A Spoiler-Free Review of Avengers: Endgame

Nellie Shih ’19, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Avengers: Endgame is the 22^nd installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame focuses on the surviving Avengers working to undo Thanos’s snap that killed 50% of all living creatures. The film earned $60 million in US previews on Thursday alone and has smashed box office records worldwide.

A standout of the movie was Paul Rudd as Antman. His role is hilarious as usual yet critical to the plot, though it does not detract from the focus on the six original Avengers – particularly Thor, Bruce Banner/the Hulk, Steve Rogers/Captain America, and Tony Stark/Iron Man. Chris Hemsworth has been a fan-favorite since Thor’s transformation in Thor: Ragnarok. His performance carries so much energy and humor and he is one of the best parts of Endgame’s middle act. Mark Ruffalo has claimed this film marks the conclusion of Bruce Banner/the Hulk’s arc that spans from Ragnarok to Infinity War and now to Endgame. There was a perfect balance of Banner and the Hulk, and this film was perhaps the best of the character. As for Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, he was surprisingly funny, and had some of the best moments in the final act.

Last but not least: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man. He is my favorite character in the MCU, and there were two things I wanted for Stark’s character arc in Endgame. I went into the movie only caring about those two things, and they both ended up happening, which really made the movie for me. I loved the character’s arc, and I thought it acknowledged that Downey and Stark are the actor and the character who started the MCU back in 2008.

Endgame made many references to the MCU’s eleven-year history, and it really felt like a Marvel movie, but in the best way possible. It was cheesy, outrageously ridiculous, and long (three whole hours) – but it was also emotional and funny, and it didn’t feel like three hours. Still, Endgame isn’t the best Marvel movie; it does have its issues and its 96% on Rotten Tomatoes seems a little high. It isn’t as groundbreaking as Infinity War, but it was genuinely a fun time and very enjoyable.

The future of the MCU seems uncertain, but Spider-Man: Far From Home will be released this summer, and a Black Panther sequel is in the works. Several characters will have their own shows on Disney’s new streaming service, including Loki, Scarlet Witch and Vision, and Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo have stated that they have no plans to make any more Marvel movies for now, but they are not opposed to returning to the MCU.