Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo

Directed by Joe & Anthony Russo

The Story:
After Thanos (Josh Brolin) accomplished his goal, the remaining Avengers unite in order to possibly turn the tide and save the universe yet again.

The Synopsis:
Back in 2003, there was a film that I was hyped to see more than any other, and that was the conclusion of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.  I was not disappointed, as I still remember sitting in the theater watching it to this day, and feeling a wide range of emotions, and I knew at the moment that I was watching something historic.  It was more than just a movie, but it was a full-blown experience, something I won't ever forget.  Fast forward to 2019, and "Avengers: Endgame" became my next most hyped movie to see, and once again I was not disappointed in the slightest.  Even though it offered a long runtime (as did "Return of the King"), I didn't feel like it labored or meandered in a way that dragged the story down, but each moment, each second, was extremely necessary.  The film had epic weight on its shoulders, having to (in many ways) complete a story began ten years ago, spanning twenty-one films, and had to incorporate so much in its runtime that it couldn't possibly do it.  Not only did they accomplish this monumental task, but it also became - as with "Return of the King" - more than just a movie, but a historic experience that I will never forget.
 
Remember when Eric Bana played the Hulk?  Or when Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner played Daredevil and Elektra?  There was a point in time in cinema where superhero movies were ridiculed (and rightfully so) as braindead action spectacles.  Then, in 2008, Robert Downey Jr. brought Iron Man to life, and the rest is cinematic history - the Marvel Cinematic Universe was born, a cinematic universe that's unparalleled (even though not without criticism) and will possibly never be duplicated again.  Centuries from now, movie critics will look back on this time and study how a franchise like this worked so incredibly well.  With "Endgame," it feels like the conclusion - but in many ways also propels the story forward as well, something that makes it different than other MCU films: instead of just propelling forward to tease the next arrival, it takes its time to really serve as a fan service to those who invested ten years and twenty-two films into the franchise, and it does so in a truly exceptional way.

That's the beginning of my professional review, but as I was watching the film all I thought with my Marvel fanboy mind was: OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHYESYESOHWOWNOWAYICANTBELIEVEITOHCRAPNOWAYINSANEICANTEVENTHISISINTENSEICANTEVEN!!!!!!!!!

After Thanos's universe-shaking snap, the remaining Avengers gather together in hopes of restoring order to a world thrown into chaos.  The film is filled with the action you'd expect from a film like this (including easily the most epic, grandstanding, out-of-this-world, utterly insane, stand-up-and-cheer fight scene in cinematic history), but more importantly it manages to really give emotional resonance to the main characters we've gotten to know and love the last decade.

Robert Downey Jr. returns as Iron Man, the cornerstone of this cinematic universe, and gives it all he's got.  Tony Stark's story is compelling, nuanced, and filled with twists and turns that make the billionaire playboy philanthropist such a joy to witness, and Downey once again gives his effortless charm to the project.  As Captain America, Chris Evans works diligently to reverse that which happened, and you can tell in his pure emotion (along with his script) that, while other people could move forward, he can't.  Chris Hemsworth gives Thor a more damaged feel, as he feels responsible for what happened, which leads to a whole new character arc for our God of Thunder.  Mark Ruffalo deals with being both the intellectual Bruce Banner and muscle Hulk in his own unique way, and Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner both return as our favorite spies Black Widow and Hawkeye, both of whom are also given strong character arcs.

"The Avengers" debuted back in 2012, a culmination of "Iron Man," "Captain America: The First Avenger," "The Incredible Hulk," and "Thor," and it was a film that could've led to the demise of the MCU before it really got off the ground.  How could a film with so many big names be a success?  Well, there was no question afterward that they managed to create something magical, which helped lead us to this moment in cinematic history.  Back then, "The Avengers" was the biggest undertaking in cinematic history.  Then last year's "Infinity War" became the biggest undertaking in cinematic history.  "Endgame" makes "The Avengers" and "Infinity War" feel like mere appetizers before the main course, and it became an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Not going into spoilers, but there were moments in the film where I was tearing up, moments where I almost literally stood up and cheered, moments where I gasped in excitement, and everything in-between.  This is what going to the movies is meant to be, and this will go down as this generation's biggest blockbuster, a film that pays homage to the previous ten years and also opens the door for the future.  My excitement grows as how I wonder how they will top this ten years from now.

The entire MCU has been like putting a giant puzzle together.  The pieces may not seem to fit or make sense at the moment, but after piecing other parts together and finally completing the puzzle, you look at the finished product and realize that it all made sense.  Even the smallest pieces have a huge impact, and "Endgame" serves to complete the puzzle, as I noticed small (and large) moments in the film that hearkened back to every single film in the MCU - from apparent throw-away moments to epic speeches, "Endgame" paid service to the films that went before it, and also supplies a way forward as well.

The Summary:Finding a way to both service faithful fanboys and also provide a fitting addition to the MCU, "Endgame" is far from the end for this generational franchise, but it provides everything and more and far exceeded my highest, loftiest expectations.

The Score: A+