Avengers: Endgame is finally here, and it serves as not only a culmination of a sprawling 22-movie saga and a love letter to those previous installments, but also a tribute to the characters we've been invested in for the past 11 years. Oh, and it just so happens to be an excellent film to boot.
It's difficult to review
Endgame in anything approaching an in-depth way without spoiling
something, because Marvel really has done such a great job in keeping most of the plot firmly under wraps. While there are some shots in the trailers from the final act, most occur very early on and really don't give much away at all. There are obviously numerous theories doing the rounds and speculation has been off the chart since
Infinity War, but, honestly, chances are
Avengers: Endgame is not going to be at all what you're expecting.
You already know the basic premise: the surviving members of Earth's Mightiest Heroes band together in an attempt to reverse the decimation brought on by Thanos and the Infinity Stones - but how they go about it and the journey these characters take in the process is sure to surprise, and even shock audiences.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the film is how well balanced it is. Genuinely hilarious scenes are followed by much darker (this one gets surprisingly violent at times), sometimes heartbreaking moments, but nothing ever comes across as being jarring or out of place. The three-hour runtime may seem excessive to some, but when you see the movie it really is hard to imagine it being any shorter. Most blockbusters that get close to the 2 and a half/3 hour mark could stand to trim a little fat, but I honestly couldn't choose a single scene to cut from this.
Cast-wise, everyone gives arguably their best performances to date, and the decision to focus mainly on the original six heroes pays off. Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. are the standouts, and while Chris Hemsworth does something a little different with Thor this time that may not be to everyone's taste, he is undoubtedly a scene-stealer.
Terms like masterpiece and game-changer are often thrown around a bit hastily, but not on this occasion. If this review was a little on the vague side, there's a very good reason: you need to experience Endgame knowing as little as possible. I left my screening with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face, and so did most of the people I saw it with. I'm not one for hyperbole, but this truly was a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience, and my new favorite superhero movie. I think it might end up being yours, too.