“Avengers: Endgame” Review: The Epic Conclusion
The world is still reeling following the unspeakable snap heard ’round the world, but the Avengers, or at least the ones who are left, are trying to keep their heads above water in this new world. They need to figure out a way to bring back those who were lost and save the world they failed to save. There isn’t much else about the plot that can be revealed without major spoilers, so I will avoid those and make sure I #DontSpoilTheEndgame.
What Joe and Anthony Russo have done with Avengers: Endgame is spectacular. They have taken the entirety of eleven years worth of content and managed to bring it all together to a glorious and satisfying ending. It is a modern-day epic and will bring audiences to tears, many times during its almost three-hour runtime. What I appreciate about the story is that it manages to give each character a moment to shine. Whether it is a 30 minute moment or even a few seconds in the film, there is something for every Marvel fan embedded in Avengers: Endgame. In giving each character their moments, we get to see a different side of a few characters in the film; maybe by seeing them interact with new characters, or see a different side of their personal life, it all weaves together to create something truly memorable.
While Avengers: Endgame is a phenomenal conclusion, I feel that there were parts of the film that were weaker than others. Firstly, an almost three-hour runtime is ambitious but also needs to be executed perfectly, which is nearly impossible. For some people, the three hours may fly by, but for me, it definitely was felt and made the film drag a bit in the middle, making parts of it feel a little over-bloated.
Another problem you are bound to face is that some of the characters may not feel like the fit into the story. Some characters end up feeling very forced into the narrative and don’t come up naturally. In addition, some lines of dialogue were a little awkward, and I’m not quite sure if all of the jokes hit, even with an enthusiastic audience.
Where Marvel has always excelled, it continues to do so here in the special effects. From the very first shot in space to the final epic scenes of the film, the special effects are inspired. The team at Marvel manages to bring to life these incredible stories with visuals that can only be described as magical. Through their incredible work, they manage to transport audiences and bring the impossible to life. The effects where we see Thor’s lightning or Tony Stark effortlessly blast off into the sky, we take these things for granted, but that is because of the high standard for visuals that Marvel has established. The fight and battle scenes are so well crafted and really up the ante in the film, making it a brilliant ending to the series. Whether it is Captain America, Iron Man, Captain Marvel or any other character in the film, the hand to hand combat is fantastically choreographed, and everyone brings their A-Game to Endgame.
The performances in the film were what you expect from this phenomenally talented ensemble cast. Each actor brought incredible emotion and power to their performances, especially Robert Downey Jr. His performance in this film is one for the books. It is nuanced in a way that I feel like we’ve never seen Robert Downey Jr. Alongside him, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Karen Gillan, and Scarlett Johannsen work to bring out the best in the story. I do have to say that I still think that Paul Rudd is the silent MVP of the group. His charisma and humor balance out the seriousness and weight of the rest of the film.
The story, which I can’t discuss because we don’t want any spoilers, is well-written and serves as a heartfelt tribute to the fans and a stunning conclusion to a record-breaking series of films. The nostalgia and the emotion are brimming over in Avengers: Endgame but miraculously doesn’t feel trite or forced. It comes from natural love and appreciation for these characters we have grown to love.
Avengers: Endgame gives audiences an epically beautiful conclusion to eleven years of cinematic entertainment. It is a wonderful film, that despite its flaws and is sure to delight Marvel fans of all ages. Our heroes are giving their final bow and it is a joy and pleasure to witness.
