There will be discussions galore regarding one’s favorite features amidst the Marvel Cinematic Universe that began with 2008’s Iron Man, and I’ll throw my little hat into the ring and pick Avengers: Endgame as my clear cut favorite. For a spoiler free review, check out a few of my errant thoughts!
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Avengers: Infinity War left everything on in tragic disarray, as a simple snap from Thanos (Josh Brolin) erased half the population, including several of “Earth’s mightiest heroes” (aka Avengers) and most of the Guardians. The survivors understandably can’t move on from their grief, and their obvious plan is to finally defeat Thanos, retrieve the Infinity Stones, and bring back the dearly departed.
The Avengers are a family, and though there is a deep love among all, resentment and dysfunction festers in their ranks. Some members initially believe trying to save the world once again is impossible thanks to Thanos, while others refuse to give up. A showdown with Thanos over the infinity stones is inevitable, and that is all I have to say regarding plot details.
Running a meaty 181 minutes, Avengers: Endgame has several unexpected moments that absolutely threw me for a loop, and that’s a huge reason why I’m divulging very little in my “review.” I’m not a stickler for spoilers myself, but if I actually discovered a few plotlines and twists before watching this movie, it would have honestly dampened my experience.
The great news is that almost a ton of the Marvel characters in storyline get their respective moment of quality screen time, and if you’ve been an avid fan of the 11 years worth of storylines, some of these threads will be paid off in Endgame. There are interactions within this epic that will absolutely blow your socks off without it ever feeling too contrived.
Avengers: Endgame is also surprisingly funny, and there will be moments where dialogue will be obscured by the incessant laughter in the audience. Even in the darkest of hours, a plethora of jokes are organically sprinkled throughout the narrative, and credit goes to screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely for delivering a flawless and surprisingly streamlined script.
Another huge surprise was the several times I actually got teary eyed during the film; Avengers: Endgame unabashedly wears its heart on its sleeve without going the saccharine route. Every battle, argument, loss, and victory is hard earned in this film, and it’s great to see zero false notes in the feature. If you’re going into Endgame with action primarily on your mind, then you also won’t be disappointed (basically if you love the visual scope of the Infinity War’s conflicts, Endgame exists on the same level). There is also one defining moment that I won’t be able to shake off anytime soon (but ultimately that’s a great thing!).
Ultimately, Avengers: Endgame is a fitting close to a chapter that began with 2008’s Iron Man, and it absolutely exceeded my expectations (which were already high). Karen Gillan, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson deliver the film’s most standout performances, and maybe I’m saying a bit too much (or not much at all!), but such is life in the MCU!
***Avengers: Endgame opens nationwide April 26.
Avengers: Endgame Rating: 5 out of 5
I’ll be discussing Avengers: Endgame on the next episode of CinemAddicts with Anderson Cowan, but if you want to listen to our latest episode, check out the Soundcloud Bar below!!