“You could
not live with your own failure, and where did that bring you? Back to me.” ~ Thanos
“Who hasn’t
been to space? You’d better not throw up on my ship.” ~ Rocket
“If I tell
you what happens, it won’t happen.” ~ Doctor Strange
“What I’m
saying is… time works differently in the quantum realm. I can’t stop thinking
about what if we could control the chaos and navigate it.” ~ Scott Lang\
“If we do
this, how do we know it’s going to end any differently than it did before?” ~
Bruce Banner
“Because before, you didn’t have me.” ~ Carol Danvers
“Natasha,
you know what I’ve done. You know what I’ve become.” ~ Clint Barton
“Well, I
don’t judge people on their worst mistakes.” ~ Natasha Romanoff
“Maybe you
should.” ~ Clint Barton
“You didn’t.” ~ Natasha Romanoff
“I can put
a pin in it right now. And stop.” ~ Tony Stark
“Let’s kill him properly this time.” ~ Thor
“We lost. All of us. We lost friends. We lost family. We
lost a part of ourselves. This is the fight of our lives.” ~ Steve Rogers
Avengers Infinity War
ended on a stunner, with the villain triumphant and wiping out half of
everything in existence with the snap of his Infinity Gauntlet toting fingers. Just
like that, endless beings were turned into dust before the eyes of friends and
loved ones, the heroes were shocked, and the villain was satisfied with what he
deemed a job well done. And of course, unless you want to torture the fan base
forever by leaving it right there (imagine the psychological damage of Marvel
Studios saying that’s the end of the line with this nihilistic ending), of
course there had to be a follow up. And so we have Avengers: Endgame.
The film opens in a tranquil way, with the former Avenger
Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner, making a welcome return to the Marvel Cinematic
Universe as Hawkeye) at home with his wife and family, still under house arrest
but living peacefully. All of that is shattered when he finds himself
completely alone. He might not understand what happened, but the audience does-
their existence has been wiped out. And so the surviving heroes of the last
film hunt down their adversary Thanos (Josh Brolin), but find themselves unable
to set things right.
Five years pass by, and the world’s a darker place. The loss
of loved ones have left their mark on people the world over. Things are
becoming overgrown and neglected. Heroes have found themselves struggling with
despair in different ways. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has retreated to a
life in the countryside with his wife Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) and their daughter
Morgan. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has settled a number of Asgardian refugees in
Scandinavia, but has taken to drinking himself into oblivion and getting out of
shape- all while looking like The Dude in The Big Lebowski. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) has found a way to make
the Hulk less of a problem and more part of the solution by merging his
intellect with the Hulk’s brawn. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Natasha
Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) are managing their surviving teammates in dealing
with various issues, but both are strained at the edges. And into the mix comes
the Ant-Man, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), who spent five years in the Quantum Realm
as seen at the ending of Ant-Man &
The Wasp, though for him it’s been much less time… and he might have a
solution that can set things right.
The screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
picks up where their last screenplay left off. The pair are more than familiar
with the Marvel Cinematic Universe by now, having had done the same for Thor: The Dark World, all three Captain America films, and Avengers: Infinity War. This time they
weave in elements like time travel, heists for Infinity Stones in the past,
despair and renewal, sacrifice, loyalty, emotional closure, and empathy, using
them in different ways among the protagonists. Their story ultimately brings
together a huge cast of heroes and villains- more than the last film, with the
return of Hawkeye and the addition of Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), as well as
a few surprise faces in cameos here and there, but for a good part of the film
their focus is on the surviving heroes as they try to set back the clock and
save the universe.
The dynamics that come out during that are interesting ones-
the common bond between Rhodey (Don Cheadle) and Nebula (Karen Gillan), who
both live with broken bodies. Thor and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) bantering and
bickering while covertly making their way around Asgard during the events of
The Dark World, and Thor finding his way in the most unexpected of ways. Scott
coming back to a world where he knows something has gone horribly wrong and
knowing that it has to be set right. Bruce as Hulk trying to reason his way
with someone whose worldview is entirely different from his scientific
rationalism. The deep friendship between Natasha and the emotionally wounded
Clint, and their inherent trust in each other. And Steve and Tony finding their
way past their falling out to trust each other again.
The Russo brothers, Anthony and Joe, return to helm the film
as directors, following up the last one, and they too are familiar with how the
Marvel Cinematic Universe works, having had also worked on the second and third
parts of the Captain America films. Their
work on this one follows that pattern of excellent work, with CGI never
overwhelming the film but serving the story. They can mount epic action
sequences and yet keep the audience from getting overwhelmed and lost in it
all. Mostly they keep the story grounded in their characters and in the actors.
