Endgame - Review

From the second it starts, until the second it finishes, Endgame delivers on the promise Infinity War left hanging a year ago.  Completing Marvel's Infinity Stones opus was never going to be an easy task and despite leaving us with questions, the brothers Russo largely land a magnificent conclusion.

Thanos is less of a presence here and with the three-hour runtime, it leaves us plenty of moments with our estranged family of heroes, at least those left standing by the now infamous snap.  And it's the weight from the click of those fingers hanging heavy on the Avengers that sets us off down a rabbit hole of time travel and sacrifice.

There's fanservice aplenty, delighting those who have been on the eleven-year journey and although we know there's more to come (Spider-Man Far From Home comes later this year to complete phase 3) it feels like the end.  There's a sense of loss as the credits roll and a strong feeling of 'where on earth does Fiege take this next?'

As a now complete saga, like any of the best Marvel comic book cross overs of the last thirty years, we have as many questions as answers and although one story is finished we know there's a pantheon of intergalactic threat out there waiting to test our heroes.  Bravely there are no nods to any of that here, instead, Endgame is full of emotional beats and comedy moments. Although there are minor niggles, any movie with an ounce of time travel in it risks that, largely it works.

We need to stop kidding ourselves these movies are true works of cinematic genius, however it's impossible to not feel their cultural significance. Endgame gives us what we wanted, surprises and delights by the tankard full and has some wonderful moments never to be forgotten. Yes, the directors will make better movies and many of the cast will give better performances away from Marvel, but none of them will be in anything that resonates with its audience quite like this.

☆☆☆☆☆