“I am inevitable.” —Thanos
Today’s quick review: Avengers: Endgame. In the aftermath of Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) devastating victory, the surviving Avengers attempt to pick up the pieces. On Earth, Captain America (Chris Evans) leads the effort to track down Thanos, reclaim the Infinity Stones, and undo the damage he caused. In space, Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) floats stranded with dwindling supplies. To stand a chance, they will need help from an unexpected source.
Avengers: Endgame is a superhero movie that wraps up the first overarching story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Avengers: Endgame picks up where Avengers: Infinity War left off: in the wake of the Avengers’ disastrous confrontation with Thanos. Much like its predecessor, Endgame features an enormous ensemble cast, outstanding action, an epic story, and a dramatic tone leavened with just the right amount of classic Marvel humor.
Endgame is a fitting sendoff for the Avengers. The film revisits themes, characters, and relationships from throughout the team’s history, providing closure for nearly every major plot thread and rewarding long-time fans for investing in the characters. Remarkably, Endgame weaves its nostalgia into the story with grace and finesse. The team’s past motivates their choices in the present; none of the trips down memory lane feel unnecessary or forced.
Endgame has a story that’s worth every bit of build-up that went into it. The plot is grand in scope yet almost impossible to predict, and it switches between sweeping, high-stakes conflict and tender, personal moments with ease. The movie does a masterful job of manipulating the audience’s emotions and playing on their expectations. The plot structure may seem haphazard at first, but the pieces prove to be assembled with remarkable precision.
Endgame ties with Infinity War as the darkest Marvel movie. It deals soberly with the consequences of the Avengers’ loss and follows the heroes through their darkest hour. Artful dramatic writing and a spate of excellent performances make Endgame’s story moving and laden with meaning. Much of the drama comes from the characters themselves. Their interactions are among the richest and most rewarding the Marvel movies have to offer.
Yet even the story’s bleakest moments are not utterly hopeless. The film’s heavy drama is balanced out by top-notch humor that perfects Marvel’s fun, character-driven style. The sheer breadth of the cast gives Endgame plenty of material to work with, and nearly every joke hits the mark. Moreover, the jokes are delivered in ways that stave off despair without undermining the gravity of the situation, a perfect seasoning for the film’s drama.
As for its action, Endgame is everything a superhero fan could hope for. The conflict is massive in scope, the cast contains virtually every surviving Marvel hero, and the top-tier special effects make the fights an absolute delight to watch. Even more impressive is the way Endgame innovates with its action. New pairings of characters, new uses of their powers, and a handful of brilliant reversals make its action among the best in the genre.
Avengers: Endgame is an incredible feat of cinema that will please anyone even remotely invested in its characters. Its superb craftsmanship, sprawling scope, and subtle character work place it at the pinnacle of the superhero genre, while its fantastic plot and enormous fan appeal make it a worthy finale for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Avengers: Endgame is a must-see for even casual Marvel fans. Just make sure you’ve seen Infinity War first.
9.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 9.0 for outstanding quality from start to finish.