The events of Avengers: Infinity War left viewers hanging, anticipating the epic conclusion to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as the world knew it. When Avengers: Infinity War came to an end, viewers were perplexed by what had just transpired and had no idea where the MCU was headed and what would occur throughout Avengers: Endgame. Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, the directors of four films in the MCU, helped bring together one of the most epic films of all time: Avengers: Endgame.
With half of all living beings erased from existence, thanks to Thanos (Josh Brolin), the Avengers are tasked with their toughest test to date. Avengers: Endgame sees earth’s mightiest heroes doing all that they can to right the wrongs of the mad titan and bring those lost in what is being referred to as “the snap” back to life. Old faces such as Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), and James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) team up with what feels like a motley crew of super powered individuals to save the world once again. However, Thanos refuses to go down without a fight, and the greatest battle in cinematic history will ensue. Can the Avengers save the world once again, or will Thanos prove to be both inevitable and unbeatable?
Superhero films typically run somewhere between two and two and a half hours in length, but Avengers: Endgame clocks in at almost exactly three hours. This comes as a result of the Russo Brothers having so much story to tell and twenty movies worth of content to bring to a conclusion. As beautifully done as Avengers: Endgame is as a whole, the absolute best aspect of what this cast and crew are able to accomplish is that this film pays homage to each and every film that came before it in the MCU. Every film from Iron Man to Ant-Man and the Wasp is mentioned throughout the course of this film allowing viewers to understand how producer Kevin Feige’s vision allowed this franchise to come full circle and culminate in one epic conclusion. While this film appeals to just about everyone (assuming you’ve seen Avengers: Infinity War), Avengers: Endgame is very much a film made for fans of the MCU. It delivers on promises made years ago and brings this wonderful franchise to a head that will surely entertain.
Like in any film, acting is key. While the writers, directors, producers, and other crew members play a significant role in a film’s success, that success is ultimately placed on the shoulders of the actors. Individuals like Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark) and Karen Gillan (Nebula) are brilliant throughout, doing a compelling job of bringing to life the pain and suffering present in Avengers: Endgame’s story. The majority of the cast is convincing and able to project emotion at the highest level from beginning to end, allowing the film to find immense success as the highest grossing film of all time (I don’t care that Avatar was recently rereleased for a third time, passing Avengers: Endgame at the all-time box office. That stunt is nothing short of asinine and deserves no recognition whatsoever). I do, however, have a bone to pick with one of the leads, and that individual is Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton). As important as his character is to the overall storyline, Renner’s ability to exhibit emotion in one of the most intense scenes in the MCU is underwhelming to say the least. As something he has cared about for some time slips through his fingers and ultimately ceases to exist, his face does nothing but become slightly disfigured. The sentiment he is meant to convey in this moment also slips away from him and viewers find themselves more disconnected from the MCU as a result.
While each and every one of the characters present in this film play their part well throughout Avengers: Endgame–and the grand scheme of the MCU–there is one individual that rises above the rest and solidifies himself as a character essential to the overarching story, and that man is Paul Rudd (Scott Lang). While others surpass him in screen time, his role in this film makes him one of the most important in the MCU. Rudd is an incredibly talented actor who always pours his heart and soul into his roles, proving himself among some of the best in Hollywood; but a role of this magnitude has often been just out of his grasp. This film is his greatest role to date both in the real world and the fictional world of the MCU.
The CGI throughout the course of the MCU has been spectacular to say the least. Super beings, world-threatening battles, and unreal worlds have been brought to life since 2008 with Iron Man, but nothing has been as big, or as reliant on CGI, as Avengers: Endgame. Thanos, his team of baddies, including Proxima Midnight (Carrie Coon) and Cull Obsidian (Terry Notary), a series of planets, costumes, etc. are a result of computer generated images. Avengers: Endgame, and its success, is incredibly reliant on CGI and the animation team comes through better than ever before. A number of animation supervisors, from multiple animation companies, converged and created a product that will never be forgotten. The animation is seamless, beautiful, and moving.
Emotion is something that has been present throughout the course of the MCU, and I’ve said numerous times that Feige and his crew often outdo themselves and appeal to the emotion of its viewers more and more with each installment. However, Avengers: Endgame plays with those emotions more than ever. Millions of people around the world teared up, cried, and emotionally broke down as a result of multiple events throughout the course of Avengers: Endgame. This film possesses a compelling story, lovable characters, perfectly curated CGI, and meaningful dialogue, but one thing that truly stands out more than any other aspect is the emotion present and the bearing it has on its audience. I, like the rest of the world, was drawn into a story full of love and loss, deeper and deeper as it progresses, refusing to let go and constantly tugging at their heartstrings, jerking tears, and forcing viewers to drown in a sea of emotion from beginning to end. Family, loved ones, and mortality come into play at a greater rate than what had before been seen or felt in the MCU, keeping those emotions at the surface throughout and refusing to relent.
Never before has a film in the MCU played such a significant role in shaping the future of the franchise. Avengers: Endgame sets up literally dozens of potential sequels, and sets the tone for nearly every future entity of the MCU. The fact that the Russo Brothers and their constituents are able to create a film so massive in the landscape of one of the most successful film franchises of all time speaks to the ability of literally everyone with their hand in the pot. The gargantuan nature of this film makes it worthwhile for literally anyone curious about this film franchise. Avengers: Endgame, with all it takes from previous installments and all it promises about future installments, makes it the best MCU film to date, surpassing even its beautifully done, massively successful predecessor, Avengers: Infinity War.
Avengers: Endgame was tasked with entertaining and endearing viewers in the same fashion as each of its predecessors combined. It had promised the world one of the greatest displays and a fitting conclusion to the already massive MCU, and it did not disappoint. With the single greatest battle scene ever depicted on the big screen, superb acting (from almost everyone), a cohesive–regardless of how much people might question it–storyline, impeccable CGI, and a constant pull at human emotion, Avengers: Endgame secures its place as one of the greatest films of all time. The Russo Brothers, the animation team, Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), and others, the cinematographers, and very literally everyone else involved clearly poured their hearts and souls into every moment of this film. Every facet of this film bleeds brilliance and the world finds itself close to tears each and every time they have the chance to watch. Avengers: Endgame never gets old, never fails to entertain, and is truly one of the greatest spectacles of all time.
Directed by Anthony Russo & Joe Russo.
Written by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Steve Englehart, Steve Gan, Bill Mantlo, Keith Giffen, Jim Starlin, Larry Lieber, & Don Heck.
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chadwick Boseman, Brie Larson, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan, Zoe Saldana, Evangeline Lilly, Tessa Thompson, Rene Russo, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Letitia Wright, John Slattery, Tilda Swinton, Jon Favreau, Hayley Atwell, Natalie Portman, Marisa Tomei, Taika Waititi, Angela Bassett, Michael Douglass, Michelle Pfeiffer, William Hurt, Cobie Smulders, Sean Gunn, Winston Duke, Linda Cardellini, Maximiliano Hernández, Frank Grillo, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tom Vaughn-Lawlor, James D’Arcy, Jacob Batalon, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Redford, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Lexi Rabe, Ross Marquand, Joe Russo, Emma Fuhrmann, Michael James Shaw, Terry Notary, Kerry Condon, Ty Simpkins, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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