The review:
There are 21 reasons I happily sat through a three-hour finale of Anthony and Joe Russo’s Avengers: Endgame; at this point, this endeavor is more of a new-generation serial* than a movie. As my movie-going companion pointed out, this is almost like three separate movies: a drama, a heist, and then an action movie. I loved so much about this movie: the callbacks to the previous films; the assembly of so many characters I know and love;** the amount of gravitas; the humor; and the way everything wrapped up.
The verdict:
Recommended, assuming you’ve seen the majority of the 21 previous movies. If not, might I recommend you begin with 2008’s Iron Man?
Cost: $10.50
Where watched: Baghdad Theater with a crowd who clapped multiple times.
Additional sentences:
*You know like those short films that used to be before the main picture way before my time? That’s what this is, a serial told over a decade and in much bigger chunks.
**That said Marvel, in the future, I’d prefer more movies with female superheroes in starring roles,*** rather than just gathering them together at a(n admittedly tear-inducing) specific point in a big battle.
***I feel cheated out of Black Widow’s full story.
It was such a (fun/tragic/powerful/emotional) romp of movie goodness. I haven’t seen all of the films building up to it, but we did watch a few in preparation. It was a very satisfying movie outing!