Avengers: Endgame
3/4
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johannson, Josh Brolin, Paul Rudd, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle
Rated PG-13 for Sequences of Sci-Fi Violence and Action, and Some Language
After 11 years and 22 films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is ready for its climax. At least, the Infinity Saga is done now. Anthony and Joe Russo have brought all of the heroes and villains together for a one-two punch that serves as a fitting, if not especially spectacular, conclusion to the story. Ideally this would close the franchise, but the superhero craze has turned into an addiction and Disney's marketing muscle all but makes sure that the box office receipts will keep on singing.
Thanos (Brolin) has won. He acquired all the Infinity Stones and achieved his goal of wiping out half of all existence. Battered and broken, the survivors try to move on. Even after five years, it is not easy. Then one day Scott Lang aka Ant-Man (Rudd) appears and with a curious story. He was transferred to a new reality. But what he thought was five hours turned out to be five years. Now The Avengers see an opportunity to change the course of history and to undo what Thanos has done.
Let's get this out of the way now. I liked "Avengers: Endgame." Although I'm certainly bored to tears by superheroes and their resulting fan obsession (every time I see a post on Reddit or a link on a website that reads "CAPTAIN AMERICA AND JOHN MCCLANE ARE THE SAME PERSON! HERE'S WHY:" I want to vomit), I can still enjoy them when they're done well. And "Avengers: Endgame" IS done well. It's nothing amazing, but it's fun and contains enough action and thrills to satisfy fans and action junkies. And, for once, the humor is funny without being too cute or self-aware. Or relying on too-obvious Easter eggs and in-jokes (aside from the obligatory cameo from the late Stan Lee).
What is perhaps the most impressive is the scope of the film. The Russos have a daunting task with balancing about a dozen characters and half as many storylines (this is one of the areas in which Joss Whedon failed his first time around). With the notorious troubles of telling a story that involves time-travel. For the most part, it's all coherent and everyone gets their time to shine.
But I have some criticisms with it. For one, it's about fifteen minutes too long. I get that this is supposed to be an epic finale, but a less sluggish beginning would have given the film more intensity and excitement. There were definitely times when I wished the film would hurry up. Also, the film is emotionally muted. The publicity campaign has been buzzing about its emotional depth, and while it has some, it feels distancing. The writing just isn't there.
The cast slides easily back into their roles. Robert Downey Jr. has clearly gotten bored with his smart-aleck Tony Stark persona, and has wisely ceded the lead to Chris Evans. Evans does not have great range, but he continues to grow as an actor and has no trouble carrying this mammoth of a film. Chris Hemsworth shows his comic chops as Thor, who has turned into a loopy drunk with a big beer gut. Any time he appears on screen is good for at least a grin. Mark Ruffalo and Scarlett Johannson also appear in fine form. And Josh Brolin still radiates menace as Thanos.
The final battle at the end of the film is undoubtedly a highlight. The Avengers and their armies clash with Thanos and his minions. It's great fun and well-staged. Okay, so it's not on par with "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King," but it's packed with action and excitement (even I let out a gasp at one point). Seeing so many characters fight each other in one massive battle is impressive, to say the least.
"Avengers: Endgame" is what it is. It's a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, and the culmination of over a decade of lore and development. It's bloated and shallow, but the MCU has always prized fan-service and continuity over good writing and storytelling. Whatever criticism I, or anyone else, has about the superhero genre, at least this part of the franchise ends on a high note.
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johannson, Josh Brolin, Paul Rudd, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle
Rated PG-13 for Sequences of Sci-Fi Violence and Action, and Some Language
After 11 years and 22 films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is ready for its climax. At least, the Infinity Saga is done now. Anthony and Joe Russo have brought all of the heroes and villains together for a one-two punch that serves as a fitting, if not especially spectacular, conclusion to the story. Ideally this would close the franchise, but the superhero craze has turned into an addiction and Disney's marketing muscle all but makes sure that the box office receipts will keep on singing.
Thanos (Brolin) has won. He acquired all the Infinity Stones and achieved his goal of wiping out half of all existence. Battered and broken, the survivors try to move on. Even after five years, it is not easy. Then one day Scott Lang aka Ant-Man (Rudd) appears and with a curious story. He was transferred to a new reality. But what he thought was five hours turned out to be five years. Now The Avengers see an opportunity to change the course of history and to undo what Thanos has done.
Let's get this out of the way now. I liked "Avengers: Endgame." Although I'm certainly bored to tears by superheroes and their resulting fan obsession (every time I see a post on Reddit or a link on a website that reads "CAPTAIN AMERICA AND JOHN MCCLANE ARE THE SAME PERSON! HERE'S WHY:" I want to vomit), I can still enjoy them when they're done well. And "Avengers: Endgame" IS done well. It's nothing amazing, but it's fun and contains enough action and thrills to satisfy fans and action junkies. And, for once, the humor is funny without being too cute or self-aware. Or relying on too-obvious Easter eggs and in-jokes (aside from the obligatory cameo from the late Stan Lee).
What is perhaps the most impressive is the scope of the film. The Russos have a daunting task with balancing about a dozen characters and half as many storylines (this is one of the areas in which Joss Whedon failed his first time around). With the notorious troubles of telling a story that involves time-travel. For the most part, it's all coherent and everyone gets their time to shine.
But I have some criticisms with it. For one, it's about fifteen minutes too long. I get that this is supposed to be an epic finale, but a less sluggish beginning would have given the film more intensity and excitement. There were definitely times when I wished the film would hurry up. Also, the film is emotionally muted. The publicity campaign has been buzzing about its emotional depth, and while it has some, it feels distancing. The writing just isn't there.
The cast slides easily back into their roles. Robert Downey Jr. has clearly gotten bored with his smart-aleck Tony Stark persona, and has wisely ceded the lead to Chris Evans. Evans does not have great range, but he continues to grow as an actor and has no trouble carrying this mammoth of a film. Chris Hemsworth shows his comic chops as Thor, who has turned into a loopy drunk with a big beer gut. Any time he appears on screen is good for at least a grin. Mark Ruffalo and Scarlett Johannson also appear in fine form. And Josh Brolin still radiates menace as Thanos.
The final battle at the end of the film is undoubtedly a highlight. The Avengers and their armies clash with Thanos and his minions. It's great fun and well-staged. Okay, so it's not on par with "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King," but it's packed with action and excitement (even I let out a gasp at one point). Seeing so many characters fight each other in one massive battle is impressive, to say the least.
"Avengers: Endgame" is what it is. It's a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, and the culmination of over a decade of lore and development. It's bloated and shallow, but the MCU has always prized fan-service and continuity over good writing and storytelling. Whatever criticism I, or anyone else, has about the superhero genre, at least this part of the franchise ends on a high note.
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