Movie Review: "Avengers: Endgame" Is a Marvel Movie Like No Other (It Ends!)

True to its title, Avengers: Endgame delivers a first for the Marvel Cinematic Universe: an ending.

The common complaint about Marvel movies—from me, anyway—is that each instalment teases bigger and better things in its inevitable sequel, kicking the narrative can down the road and never quite finding a fulfilling resolution.

Even Avengers: Infinity War—last year’s epic culmination of superhero assemblage, ten years in the making—didn’t so much end as it did pause on a cliffhanger. Credit where it’s due, it was a grandiose, super-bummer of a cliffhanger, in which Earth’s mightiest heroes (and their space pals) lost to the villainous, purple Thanos (Josh Brolin), and saw half the universe’s population dissolved into oblivion. That meant the death of many fan faves too. Scarlet Witch? Dusted. Doctor Strange? Done-zo. Groot? Grooted. And so on.

Bold move! The even bolder move comes in its follow-up, Avengers: Endgame, also directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, and written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Why bolder? Well, after 11 years of always promising 'more', the powers that be have found the pleasure in giving its characters (and us) 'enough', letting this story come to a natural end. Of course, there will continue to be Marvel movies until the coffers at Disney run dry, or the heat death of the planet (whichever comes first). However, Endgame reaches an emotionally earned climax, letting the audience finally exhale and exit the cinema without needing a post-credits button. Besides, there isn’t one to wait for. This particular tale is over, gang. And miraculously, it sticks the landing.

For those concerned I’ll reveal how it all unfolds, don’t worry, I won’t. That said, if you truly felt the surviving heroes will leave billion-dollar assets like Black Panther and Spider-Man dead and dusted, I’ve got an imitation Infinity Gauntlet and some replica stones to sell you. Instead, for context, here are the bare bones of Act One (though, if you really want to go in blind, I’ll just say now that Endgame is a wholly entertaining and often tear-jerking send-off; okay, now get out of here).

For the rest of you: Only Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and a scant few Avengers are alive to avenge their fallen mates. Thankfully, as promised in the predecessor, Captain Marvel herself (Brie Larson) emerges in a blaze of glory to lend a hand. (They never ask who she is, and she never says, which may be one of the many perks of being a glowing, god-like blazing orb of almighty intergalactic power.) When they all confront Thanos, now enjoying retirement, they learn he has scattered the Infinity Stones needed to reverse the damage wrought in the last picture. At this point, we are 15 minutes into Endgame’s bladder-testing three-hour runtime, and Plan A is already a bust. Understandably, Thor takes the news poorly.

From its introductory moment, Avengers: Endgame presents itself as a superhero film like no other, opening with the grim erasure of Hawkeye’s family (Hawkeye, played by Jeremy Renner, absent in Infinity War, sticks around Endgame for revenge; sorry, a-venge). In tone, it’s more like The Leftovers than Aquaman.

Though the characters’ grief stings and lingers, there is some relief in the fact that the wisecracks never subside. Good humour has always been this series’ saving grace, and the arrival of the jokey Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) helps. Actually, he helps in more ways than one, pitching a time-travelling sprint through the 'Quantum Realm' as Plan B. Soon, the Avengers begin rattling off time travel movies to compare with their own planned "time heist", confirming, once and for all, that Hot Tub Time Machine exists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Who lives to fight another day? Who sacrifices themselves for the greater good? Who rides off into the sunset? Some of the answers to those questions will surprise you; others will enrage; most will please. There is plenty of fan service, and a fun remixing of previous Avengers moments. Yet Endgame nonetheless hangs together despite its dozens of stars, many disparate threads that need resolving, and multitudinous masters who need serving. It’s a Snickers bar: mass-produced for consistency’s sake, and maybe not totally good for you, but, undeniably, it really satisfies. Plus it’s full of nuts, though the gender diversity at Marvel is improving.

Hemsworth nearly steals the show, leaning into his comedic persona honed in Thor: Ragnarok, and Evans, once again, solidifies his standing as the MVP of the entire 22-feature saga, much as Captain America anchors his own team. The Russos are steady hands as well, though they never quite leave a signature stain the way Taika Waititi did in Ragnarok. Their gargantuan battle scenes don’t really pop, and it’s still deflating when you realise that for all the imagination involved, the fate of humanity rests on these superheroes punching Thanos and yanking a glove off his hand. At least the Russos and their screenwriters get these characters, gifting them with conversations that really count, and last.

One question remains, worth asking at any ending: What story was being told all this time? The MCU has emphasised the significance of families comprised of outcasts; they’ve weighted the risk of government oversight against the price of personal freedom; and, most perilously, they’ve exposed the cost of working with Edward Norton. Endgame settles on a smaller final message: Avenging your dead friends is nice, but living for them is better. It can’t be a coincidence that The Avengers entries, separate to the rest, have always excelled simply as hangout flicks, not fighting flicks. As punctuated by its perfect final shot, Avengers: Endgame reveals what they were working towards all this time, and gives viewers a memory worth carrying, especially if we’re leaving the rest behind. Bring tissues.

4/5

Avengers: Endgame is now in Australian cinemas. Rated M for violence.