There’s no real way to discuss this movie unless I throw some early [SPOILERS] in, so personally, please see the movie before you read this review if you want a pure experience.
[SPOILERS] [SPOILERS] [SPOILERS]
[SPOILERS] [SPOILERS] [SPOILERS]
It’s fitting that Star Wars Episode IX comes out the same year as Avengers: Endgame. For years, the Star Wars Franchise was considered the pre eminent movie franchise that would ever exist. But as Star Wars has floundered in expanding its story, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has flourished, culminating in the biggest superhero mashup of all time just a year ago, fulfilling the dreams of every kid whoever grew up reading their favorite comics. Fortunately for them, Infinity War only told half of the story. Avengers: Endgame culminates 22 movies, 11 years, and over 50 characters of story with a love letter to its fans and the universe it has built.
ONE LAST LAST LAST LAST CHANCE TO GET OUT BEFORE
[SPOILERS]
After Thanos (Josh Brolin), in his best interest, set the universe right by eliminating half of it, the remaining Avengers and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) show up and finish Thanos…who has destroyed the infinity stones. 5 years later, life has moved on for Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans) et all. However, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and others have struggled moving on, unable to cope with their failure in stopping the Snap. Hope returns when a lucky situation springs Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) from his Quantum prison, potentially giving them a way to help right their wrongs.
Captain Marvel secretly prepped us for what Avengers: Endgame was going to provide. Half of Captain Marvel was about the history of SHIELD in addition to Carol Danvers. While out of place in an origin story for one character, the history of Marvel is ripe ground to cover for Avengers: Endgame. It’s definitely fan service, but the Russo Brothers never forget to focus their story around their characters. Having lost a bunch of people they hold dear, this 5 years later group of Avengers would give at least a little something to try a crazy plan to get them back. This plan, unexpectedly, leads to a series of emotionally heavy encounters, good and bad. It also pays off the years of storytelling and character building each Avenger has gone through, with potent results.
Another great trick Avengers: Endgame pulls is playing with perspective, as if the Russo’s have their own reality stone. Through new eyes we get to see things we thought we knew (I’m really trying not to spoil too much) or had completely understood before. Certain characters and their relationships change because of the constant perspective switching, keeping the story interesting, fresh, and propulive. The Russo’s make the plot complexity easier by delivering some really badass stuff in the 3rd act. There’s crazy amounts of payoffs, with most characters getting some sort of great moment. Without spoiling anything, my personal ranking would be Captain America, Black Widow, Iron Man, Hawkeye and…amazingly, Nebula. Props, Karen Gillan!
If you’re a fan of the MCU, then Avengers: Endgame will give you something that will send that chill up your spine. You know the one. The first time you ate ice cream. First kiss. A broken heart. All of the above. Props to Kevin Feige, the creator of this whole universe. I look forward to the X-Men fighting the Avengers in your next bonkers mash up thanks to Disney purchasing 20th Century Fox. Wolverine vs. Hulk, here we come!