organization of this many players and different storylines feels effortless. They're the masters of it at this point
• The cast at its best, which is saying something for many of them. The core original group feels tighter and more focused with this follow-up and they each get ample time to build their character
• Robert Downey Jr, as always, proves that he is Iron Man
• Chris Evans grew into the role of Captain America and continues to be iconic and stoic in the role
• Scarlett Johansson gives her best MCU performance. She's always been the glue to this team and it's obvious here
• Despite the somber tone, this is another very funny Marvel film. None of it really feels out of place or forced but there are great laughs to be had
• An absolutely epic finale
• Well earned moments throughout. Character moments and interactions. Jokes. Action beats. So many elements of this film came from what was before it
• Fantastic visuals and one of the best original scores in the MCU to date
• Somehow, someway becomes the conclusion to a Saga that accomplishes so much in such a short time. Epic in every sense of the word

Rath's Review Score | 

10/10 -- Instant Classic