‘Avengers: Endgame’: A fitting end to an era (review)

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

In 2008, Marvel Studios debuted “Iron Man,” a film which proceeded to spark an entire franchise in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). From the onset, the Avengers Initiative sought to unite Earth’s mightiest heroes to work together in a protective alliance. “Avengers: Endgame” arrives as an ambitious, creative endeavor, and arguably the pinnacle of comic book movies.

Clint Barton, or Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), enjoys a cookout with his family, then discovers his wife, sons, and daughter disappeared when the Mad Titan Thanos (Josh Brolin) wipes out half of all life in the universe with the Infinity Gauntlet. Adrift in space, Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) remain on the verge of depleting their final oxygen reserves when Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) rescues the unlikely duo. Upon returning Nebula and Stark to Earth, the trio reunites with Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and War Machine/James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle). Together, what’s left of the Avengers seeks out Thanos in an attempt to undo the damage the Mad Titan wrought.
Unfortunately, their plan doesn’t quite go as intended. Flash forward five years, and the Avengers cope with a damaged world. Barton has morphed into Ronin, an antihero leaving behind a trail of carnage. Hulk and Banner fused into Hanner (or Bulk?), Thor turns from throwing a hammer to getting hammered. It’s only Steve Rogers who appears largely unchanged, although thawing out after 70 years prepared Cap for remaining steadfast as the world around him changes, notably losing loved ones. But when Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) emerges from the Quantum Realm, it reignites hope that there’s a way to reverse the damage Thanos wrought.

“Avengers: Endgame” manages a slew of surprises, and within the first few minutes completely changes course. Rather than the expected extended battle scene “Endgame” could have been, it instead opens as a slow-moving drama. Unlike the vast majority of superhero flicks which lay waste to the surroundings without care, “Avengers: Endgame” dwells on loss. Whether it’s through a haunting shot of a Vietnam Wall-esque monument to those murdered when Thanos wiped out half the population, Ronin’s rampage, or Tony Stark finally settling down. “Endgame,” particularly in its first hour or so, grapples with death and change.

That’s not to say the film lacks action. Adrenaline picks up, transforming into a thunderously delightful adventure. The final battle takes place on a grand scale, rivaling the epic showdown of Peter Jackson’s “The Two Towers.” There’s ample fan service as the Avengers, old and new, band together to reverse the infamous Thanos snap. However, it’s enjoyable and never over the top. Throughout the ride, genres blend together: a bit of comedy, a touch of drama, and a hearty dose of action. A few moments truly tug on the heartstrings. One scene silenced the theatre, with nay a crunching popcorn kernel, the quiet punctuated by several sniffles.

Overall, “Avengers: Endgame” is ambitious, but unlike its “Avengers: Infinity War” predecessor, it’s a cohesive unit. “Endgame” wraps up not only the untidy mess Thanos left after “Infinity War,” but over a decade of Marvel lore. Moreover, it concludes several storylines thoughtfully, with the respect the franchise deserves. Much of its somberness derives from the note of finality for a few heroes. Epic, entertaining, and emotionally-charged, “Avengers: Endgame” is a fitting finale while at the same time new beginning. It’s arguably the MCU’s finest entry, and a quick pace helps it feel far shorter than its over three-hour run-time.