‘Avengers: Endgame’ // Film Review (Non-Spoiler)

(NOTE: This is a non-spoiler review of Avengers: Endgame.)

You know, it’s crazy how 2019 marks the end for some of our most popular fictional entertainment. How are we not going to tear up when Game of Thrones or even Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker reaches its climax? For all of us that was a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning with Iron Man to earlier this year with Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame might be too much for everybody in the span of three hours. Is that true?

Following the events of Infinity War, Thanos (Josh Broin) has achieved all six Infinity Stones and has wiped out half of existence with just the snap of his fingers. He actually won. The cause of it leads most of our heroes and everybody else on the planet turning to disintegrate. This situation leads to many of our reminding group of the Avengers not knowing what to do next. They suffered from a loss that’s unimaginable to any of them.

Avengers: Endgame was the one movie this year that my friends and I talked about when it comes to what’s going to happen in here. Different theories that might come true or anything that sounds reasonable enough to be believable. We were also wondering if it could beat anything that Infinity War offered over a year ago when that cliffhanger. Expectations were all over the place because nobody had any idea about how Joe and Anthony Russo were going to give us without giving anything away. Since this was my most anticipated movie of the year, all I want out of Avengers: Endgame is to be a celebration of what the MCU has accomplished every year and, hopefully, be an unforgettable experience by the end. Did it? One word: Fulfilled.

First off, I gotta give Marvel’s marketing team a ton of credit here because they know that we were gonna go see it without seeing any footage. Pretty much all they showed from the trailers and the Super Bowl spot was basically from the first act and little pieces of the third, which isn’t enough to be spoiled by. The film that we eventually got was totally worth it. Different from what I was expected.

Compared to Infinity War, both of these are nearly different in the way of their respective tones. To where the last film feels like Thanos’ movie and has its moments of fun, this is owned by the Avengers and feels like a drama for the first half. But it’s fun, as well. There isn’t a whole lot of action during the film, which isn’t anything to complain when it’s just our heroes interacting trying to figure out what’s their next plan is. That was something I was fully expecting, but it felt needed for what needs to be done. And that’s what I love what screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely were wanting to get through in Endgame; they and the Russos didn’t want to make the same movie over again but tieing everything together neatly as possible. Both conclusions are about on-par with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but bigger and better.

All of the performances here are the true backbone of the entire film, and it feels like they haven’t lost their touch in their superhero portrayals. Who’s left that didn’t turn to dust? Well, there’s Tony Stark/ Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Bruce Banner/ The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Nebula (Karen Gillan), James Rhodes/ War Machine (Don Cheadle), and Rocket Racoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper). With the latest additions showing up in here also includes Clint Barton/ Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Scott Lang/ Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), and Carol Danvers/ Captain Marvel (Brie Larson). Every single one of them isn’t wasted and are given material that’s perfect for them.

Can you really say anything wrong with Downey Jr.’s performance as Iron Man? This is the same role that tailored made for him that can’t be unmatched. But I was really happy to say Rudd as Ant-Man gets more screentime than I thought. Evans still shines once again, and it’s great that he had more to do in here than in Infinity War.

Trying to tackle what really happens in here is a truly difficult task. Why’s that? Because there’s a lot in the three-hour runtime that can’t be spoiled and I want to be vague as possible. Did some elements come off as a bit predictable? Sure, but I personally didn’t feel like it ruined anything. Speaking of the runtime, it didn’t really feel that long for 183 minutes. There may be somewhere in the middle where it started to drag just a little bit, but that’s not enough to downgrade anything.

This also delivered on some spectacular action sequences that are too memorable and the humor is well-established to the point of nobody should complain once when someone makes a joke. And maybe it’s rare to have any kind of comic book movie giving you emotional payoff, but this is one of those times where it felt earned.

Endgame isn’t a perfect MCU by any chance, but there were a few problems. It can feel long for a lot of people who aren’t used to sitting for three hours. And all I can say about Captain Marvel’s role in here is that there a lot of here in this. Which is strange since her standalone movie, while received fairly positive reviews, crushed it at the box office. Besides that, lots to love about this.

Without spoiling anything important, this might be the first time that I honestly geeked out during a movie. And I embraced it with everybody else in the theater. Nothing can prepare you for what’s going down in here during the climax, which might go down as my favorite moment out of all of these movies. When everything’s going down, you’ll feel like a little kid again.

It’s just astounding what the Russos’ done. Is it safe to say they are the best directors in the MCU today? Yes, it is. They are able to bring a unique style to this franchise that can’t be replicated. Once again, they handled all of these characters in one movie that culminates everything to near perfection. It just takes a ton of effort to get things right. This had the exact same feeling of a series finale, though more films will be released in the future. So, well done Russos brothers and Kevin Feige for making this happen. Such an epic end that’s well-earned.

But do you want to know why I love about the MCU? Not because it made itself a billion-dollar franchise, but it does the unthinkable by presenting a community that shares a passion for every single of these films, for better or worse.

We truly care about these fictional characters the same way we feel for people we know in real life. Whether it’s an Asgardian, a war hero, or a group of misfits from outer space, That shows why many directors take their own vision in making these superheroes memorable through redemption, through heartbreak, through strength, and through teamwork. That’s what I feel Avengers: Endgame is all about.

I’ve been a part of all of this from the very beginning 11 years ago when my dad took me the see Iron Man opening day, and who would’ve thought everything would come full circle with over a dozen movies that everybody has grown to love and care about ever since? Without any of these movies, I probably wouldn’t care about comic book movies if they decide not to do this cinematic universe. Not only that, but this is has got to be the most successful cinematic universe ever created. Going out of my way to see all 22 films opening weekend is always rewarding for me and everybody else. Avengers: Endgame gave me everything I wanted and a lot more. This made me laugh, cry, and delivered many moments of excitement throughout. Completely unexpected in the best way possible, this was the perfect close to the MCU in what’s being called the “Infinity Saga”. Stan Lee would look down from heaven is witness greatness unfolding. 

Grade: A