Avengers: Endgame
Directors Anthony and Joe Russo and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely return to the Marvel Universe to finish what they started, giving us Avengers: Endgame. While it's not as good as Infinity War, it's still a well-rounded story that's very close to the level of the previous film.
Thanos (Josh Brolin) won Infinity War, and with one snap of his fingers, half the life in the universe was destroyed. There seems to be nothing the heroes can do until Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) appears on the steps of Avengers Mansion. To find a way to defeat Thanos and undo what he has done, the original six members of the Avengers, as well as the few other remaining superheroes, reunite in a desperate effort. But how can they hope to defeat the power of the Endless Gauntlet?
The script opens with a bang, making sure you know what you're in for. Unfortunately, this stutters a bit. There are comedic moments, and every one of them is on point, but since they often call for dialogue during some of the more serious times, they feel too light-hearted. Ultimately, this slows the film down for a while until the characters and script move on to more serious business. The deeper the heroes get into the quest, the more dramatic the story becomes, leading up to an epic conclusion perfect for the final film in Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
From the actors with the most prominent roles to those who make guest appearances, each of them played a role in improving the franchise. It's a sign of their continued dedication to the characters, but also a statement of the control the directors exerted in crafting this entry directly from the previous films in the series. Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man is particularly impressive, convincingly transforming himself as needed throughout the film. Jeremy Renner (Tag) gives his best performance as Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, and Chris Hemsworth (The Cabin in the Woods) has fun as Thor.
The action is hot and heavy, especially in the intense battle near the end, but there are no noticeable flaws in the flow of special effects or CGI. There's a lot to see, and although there are a few scenes that are hard to keep up with, they never become washed out - just crowded. Kudos to cinema for keeping the action mostly in place.
Despite its early shortcomings, Avengers: Endgame is extremely entertaining, with a memorable cast and a script that lives up to audience expectations. It also leaves a lot of room to think about what will happen as we enter the new Marvel Cinematic Universe title - Phase Four.