For a movie that has a plot you know absolutely nothing about, you can walk in expecting anything in the world. But when the said movie is 10 years and 21 movies in the making, it can be a Herculean task for the makers to pull off. But considering these very same makers gave us Avengers:Infinity War by successfully squeezing in 20-plus Hollywood A-listers, no task is too big for them. Hence, the expectations from Avengers: Endgame have been considerably high. And you won't be disappointed. But if you expect it to exceed your expectations like Infinity War did, well... just don't.
Not since The Dark Knight Rises has there been this much emotion attached to a sequel. If TDKR was a disappointment for many, Endgame is an incredibly crafted story. It is a grand mess. But a decently managed one. Because when half the universe has been wiped out and you have the remaining heroes trying to undo the damage, it would obviously involve some form of time travel. (Trust me, this is not a spoiler.)
Time travel, as Back to the Future and a host of other pop culture material will teach you, is a very messy thing. Yet, it seems convincing enough. For now. Because if you give the geeks enough time to dissect the movie, the plot holes and inconsistencies will certainly botch this mammoth effort. Thankfully, they joke about it enough in the movie about how preposterous it sounds.
The trailer was all about the emotion of loss and vengeance. Although those are addressed in the beginning, the team cuts straight to the chase. They have to avenge the fallen (read bring back) at all costs. Some want to do it, some do not (because they like their new life better), but such is the loss suffered that it cannot be ignored.
Although the run time is 182 minutes, it zips through events and there is barely a dull moment. It gives the characters enough time to indulge in crucial moments. Peppered with laughs, thrills, action, incredible background scores and everything that you would associate with a Marvel movie, the movie is an entertaining watch for anybody.
There are certain things one would be wary of, ahead of the movie. A few are addressed, a few are not. For instance, if you are one of those wondering why the six original Avengers were not wiped out in Infinity War, let it go. It was just for dramatic effect, is all. If you are expecting the stones and its different functions or the undoing of the snap to complicate things, fret not. They have been dealt with well.
Does Endgame work as an independent movie? It might, but you will be robbed of the fun that comes with all the references to past incidents and seeing myriad characters make noteworthy cameos. It can be a tad too fast for the uninitiated, but it is a superhero movie that matches the standard that it has set for itself.
The MCU has changed how superhero movies are made and consumed, and that is probably for the best.
Detailed review to follow...
Movie: Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Joe Russo and Anthony Russo
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Brolin, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo
Rating: 4/5
