'Avengers: Endgame' Review by Someone Who Doesn't Like Marvel

I've always felt like an outsider when it comes to my opinion on the "Marvel Cinematic Universe." To put it bluntly: I dislike it. A lot. Even after watching several entries in the now 22-film saga, I've never felt the same rush and excitement that everyone else seems to get when another entry is released. I was 12 when Iron Man (2008) was released and that straight away left a bitter taste in my mouth—and while I did enjoy Avengers Assemble (2012), it was a fleeting thing and the appeal wore off pretty quickly. But I digress.

So, Avengers: Endgame is the latest and, allegedly, final addition to the ever-growing series, and it's possibly the most anticipated film of the 21st century with hype comparable only to the latest season of Game of Thrones. After the absolute uproar that Avengers: Infinity War caused, it's safe to say that Endgame had a lot to live up to. I never saw Infinity War in its entirety, but I'd seen enough video summaries and Twitter spoilers to last a lifetime, so I was pretty well attuned with the story up to where it left off on the devastating cliffhanger ending that shook every cinema in the world. I guess morbid curiosity got the better of me after hearing rave reviews off almost everyone. My expectations were almost nonexistent, and my only real worry was the film's three-hour runtime.

However, after watching it and having time to digest the film's events, I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with the result. The film certainly doesn't waste any of its 181 minutes. One of my biggest issues with Marvel films as a whole is they tend to be 90 minutes of slow build up followed by 30 minutes of confrontation and resolution, making the film's pacing seem uneven and creating the feeling of a rushed ending. However, this is certainly not the case with Endgame.

Sure, the story does still have a long build up, but it's eventful and it always feels like something is happening. Everything seems like it has a purpose and there's no real filler outside of the usual comedy seen in Marvel films to ease the tension. Endgame also marks the first time I've ever actually laughed at a Marvel film. I've always had an issue with the comedy and how it tends to ruin moments that should be serious or how it often feels forced. In Endgame, however, the comedy seems well-paced and it's actually funny, for the most part. There are a few gags that overstay their welcome, but there are a lot of one-liners and quips that made me chuckle quite a bit.

In terms of narrative, the first half of the film is a pretty generic time-travel romp, and while the film pokes fun at itself because of this, it still goes ahead with it anyway. Endgame doesn't try to shake up the formula either, it just pursues a tried and true time-travel plot (it's hard to elaborate without risking spoilers).

Luckily, this isn't where the true meat of the film is, and let me say that even as someone who couldn't care less about the Marvel universe, the last hour had me completely transfixed and the grandeur of the film's climax felt like the 21 other films had really been building up to that one moment. Again, it's hard to go into detail about the whole affair for spoiler reasons, but I'll admit that Marvel outdid themselves and really made the finale count.

Another thing to note is how surprisingly accessible the film is to those not attuned with the series. Of course, there are more subtle references that a casual viewer wouldn't really notice, but there is a lot of exposition about old plot points and forgotten characters, enabling even the most infrequent viewer to understand a simplified version of the overarching narrative.

Overall, Endgame was a pleasant surprise and it exceeded what little expectations I had. Is this film enough to convert me into a Marvel fan? No, but it's impossible to deny Marvel's skill in concluding a series that's been building up for over 10 years, and I can definitely see why all the die-hard fans have been screaming since its release.

8 out of 10