A Reel Review - AVENGERS: ENDGAME

Marvel Studios has been putting their classic lineup of superheroes through various adventures over the course of 21 films since 2008. The main course has always been the Infinity Stones; six cosmic rocks with unspeakable power, and they have led our heroes through deeds and perils in war, space travel, mystic arts, espionage, betrayal, family drama, and great loss. For their grand finale, ENDGAME, every single adventure from their thick past becomes relevant. 

The surviving members of the Avengers; Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and new-to-Earth Nebula (Karen Gillan)…are still reeling from their devastating loss at the evil fingers of Thanos (Josh Brolin), who has successfully wiped out half of all existence. 

Marvel godfather Stan Lee had always said that superheroes should be human first, and heroes second. The early goings of ENDGAME make these characters, whom we have grown and bonded with over the last decade, as human as any character-driven Oscar nominee we’ve ever seen. The Earth is in shambles with half of all life gone, and our heroes, whom we have seen super and mighty, are reduced to helpless mourners; forever grappling with their failures and coping with great loss of friends, family, and the trillions that they were supposed to protect. It’s heavy and powerful stuff, and uncommon for the flash and boom of a standard superhero film. 

Once the Avengers discover a possible solution, one that can (a) kill Thanos and (b), undo the damage that he’s done, ENDGAME kicks into high gear as our heroes go on a mind-bending and brain-boggling journey across time and space…and this is where the greatness of ENDGAME appears. The directing team of Joe and Anthony Russo, working on a brilliant script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, have the Avengers face the biggest moments of their past; moments that bring serious emotion. We have one hero have a conversation with his father before he was born, another speaks to his mother on the day she will die, and another sees the woman he loved but never had a chance to be with. At no other time has the Avengers, or any other superhero been portrayed so human on the screen and it gives ENDGAME a tremendous amount of emotional weight. 

For a film that clocks in at a touch over three hours, ENDGAME doesn’t feel like a chore. Pacing is brisk, and even the quiet moments keep things moving. As emotional as the film is, the laughs are some of the best we’ve seen in a Marvel film, making for a perfect balance of comedy and tragedy. Balance seems to be the key term, as the script allows time for every character to have their special moment. Everyone is key and has an important part to play on this massive playing field, and nearly all 21 Marvel films are amazingly represented one way or another. 

With so much drama, comedy, and tragedy going on, the entire cast has a lot to work with and they all shine. Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Hemsworth turn in some of their best work, and be prepared for more than one surprise character. 

The complex and risky plan the Avengers are trying to pull off is not without its risk, and eventually the bad guys catch a whiff of it and begin to cause chaos on a scale that the Avengers have never seen before. It all leads to a colossal final battle where every hero in the universe is present in an awesome spectacle never before seen on film, and the battle really matters to us because steps have been taken to see the Avengers as human first. When the dust settles, there is loss, and just as this Blogger correctly predicted HERE (no spoilers), there are goodbyes to be said. This is then topped off with even more emotion as a beloved Avenger is given a proper, and incredible ending. For good measure, the Russo’s provide a perfect bookend as things end just as they began, and gives us a lot to think about and ponder long after the credits (worth staying for), are over. For the past decade, Marvel has re-defined superheroes and the modern blockbuster, and ENDGAME stands as not only the finale to their Infinity storyline, but as an end to the old way of making blockbusters. The bar has been raised to galactic heights. 

BOTTOM LINE: See it