Release date: 24 April 2019

Avengers: Endgame, I love you 3000.

I saw Avengers: Endgame twice in 12 hours; that should give you a pretty good sense of how I feel about this movie. The first screening was in a packed house on opening night, the second was early the next morning with a much smaller crowd. Both experiences were different, but both were acutely affecting, and satisfying.

There’s no doubt Avengers: Endgame is a love letter; a love letter to a decade of story, to the myriad of characters, and to the OG Avengers, the original six that started it all. But it’s also a love letter to the fans; a walk through the movies of the past, the triumphs, failures, and odysseys of a strangely human bunch of super-human/alien heroes, all coming to a head in a massive brawl that’s an absolute cracker. It’s a deeply rewarding finale, a beautiful conclusion to this once in a lifetime, cinematic journey.

I’m not going to give away any spoilers here, I’m tempted to because there were some spectacular character arcs, as well as brilliant comedic scenes, (let me just say that Chris Hemsworth is a national treasure), and I want to talk about it all to anyone who will listen. I came home and blurted everything out to a family member who couldn’t have cared less, then spent until well after midnight talking online, burning up my DMs with friends who, like me, saw it on opening night. I want to share, damn it, but part of the joy of this movie was the not knowing, so being spoiler free for that first viewing is and was a gift. It was the nerves, the anticipation, and the excitement. It was worrying if my fave was going to make it. It was being side swiped by feelings I never saw coming. It was laughing so hard I literally slapped my thigh.

In amongst the action sequences and epic battles, there is space for genuine emotion, and that, quite frankly, caught me off guard. I’m not going to tell you I cried, because in all honesty, at times I sobbed, and not just because there were some sadder than sad moments, but because there were some glorious moments that made my heart swell with love and happiness, and my eyes leak all over my face. I wasn’t the only one (thankfully), I was surrounded by snuffles and sniffles, and at least one rather loud, anguished, cry in the dark. But even when things seem their bleakest, there’s a lot of unexpected humour to balance it out. This movie is damn funny, with some laugh out loud sequences and wonderful, witty, and of course, snarky banter. It’s something the MCU has done beautifully through the series, blending the drama with the playfulness, as well as keeping the separate Universes and character tones true to their individual franchises, even when they’re all mixed in together. Infinity War shone at that, and here, Endgame perfects it.

In a story chocked full of everything and everyone shiny, the script is somehow the superstar; not something you usually say about big, glossy, blockbusters, but there was nothing in this movie that felt hokey or heavy handed to me. There was a honesty to the Avengers’ post Thanos snap struggles that was unanticipated and refreshing. These are characters we’ve grown to love over the past 10 years, and seeing their trials as well as their victories, so beautifully rendered, punches you right in the gut. Be prepared for a good deal of feels, but remember, you won’t be alone.

Getting to sit with a group of fellow aficionados and watch the thing we’ve all been waiting for is so special. To hear the authentic gasps, the concerned mutters, the cries of “noooo”, then the spontaneous and enthusiastic applause as the credits roll; it gives the event a true community feel, like we’re all in this together, like we’re with each other ‘til the end of the line.

Avengers: Endgame left me less emotionally devastated than I expected and more overwhelmingly thankful. Thankful that I got to experience this epic tale of heroes and mega villains; thankful for Cap, Tony, Bruce, Nat, Thor, Clint and everyone in between, and though I know we have more Marvel movies coming down the line, for some of these characters, some of my cherished favourites, their stories are done, and that truly is a hard pill to swallow. I will miss them terribly, but I’ll be forever grateful for the ride they took me on.

As a wise and somewhat sassy man said, “the end is part of the journey,” and what a glorious journey it’s been.

P.S. See the movie before you’re spoiled, because the surprises are everything, and stick around for the credits to see a lovely tribute to the Avengers cast, but there’s no mid or end credits scene in this one, so if you need to pee after the 3 hour running time, you don’t have to wait!

© Amy Hutton 2019