'Avengers: Endgame' Is The Marvel-iest Of Marvel Movies In The Most Glorious & Frustrating Ways [Review]

This review is a spoiler-free piece that will not reveal any of the surprises of “Avengers: Endgame.”

Judging by the fact that “Avengers: Infinity War” made over $2 billion at the box office last year, it’s fair to say everyone knows that the end of the film left audiences with their jaws on the floor. The Mad Titan Thanos snapped his fingers and used the Infinity Gauntlet to wipe out half of all living creatures in the universe, including many of your favorite heroes. The film ends in a way no one expected: Thanos won, and the Avengers, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, lost. And they lost hard.

READ MORE: ‘Avengers: Endgame’: Hyperbolic Reactions Promise A “Masterful Epic” & “Emotional Rollercoaster”

Now comes “Avengers: Endgame,” which features characters fans have grown to love over the course of 21 films coming to terms with that loss in an incredibly cathartic, thrilling, and ultimately satisfying way. However, if you’re not someone that knows every character by name, you’re in for a confusing three-hour film.

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2019 

For a movie as joyous and exciting as the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is, ‘Endgame’ doesn’t pull punches right off the bat when it comes to the guilt, shame, and loss that our heroes feel after getting their collective asses handed to them by a purple guy wearing a gold glove with sparkly stones. And it’s how those feelings of helplessness and grief are dealt with by each person that really pushes the action forward in the film. To that point, you should understand that ‘Endgame’ is a different type of film than ‘Infinity War.’ That isn’t to say this is somehow not an epic superhero film. It most certainly is epic, in just about every way, but there are actually moments of calm, where the audience can catch its breath, that were absent from this film’s action-heavy predecessor.

READ MORE: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Has Reportedly Sold More Than $120 Million (And Counting) In Domestic Pre-Sale Tickets

And to say that directors Joe and Anthony Russo fulfilled the promise set by last year’s blockbuster, and the 22-film MCU story arc, is a gross understatement. The directing duo has really outdone themselves with this one. It’s just that outdoing themselves comes with some consequences.

“Avengers: Endgame” is the most “Marvel” movie in Marvel Cinematic Universe history. There are emotional moments that make the Snappening feel almost quaint. The sheer scale of the film is off the charts, which can be a bit overwhelming at moments, as the studio once again raises the stakes to a previously unheard of degree. The character work is better than you might be expecting, with every A-lister appropriately bringing their A-game. And quips. There are plenty of quips. Everything you’ve come to expect from an MCU film is here in ‘Endgame.’ It’s just the Marvel-y knob has been turned to 11, which is sure to please the massive fans but annoy the casual moviegoer.

READ MORE: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Writers Talk Writing The Post-Thanos Snap Sequel: “What The Hell Do You Do After That?”

Without going into detail, suffice it to say that you really need to have watched most, if not all, of the previous 21 films to get the most out of Marvel Studios’ latest. If you’re the unlucky +1 that gets dragged to opening night by your significant other, having not seen any ‘Avengers’ films, you’re going to miss just about every emotional beat, every in-joke, and every callback, of which there are many. Basically, you’re completely wasting your time. No matter what Kevin Feige and the brain trust at Marvel Studios has said before about this film being completely separate from ‘Infinity War,’ there’s no shaking the fact that ‘Endgame’ is very much a Part 2 (or Part 22, honestly).

READ MORE: ‘Avengers: Infinity War’: Thanos Takes A Torch To The MCU In Epic Superhero Blockbuster [Review]

Plot specifics aside (and believe me, you want to know as little as possible about this film going into it), all you really need to know about ‘Endgame’s story is that after Thanos utterly decimated the Avengers, leaving them beaten and battered, this is the film where the Avengers attempt to actually avenge.

As a Part 2, ‘Endgame’ is a hugely successful ending to a story that began a year ago but truly dates back a decade. The Russos, along with writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, have crafted a story that somehow juggles all the characters in front of them, with newer characters getting their own standout scenes but the original six Avengers (Cap, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hulk, Hawkeye, and Thor) truly getting the lion’s share of the showstopping moments.

Much of what made ‘Infinity War’ work so well is how the four aforementioned filmmakers were able to create unique combinations of characters, allowing for these unexpected partnerships to spawn memorable moments, such as with Thor and Rocket aka “Sweet Rabbit.” And in ‘Endgame,’ you can expect a lot of the same. Character interactions are the name of the game and it’s in this area that the Russos, and their writers, really shine. Again, to name names would be to ruin some of the film’s best beats, so my lips are sealed.

And as mentioned, don’t be concerned by that 3-hour runtime. There’s plenty of plot to fuel this film (some might say too much, at times). But unlike ‘Infinity War,’ which felt so gloomy, ‘Endgame’ is able to outshine its predecessor by infusing much-needed joy into the film. Without these moments (and there are a large number of instances where the smile won’t leave your face), the final film in the Infinity Saga could have been a miserable slog. But thankfully, it’s not. The film is joyous in a way that a film about the consequences of half of the universe dying really shouldn’t have the right to be.

It’s there that the unique nature of this film comes into play. ‘Endgame’ is not for MCU newbies. Hell, it’s not even for casual fans, like your Aunt and Uncle that have seen that Iron Guy movie and like Mr. America, but aren’t necessarily the type that will wait in line on opening night. ‘Endgame’ is unapologetically for the diehards. And in that respect, ‘Endgame’ is damn near perfect.

If you analyze every line of dialogue from previous films, hang onto every look and glance the characters give each other, and pray to your makeshift Kevin Feige altar, then you’ll sit through the oversized film and love every second. I’ve never been one to audibly react during a screening, but I counted no less than 6 times that I found myself clapping, cheering, gasping, and crying (sometimes all at the same time). Needless to say, in addition to your diaper (please prepare to not leave your seat for the length of the film), you’re going to need some tissues, and maybe a friend to grasp onto and squeal with. ‘Endgame’ is a heartfelt love letter to the MCU faithful.

You’ll know within the first 10 minutes of the film just how you’re going to feel about ‘Endgame.’ The film starts off at the lowest points of our heroes. The entire first act is basically a call-to-action for fans, asking you to hop on board and to feel things you may not have felt about these superheroes before. If you’re able to truly empathize with these characters you have watched over the last decade and look past some serious coincidences, then the Russos and Marvel Studios have you in their Thanos-like grasp.

It’s in the loss and sadness that you feel along with the characters at the beginning of the film that makes the payoff oh so sweet. “Avengers: Endgame” is the triumphant crescendo of the biggest film journey that has ever existed. Casual fans need not apply. [B+]