AVENGERS: ENDGAME – Review

It may be the last weekend of April, but the Summer movie onslaught has officially begun. Who says so? Marvel Studios, that’s who. And they’ve got the clout after being around a few weeks shy of eleven years. Originally the first Friday of May was their “beachhead”, but that was switched (concerns over piracy and early international openings) to this weekend last year for AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (AIW). That film was to be the focal point of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ten-year celebration. However, as most fans will soon discover, the celebration really ends on a high, stratospheric really, note with this colossal entertainment extravaganza. Gosh, I sound a bit like that much beloved comic book “carnie’ barker” we lost in November. Aw, why not go “all in” and try to mimic “The Man”? Here goes…face front (really, don’t turn away from the screen ’cause you’ll miss something special) true believers, it’s kickoff time for AVENGERS: ENDGAME!

In the aftermath of the ultimate triumph of the mad Titan Thanos in AIW, planet Earth is a dark, quiet shadow of its former self after the initial chaos caused by Infinity Stone-fueled finger snap. Half of the population has dissolved, vanished like “dust in the wind” (cue the classic 70s rock anthem). “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” aren’t feeling so strong after their dismal defeat. Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is awaiting death as he floats through the far reaches of space with the cyborg daughter of Thanos, Nebula (Karen Gillan) on the heavily damaged cruiser the Milano. And back home Captain America (Chris Evans) is attending a “survivor support group” because he can’t “accept and move on” when he’s not at Avenger HQ trying to track down the “retired Titan”. At least they got a big break due to an “up till now” unknown force which, as the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) might say, gets the “band” back together. Ah, but it’s a “known force”, Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) who we last saw trapped in the Quantum Realm at the end of ANT-MAN AND THE WASP, who contacts the downbeat group and sets in motion a “fantastic voyage” to restore the planet and return all that was lost on the battlefields of Wakanda.

Really, that’s the story that drives this three-hour blockbuster? Well, that’s as much as I care to reveal and what has been seen in the earliest of trailers (I try to go on “lockdown” in the six weeks prior to release, avoiding any further clips online). Though it sounds simple (another iconic song), this “final game” is full of tangles and unexpected twists pulled together by the formidable screenwriting duo Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the talented team who wrote the previous Avengers epic, the second Thor solo film, and the Captain America trilogy (and they created that delightful broadcast TV spin-off “Agent Carter”). These men dive into the deep, dark depths of the MCU core and return with true glistening gold, or golden moments and dialogue might be more precise. Sure, we get the big exciting action set pieces and hilarious comic interaction (maybe double the last flick), but the big surprise here is the depth of emotion with scenes that grab at the heartstrings as much as any of the senses. After twenty plus movies, fans may think they know everything about the team members, yet the two Mr. M’s present new insights into these men and women (and a couple of aliens). If only more action and fantasy franchises would strive to be this emotionally complex and rich.

Fortunately, this superb cast is more than up to the challenge of this multi-layered story and script. While the main focus, perhaps the true “star”, was the villain Thanos, here the “plot driver”role is split between the “big three”, the MCU trilogy of Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. It’s hard to believe that this is Downey’s tenth film (counting THE INCREDIBLE HULK cameo) as genius-industrialist Tony Stark, because his work here is as fresh and unpredictable as ever, showing us sides of the “wise guy” hero we’ve not seen before. In the first act, Tony’s angry and bitter, almost spewing venom at his family/team (a lot of rage in that frail frame). Then we see more of his gentle nurturing paternal side (hinted at with Spidey) in the second act. Meanwhile, Evans as Cap tries to project a sunny confident attitude as team leader, but we see (especially at his “group”) how defeat has battered his psyche. But he’s still a fighter, and in the rousing third act, Evans gives us a hero whose inner strength dwarfs the “super soldier” formula. Then there’s Hemsworth as the Thunder God who should have aimed higher (literally a couple of feet) whose depression is more physically manifested. His comedic talents (last seen in the unfairly maligned GHOSTBUSTERS reboot) are showcased here as the one big team “hold out” that’s more essential than he thinks. But it’s not all chuckles as Thor must make a decision that seems to emotionally tear him to pieces. These fellas’ are one tremendous trio, full of smarts, strength, and soul.

Hey, that’s not to say that the rest of the cast are mere “set dressing”. Absent from last year’s entry, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye channels his shock and despair into the “darkness” (truly a “punisher”) until the loyalty of his best friend, the Black Widow reaches into that “black pit’ and pulls him back into the light. But Johansson shows us that Ms. Romanoff can barely keep herself from being swallowed by the shadows as she ponders her violent past and her almost empty personal life. On the brighter side, there’s Mark Ruffalo whose Bruce Banner has forged a solid “truce” with the “big guy”, his alter ego the Hulk (via some expert CGI and “Mo-cap”). Speaking of bright and funny, Paul Rudd brings those familiar shadings to Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man while giving him a harder edge as he deals with his frustration at not being taken seriously and his own “lost time”. He’s the “odd man out” trying to bond with these seasoned hero “vets”. One of the toughest may be Don Cheadle as the “under control” all business James Rhodes AKA War Machine was still has a moment for a prank or a “harsh burn”. Gillan as Nebula is one of the most conflicted as she seems to discover her caring empathetic nature while adrift with Tony, the half-machine finally tapping into her repressed humanity. Bradley Cooper delivers Rocket’s snarling asides with a touch of sadness, as he mourns his Guardian family, all but him turned to ash. And, of course, Josh Brolin is back as Thanos, giving us a couple of new variations as the Titan we loved to hate, but somewhat understood, in the last outing.

Also returning from that last outing is another terrific team (aside from the writers), the dynamic directing duo, the brothers Russo, Anthony and Joe (look for his cameo role). After guiding the “shield slinger” to greatness in his last two solo flicks, these men have done the same for this two-part MCU epic. Excuse the cliche’, but they set a very “high bar” with the previous Avengers flick and handily leaped past it (remember the cheering in the multiplexes when Thor and his pals arrived in Wakanda in the last flick…well, there are at least four moments like that in this outing). It’s truly a new “gold standard” for big studio action film franchises. Yes, the big final “smackdown” is exhilarating, but so are the intimate, human moments. And the comedy! Much of the plot is a variation on the classic heist flicks, from the “Oceans” series to the ongoing MI adventures, with a no “wiggle room”, no “do over” scheme that, naturally (these are the Marvel heroes, ya’ know), goes “sideways”. These complications combine tension and laughter with neat effortless ease. And all this fun is ably aided by the thrilling pulse-pounding score from Alan Silvestri (with snippets from other MCU themes). All the craftspeople that worked on the film are at the “top of their game’ in crafting a real “love letter” to the fans of the Marvel show (many have said that each new film is another episode in an incredible TV show, one that the “tube” could never afford). There are entrances and exits, arrivals and departures, all with a feeling of coming “full circle”. You bet there will be more MCU entries (Spidey’s back in July), but this spectacular would be a fitting farewell. It’s a warm, enveloping “thank you” hug from “master overseer” Kevin Feige, and all those talented artists involved. AVENGERS: ENDGAME will stand as a most inventive, entertaining inspiration to all who continue on this legacy. I’ll bet somewhere, underneath those purple-tinted glasses, Stan is flashing a great big grin ’cause his “kids” are in very good hands. Nuff’ said…for now!

5 Out of 5