5 out of 5 Stars

By Aaron Reynolds

There comes a time periodically in Hollywood where a film is just the definition of its generation and wows viewers unlike anything else that has come before it. In recent memory, one could connect “Titanic” or “Avatar” to this kind of phenomenon.

“Avengers: Endgame,” the latest and final saga in the “Avengers” franchise, is a fitting way to conclude what has been a very entertaining series, even if some people such as myself are skeptical the franchise is truly finished.

The follow-up to the extraordinarily applauded 2018, “Avengers: Infinity War, “Endgame” surprisingly took only about a year to turn around, which is impressive considering the budget and high-production value did not make it an easy one to shoot.

Then there was the tall order of bringing together such a potent, A-list cast that is as influential as arguably any movie production ever. Sure, most of these stars were already in “Infinity War” and other previous installments, yet being able to coordinate all of their schedules, as well as keep a series of big egos in check, is not always easy.

“Endgame” weighs heavily on the performance of Robert Downey Jr. as “Iron Man.” I always thought his own stand-alone series was undervalued, yet in the “Avengers” realm, where he gets the opportunity to deadpan with so many other talented actors, he is fantastic.

The rest of the superheroes are enjoyable as well, including Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Hulk, and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow. Along with the regulars, Paul Rudd (Ant-Man) and Brie Larson of the recent success “Captain Marvel” make first-time appearances in “Endgame.”

The first piece of advice I can tell you about “Avengers: Endgame” is, brace for a marathon. With a run time of 182 minutes, “Endgame” easily clocks in as not only the longest superhero movie, but one of the longest epics in general.

Only films like “Gone with the Wind,” “The Ten Commandments, “Lawrence of Arabia,” and “The Godfather Part II” can sport longer run times. Though “Endgame” pulls off an impressive feat by sustaining interest for just over three hours, it may not be the most appropriate film for youngsters.

It is also rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, as well as some bad language. Overall though, it is about as family-friendly as you can get for a superhero epic with such a long run time and featuring good guys taking out bad guys.

However, what separates “Endgame” from the majority of superhero final installments is, the story has a lot of heart. Audiences grew to really care for all of these characters over the previous three releases, and “Endgame” somehow manages to find a worthy conclusion for every principle character.

A rare example of a film that was actually able to live up to its immense hype, “Endgame” has already shattered just about every opening weekend record in the books and could give “Avatar” a run for being the most successful movie at the box office ever.

If you liked the previous “Avengers,” you will find little to no complaints with its conclusion. “Endgame” is a thrilling adventure like you would expect, but also has a lot to offer from an emotional standpoint.