A couple of moments show that- Thor getting closure with one character (and
thus finding his way out of his own torment), or Scott’s interlude with a
passing boy- whose silent expression is all the answer to his question. A
different director wouldn’t dwell on such moments, but the Russos let the characterization
govern the film.
Much of what we see in the film have been places we’ve
already seen in previous films, but the fantastic settings of distant worlds
and deep space are well rendered, as well as Asgard in its glory. The same
applies to the Quantum Realm, already seen in the two Ant-Man films but providing a vital element to the story this time
out. This being a story about time travel, we see aspects of previous films
from different angles, and nods to the plotlines of earlier films, and yet the
attention to detail is such that things don’t appear out of place when we see
our heroes in the past. Set construction and costuming allows for that, but so
does CGI as needed- a scene with a young Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) comes to
mind.
The cast of course is epic in scale, with many of the actors
reprising their roles from earlier films before it’s all said and done, but the
focus of the film is on one antagonist and several survivors. Josh Brolin was
well chosen as the nihilistic Thanos, who sought to wipe out half of existence
to balance the scales, as it were. Having had succeeded in his quest, there’s
not a lot for him to do, or so it seems, as time travel plays into the film and
we’re not quite done with him. Thanos acts because he believes he’s right, but
it’s not personal… at least until late in the game when he decides it should
be. It’s a good take on the character, a ruthless force of nature that Brolin
brings out the best in. I can’t imagine anyone else playing him.
Karen Gillan, playing
his adopted daughter Nebula once again, gets a lot to do. First introduced as a
villain in Guardians Of The Galaxy
(and in fact we see some of her at that stage of her life as we get Nebula at
two stages of her life), the character evokes sympathy, especially now that we
know that she has been tortured and abused by the man she only wanted approval
of. Her allegiances have shifted, and the actress plays to that, taking the role
and making the most of it. Bradley Cooper returns to voice Rocket, the talking
raccoon (just don’t call him that) with an attitude and an engineering savvy to
match. This time the character finds himself in an unlikely spot, having to be
tough with a god of thunder whose mind isn’t quite on the ball, all while keep
check on his own grief for the Guardians, the only family he had.
Brie Larson, having had made her debut in Captain Marvel, turns up here as a force
to be reckoned with. Carol Danvers has become a hero, but her area of
responsibility spans far beyond the Earth. She’s direct and forceful as she
needs to be, calm in the face of adversity when she wants to be, and continues
to invest the character with the right kind of spirit. I like Thor’s reaction
to her- as well as a moment late in the film between her and Peter Parker (Tom
Holland). She’s all confidence, and that’s how Larson plays her. Don Cheadle
has been in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for quite some time as James Rhodes,
aka War Machine, Tony Stark’s best friend and a military officer. He’s always
given the character the steady hand that you’d expect out of an officer, as
well as the temperament that one would have to have to deal with Tony Stark on
a regular basis. The character pushes back against what might be the instinct
to despair because duty requires him to do so.
Gwyneth Paltrow has said this will be her last turn as
Pepper Potts, once Tony’s assistant, now his wife. The film gives the two
characters a good deal of time, as well as a personal stake- their daughter
Morgan, entirely too cute. She knows her husband well, knows that once he has
an idea in his head he won’t let it go, and so instead gives her blessing. The
film gives her more to do, including a suit of armor, a nice touch as the film
gets into epic mode, but it also respects the character and lets the actress
bring out the sympathy, resolve, and strength that she’s shown before in the
part. The character has drastically changed since the beginning of the film.
Paul Rudd, having had played Scott Lang in three previous MCU films, is
familiar with the role and his place in things. The standard humour of the
character is underplayed given how dark things have become, but it’s there, and
Rudd also brings a sense of direction to the others as he provides the one ray
of hope for making things right. I like how Rudd works with the other actors,
even if their characters haven’t been in the mix before, and the film gives him
a lot to do before it’s all said and done.
Mark Ruffalo actually spends a good part of the film as the
Hulk, in a version we haven’t seen before in the movies. This Hulk combines the
intelligence of Banner and the power of the Hulk, and it’s Banner’s voice
talking- and in fact this version of the Hulk has a closer look to Banner’s
face. Part CGI or motion capture by Ruffalo, the effect is seamless. It’s odd,
but funny, to see a Hulk sized Banner cheerfully interact with fans, and we get
a bit more humour in seeing an earlier version of the Hulk unappreciative of
what’s a standard part of highrise infrastructure. For the most part, however,
Ruffalo’s take on the character has new touches. Banner is initially resigned
to how things are, has changed his approach to viewing the Hulk not as a
problem, but as a constructive solution, and experiences grief as the story
develops. It’s a sympathetic take on the character building on what has come
before.
