"Avengers: Endgame works for one reason and one reason only. It’s not the action, not the spectacle. It’s not the VFX, it’s not even because of these iconic characters. It works because you *care* about them. It works because Marvel has taken the time to make you care about them, to give you shared history with them—nearly 48 hours of it, over 11 years. Jumping five years ahead after their battle with Thanos gives the story real consequences, and leaves a real mark on the surviving heroes. It accelerates the character arcs in unexpected—and surprisingly effective—ways. “Professor Hulk” is one of the best things in the film. And giving Tony a kind of “happily ever after,” when all the other characters have suffered so much, makes his choices in this film far more powerful. I was actually put off a bit by Thor’s arc in the film upon first viewing, but after a second (for this review) I came to appreciate it a good deal more. In fact, Avengers: Endgame gains much in appreciation with a second viewing. And the Mungo Jerry reference makes me smile every time.
Truthfully, this isn’t an action movie. It’s a character story, and a deeply human one. These people have each come a very long way since we first met them and the result is genuinely emotional. There are even funny moments here, but earned ones. In terms of superhero conflict, there’s really only about 30 or 40 minutes of it at the end of the film, and it’s so rewarding—again because the filmmakers have earned it—that it’s worth every minute. And even if the Avengers’ succeed here (I’m being cute, of course, but in the event one or two of you haven’t seen the film, I don’t want to ruin it for you), there will be lasting consequences.
Straight-up, no doubt about it… Avengers: Endgame is a great film. I’ve admitted to having grown weary of the superhero genre in the past, but this is a breath of fresh air. And I have to tip my hat to Kevin Feige, the Russos, and Marvel. I’ve enjoyed every MCU film to date and they’ve only gotten better with time. Endgame is the capstone of this franchise, a film you can only make after building a foundation of 21 others to support it. This is serialized TV-style storytelling writ large on the big screen and I so wish other beloved genre franchises could crack a version of this that works for them (think Star Wars, Star Trek, etc). At the risk of belaboring the point, Marvel did this the hard way: Endgame has been earned… by the filmmakers and by the fans. And it delivers the goods. Highly recommended… but only after you’ve taken the complete journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe first. Luckily, you’ll be able to do that entirely in 4K by the end of the year."
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