Avengers: End Game - Spoiler Free Review

We will never see a cinematic experience like the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).  Many will try to copy it or emulate its success, but the MCU has been the most-successful, best produced series of films of all-time.  It's truly a marvel (pun intended) to behold.  However, like Avengers: End Game, to understand the present, we must look to the past.

Back in 2008, the world was a different place.  We were nearing the end of the disastrous George W. Bush presidency, and while comic book movies were popular, they still weren't considered essential viewing.  That all changed with a simple phrase... "I am Iron Man."  Robert Downey Jr., then a brilliant but formerly troubled actor, took up the mantle of Tony Stark/Iron Man, and the world was never the same.  Little did we know, but the original Ironman movie would go on to change how we view, not only comic book movies, but the film business in general.

Flash forward 11 years and 22 films later (including a monumental Best Picture nomination for Black Panther), and we are at a landmark moment in American cinema.  Avengers: End Game is the culmination of everything that has come before it and a conclusion to the MCU as we know it.  Sure, others will come after it, but we will never experience something like this current form of the MCU again.  That's not a spoiler, but rather a declarative statement.  End game feels like an and and a beginning and everything in between.  It's a wonder of a film and one of the best large scale blockbusters I have ever seen.

It's going to be hard to make a substantive review of End Game without spoilers, since major plot points start forming right from the get go, but I'll try my best.  End Game starts 5-years after the snap heard round the universe.  Humanity is still reeling from being halved in an instant, and this includes the remaining Avengers.  They're a group without a purpose and it's taking their effect.  I like how this film deals with a supposedly invincible group suffering its first major loss.  It makes for interesting character growth.  They're still searching for Thanos and looking for a way to avenge (see what I did there?) their friends and families.  Unfortunately, any more than that and we're canon-balling our way into the spoiler zone.  I will say this.  Thor steals this movie.  His full-on turn into comedy continues here and it's truly a sight to behold. 

I'm giving End Game 3.99 stars out of 4.  It's one of the best superhero movies ever made and it is the perfect capper to this run of MCU films.  At 3-hours, it could rub some people as overstuffed, but I didn't mind it one bit.  It ties together old story lines and current ones.  Its largely self-aware, but not in a way that damages the story.  It's an absolute delight to see.  Bravo to the entirely MCU team and the Russo brothers for pulling this off.

I'll give you one spoiler, though.  There is NOT a post-credit scene, so if your butt is going numb after 3+ hours, feel free to head out during the credits.