Jeremy Renner’s return as Clint Barton was overdue, and
quite welcome. Opening the film with him and his family turned out to be a wise
way to do so, and what happens informs everything he does from that point on.
Five years pass and the character is a shadow, exacting a personal war on crime
across the world, taking no prisoners, channeling his grief into his mission.
His look has changed, evoking his Ronin look from the comics. Clint is a broken
man, refusing to allow himself to hope, and his journey involves his grief,
guilt, and finding his way back to trusting others again. Renner plays to that
throughout.
The other half of that equation is the Black Widow, Natasha
Romanoff. She and Clint have long been partners, have had each other’s backs,
inherently understand each other. She seeks him out because she still deems him
her friend, because he’s saved her and she knows she must do the same for him,
lost in his own pain. Scarlett Johansson plays off that in her interactions
with Renner, and it’s good to see that partnership and trust come back. Her
Natasha finds herself at a difficult time early on, keeping herself working
more to keep herself from dwelling on what’s been lost, but also investing the
character with a strong sense of responsibility. And yet with all the gravitas
around her, there are moments of levity- I particularly enjoyed a threat of a
tossed sandwich at a colleague.
Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor, aka the God of Thunder, aka
the King of the Asgardians, aka The Dude, aka The Big Lebowski. In the wake of
the events of the last film, Thor has given up on everything, spending his days
drinking himself into oblivion, getting himself quite out of shape, and looking
like Jeff Bridges in that aforementioned cult classic film. Hemsworth actually
gets to bring out a lot of the humour of the film in his drunkenness, but the
character’s binges and I could care less attitude conceals his own wounds and
despair. It’s a good touch for the character, who finally finds his way back to
himself through the intervention of the one character it makes the most sense
to have doing so. In finding his purpose again, the character’s journey is one
that brings him back to resolve.
Robert Downey Jr. started the entire Marvel Cinematic
Universe in the first Iron Man film, in which his Tony Stark found his life
changing because of the sacrifice of one unlikely fellow prisoner who told him
to make something better of himself and the world. That has informed the
character throughout his travels in the franchise ever since, as even under the
snark and sharp wit of the actor there’s been the underlying theme of a man
seeking to make things better. Tony has given up in a different way from Thor’s
way, but the result is the same. He’s hidden himself away from the world,
seeking solace in the quiet countryside with his wife and his child. He feels
deep guilt about the teenaged Peter Parker he mentored and then saw turn to
ash. But the Stark mind is still the same, and when presented with a challenge
rises to the occasion. Downey’s take on the character remains emotionally
invested in his family, while understanding that he must make things better.
Along the way he gets some closure in a surprising way, and gets to restore the
rift that’s existed between him and Steve since the events of Captain America: Civil War. The
performance turns out to be a cathartic one for the actor and the audience- a
brilliant but stubborn man standing up to a nihilistic monster.
Chris Evans also gets closure playing Captain America. The
character has from the start been one of courage, resolve, optimism, and
strength, qualities that Evans has always played to as an actor. Steve Rogers
is a leader, and that shows itself early on as he leads self-help groups trying
to cope with the sudden losses of their lives, or the Avengers coping with
various issues on Earth and beyond. A man dedicated to duty, Steve has seen the
darkest humanity- and beyond- has offered, but it hasn’t broken him. The optimism
is there, shaken as it is, seen in conversations with some of his colleagues.
And yet when a potential solution is presented, he knows it must be acted on.
It’s refreshing to see the fractured friendship between he and Tony restored,
which both actors play to. It’s also good to see that steel will and raw
courage present itself again when face to face with the being who wiped out
half the cosmos. Just as it’s also good to see him get to do something for
himself… even if that puts all sorts of theoretical questions into the mix.
Avengers Endgame
has the emotional payoff that’s been building for years through the Marvel
Cinematic Universe. While it provides emotional closure and endings for some
characters on the one hand, it also tugs at the heartstrings for others. The
stakes have never been higher, but the film chooses to find its foundation in
its characters instead of letting special effects overwhelm the characters. An
epic adventure and a personal tale, the film brings to a satisfying and
thrilling conclusion for one era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all while allowing
for what is yet to come.
