Movie Review: “Avengers: Endgame”

Hi everyone!

We just got back from a preview of Avengers: Endgame, which officially opens Friday. At the end of the movie, I turned to Jeff and asked “How do I do this without spoilers?”. When we got home, I dove a bit into online theories about what would happen and who would die. It is interesting to see what has been said versus what the film delivers. There are some minor spoilers/plot points here, but I tried to keep them light.

The movie starts out quietly, with Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) enjoying time his family, when the snap from the fingers of Thanos (Josh Brolin) changes everything. We eventually see Hawkeye and the other remaining Avengers gather together to try to undo the outcome that took away half of the population – including their population. The original Avengers all deliver in a big way, including Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a green Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and a beer-drinking Thor (Chris Hemsworth). There is also a signature sendoff (literally) during the credits, which almost feels like a curtain call. Nebula (Karen Gillan) brings a lot of heart and emotion to the movie.

Disney says about Avengers: Endgame, “The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films”.

The Russo Brothers made sure that Avengers: Endgame feels like a conclusion. There are not too many loose strings at the end of the movie. Not all of the Avengers survive and those deaths for me are a couple of the most emotional parts of the movie – I wasn’t on the edge of my seat most of the time, I didn’t cry, but there are moments I did not expect. One of those involve Tony Stark that is one of my favorite parts of the movie. And to add to that, the de-aging work they did on Avengers: Endgame is the best I have seen it in a Marvel film. The last 30-45 minutes of Avengers: Endgame feels like several endings. First, an obligatory epic battle scene that allows the surviving Avengers to assemble once more. There are also a couple of other scenes that tie the movie together at the end.

I mentioned that I expect more female power in future films. I am embedding our press conference video, where Brie Larson mentioned that Avengers: Endgame was her first time playing Captain Marvel. It helps that we’ve seen her in the role already for familiarity. There is a moment in Avengers: Endgame where you realize how many strong female characters have been added to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and it would be interesting to see them bond together in a stand-alone film someday.

Avengers: Endgame is a long film, clocking in at about 3 hours. We weren’t shown previews so it was 3 hours total. There were moments that seemed to plod along for me just a little, and it wasn’t too hard picking out a break midway. That is unlike Captain Marvel, where I felt leaving the theater could make me miss something key in the story. That said, we both enjoyed the film. I’m not sure it is my favorite of the Marvel films from the past 10 years, but it is a very strong showing to tie up the Avengers story – sometimes exciting, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes surprising – and there is a lof humor even with sadness and serious issues.

The soundtrack was scored by Alan Silvestri, and works so well for the film. The end credits music is stunning.

Mousesteps grade for Avengers: Endgame: A