Review: Avengers Endgame (first-pass)

Avengers: Endgame (first-pass / 2D / SPOILER-FREE)
Cert: 12A / 181 mins / Dir. Joe Russo & Anthony Russo / Trailer



And so, here we are 11 years, 11 TV series and 22 movies down the line, and the Infinity Saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes to its theatrical finale. The weight of expectation hadn't been this great in screen 5 of my local since December 2015.

So you know the score by now, this will be short and sweet - first fleeting reactions and general notes of approval. Marvel Studios' movies are always too much to take in on a first-pass and Endgame is absolutely no exception. The three-hour runtime is used well in terms of pacing, but there's always something going on. And there's no intermission, so maybe sip that drink of yours instead of gulping…

CENTRAL

So how do you solve a problem like Thanos? The answer, it turns out, is as convoluted as the central plot structure itself. To the target audience demographic, this should present no significant problems, but be prepared for a surfeit of "Endgame plot EXPLAINED!!" clickbait posts lighting up the socials in the next week. For best results, watch Infinity War again shortly beforehand. Like all stories of this ilk, Endgame explains its own rules, pretty much abides by them and even enjoys poking fun at wider pop-culture in the process.

The problem faced by the Russo brothers is, of course, how to tie up as many threads as possible, without making the resulting bow too neat or, more importantly, too predictable. The multiple story arcs achieve varying success on these fronts, but nearly all of them feel deserving of their characters and more satisfying as a result. Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely pull off the twin feats of keeping all of the beats to a familiar rhythm, but throwing off audience preconceptions at regular intervals (an excellent case-in-point being Act I's 'shit, what now?' moment).

CARLTON

Perhaps another reason for that extended runtime is the roster of performers on call. While many are admittedly at 'brief cameo' level and only appear to add a sense of wider continuity, the returning cast list here is off. the. fucking. chart. The end result of this is a few scenes which feel a little like crowd-pleasers and a few returners who feel underused, but the writing's there to support their presence and there's little doubt your favourite MCU movie will get a nod.

On the whole, Endgame is satisfying on both a narrative and emotional level. The sweeping story is as clear as it can be given the ground it has to cover (repeat-viewings should fill any gaps), and should please long-term fans no end. Several spontaneous rounds of applause broke out in screen 5 tonight (okay, this morning), including one over the closing credits - a definite rarity in the 21st century.

KAVANAGH

Is this the end of the line? You jest. Marvel's published cinematic schedule has predetermined several of the Endgame's outcomes for some time now, and there's a good chance that some viewers will still think there are too many heroes left standing by the time the credits roll. But it all feels (largely) right, and there are no glaring inconsistencies in the final moments. Can Marvel top this? Not in the near future. Should they try? That's another discussion entirely.

In fact, one of the only definite downsides I picked up in all of this is the migraine-inducing mix of typefaces, positioning and sizing used for the onscreen captions throughout. A very minor point I know, but designers in the audience will be exhaling loudly…

The business-end (not spoilers, but highlight-to-read anyway):

• Is there a Wilhelm Scream? I don't think so.
• Is there a Stan Lee cameo? There is.
• Is there a mid-credits scene? There is not.
• Is there a post-credits scene? There is not.

Well, Avengers films, to be fair.



Obviously.



Obviously.



Difficult to say in such a crowded battlefield, but plenty get their moment to shine - including the Russo brothers.



Obviously.



Not that I heard. Help me out, here.



Level 1: Mace Windu's in this. Mate, that's not a spoiler, he's like furniture in these flicks. Awesome furniture, but still...







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