Avengers: Endgame (Spoiler-Free Film Review)

2019 Marvel Studios
Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo; Written by: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Starring: Everybody
MPAA Rating: PG-13; Running Time: 181 Minutes
The Nicsperiment Score: 7/10

Avengers: Endgame doesn't just have to conclude the events of last year's Avengers: Infinity War, but those of the entire 11-year, 22-film Marvel film series. Infinity War's ending pared the cast down to just the original six 2012-era Avengers, along with a few additional heroes. The villain, Thanos, was able to wipe out half of living existence with the snap of a finger. The previous film hinted that Endgame would focus upon the original six's attempt to get back all of the people they and the rest of surviving humanity lost. However, after a swift-moving early fake-out, it's clear Endgame has far more on its mind than just recovering those who vanished in Infinity War.
Viewers expecting three-hours of Thanos-fighting action in Endgame are in for a rude awakening. It happens, and it's awesome, but it's more of a cathartic payoff than a constant exchange. Instead, there's character moment after character moment, revisiting many events of past Marvel films, and interacting with them in interesting ways. There are also laughs, but even those are in sparse supply compared to previous quip-happy Marvel films. Considering the somber tone created by the fact that every remaining character is grieving over losing half the people they knew, it's a wonder the film is able to conjure as much laughter as it does--it's not a spoiler to announce that most of the comedy comes from the usual suspects: Thor, Rocket, and Ant Man.
However, Endgame is a film focused upon pathos, and it finds its heart in the two longest torchbearers of the franchise, Iron Man and Captain America. Both characters get their due (and the Infinity War-missing Hawkeye does, as well), and perhaps more, as, if this film has a flaw, it's that its middle hangs out just a bit too casually. Then again, if Endgame had to have a flaw, it can do far worse than spending too much time on quiet character moments. Every one of those moments is honest and earned, and all are somehow miraculously fulfilled in the latter portions of the film, in moments somehow even more cathartic than the action. It's just that three hours is a very long time--there are moments that, while enjoyable, sometimes feel like deleted scenes from a set of DVD extras. With that said...
The guy who sat next to me in the sold-out theater arrived high out of his mind, smelling as if he'd just put out his joint in the trash can outside the theater. He brought a fanny pack full of freshly bought, munchie-driven Taco Bell. During the trailers, he pulled out a bottle of Crown Royal Regal Apple, and poured it into his soda. As soon as the film started, he began to loudly, but good-naturedly converse with the screen. Over the course of the film, the drive-thru Tex-Mex, marijuana, and liquor on his breath grew more and more rank. I still enjoyed Avengers: Endgame anyway...but three hours smelling that breath is a long time.