Endgame has to be the most deceiving title of all time. If there is anyone who thinks this is the actual "end" of anything then they haven't been around for the past decade. Marvel is such a cash cow that Hollywood is going to milk it so far into oblivion that Neil Degrasse Tyson will narrate a Netflix special about it.
But can we really blame them? After making the fastest movie to gross over two BILLION dollars at the worldwide box office, anyone would be anxious to continually satisfy those Mr.-Krabs-money-sign eyes, whatever fellatio necessary. Still, after 11 years and nearly every 22 films being revered as an "achievement," Endgame is one of the few films deserving of that label. And why shouldn't it be? A fun, fan-pleasing culmination of everything for which audiences have been begging for over a decade turned out to be what everyone wanted. Yet it is still backhandedly impressive because, despite its panache, it cannot stand on its own accord.
Still, the fact remains, it will be nearly impossible for anyone who's been invested in the M.C.U. to dislike Endgame. Sure, there might be aspects of it fans wish were different, but the consensus is nearly unanimously positive. This is particularly impressive when one takes into account how frequently Hollywood has botched the ending of TV shows and movie sagas in the past. Yet, after over a decade of build-up, a follow-up to a drastic final act in Infinity War, more fan theories than one can count, and unprecedented expectations, Endgame appears to have hit a home run.
And it's easy to see why. Honestly, this has been a tough review to draft, because Endgame delivers everything one can expect. It's basically every other good Marvel movie on steroids. Indeed, it delivers everything the fan base has come to expect or want, and then some. Quotable and tonally appropriate one-liners? Check. A bevy of memorable, (mostly) true-to-the-comics characters? Check. Well-choreographed battle scenes? Double check. Fan service? Triple check.
Furthermore, there's a surprising amount of emotional moments. Endgame does not shy away from characters grieving over the events of Infinity War, nor does it avoid taking itself seriously when appropriate. Several characters fulfilled their saga-long arcs in a very satisfying manner, and everyone--especially Scarlett Johansson--provided memorable performances. (Except for the sentient cardboard cutout that is Chris Evans.) And while a few characters suffered from writing missteps, they weren't enough for the film to be derailed more than temporarily.
However, Endgame's biggest strengths would soon become its biggest weakness. Because, while it is a perfect payoff to the Marvel fan-base, it cannot stand on its own merits.
For starters, it has a run-time of three damn hours. Nobody expected this thing to be wrapped up in two, but a full three is quite excessive. Many people have said that the pacing isn't an issue. Many incorrect people. Endgame's independent substance is virtually nonexistent. And for a movie with a four-act structure, it was amazing how long-winded some scenes were while some still felt rushed. I'm not saying the entire middle acts came to a halt, but that certain unimportant scenes dramatically overstayed their welcome; while other, more important scenes were skated over like Disney On Ice.
Furthermore, the entire middle two hours amounted to nothing more than back-patting fan-service. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying or including some fan-service, there is something inherently wrong about the entire crux of a movie standing on the shoulders of nostalgia while still claiming to be flying.
Earlier I mentioned that anyone invested in the M.C.U. will love Endgame. But what about those who haven't dedicated thousands of minutes and immeasurable emotional energy into these movies which span across several years? Well, too bad. Endgame isn't for you. And I think it's clear that it wasn't meant to be, either. Some revere it for being as such, and no one can blame them. Some choose to view this movie as the final episode of a series rather than its own movie, and that's fine. In a way, it would be hard to imagine anything different. My mind, however, is forced to review a movie on its independent merits, and Endgame has very few.
But most of you aren't like me. And for those of you who aren't, and as long as you like these movies, Endgame will be everything you could have wanted. You'll assuredly love it. My guess is that you already do.
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