Avengers: Endgame (12A)****
Dirs: Joe Russo, Anthony Russo
With: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Karen Gillan, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson
Runtime: 181 minutes
AFTER 11 years, 22 films, and a gazillion intergalactic rammies, this is it people, the Avengers infinity saga is brought to a close.
Goodbye to all those happy afternoons spent napping in the cinema (I saw you) while the kids and grandkids feasted on nachos and the latest exploits of Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, and all the other superheroes and heroines whose names you forgot between movies.
Boy, do directors Joe and Anthony Russo ensure the tale of space good and evil goes out with a hugely entertaining bang. Queries are answered, plot points tied up, justice is done and, best of all, the role of Irn Bru in saving the world is revealed. More on that later.
Endgame opens where last year’s Infinity War closed – with half of all life in the universe gone. Loved ones lost, the planet a giant trash heap. The remaining Avengers are understandably down over their inability to stop the evil Thanos (Josh Brolin) stealing the all-conquering infinity stones and carrying out his apocalyptic plan. But wait, what if there was a solution, a way to “do a Cher” and turn back time?
So Captain America (Chris Evans) tries to get the gang together again, with particular difficulty in the case of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) who has taken to getting hammered in other ways, hence the bottle of hangover cure Irn Bru that can be spied on a shelf in his hovel. It’s that sort of attention to detail that has built this franchise such a loyal fan following. Devotees certainly won’t mind the pack-a-sandwich 181 minute run time, or a plot that wanders in and out of worm holes.
For everyone else, there are great jokes, the chance to see some favourites again (including Karen Gillan doing a lot of the heavy dramatic lifting with her character, Nebula), and more than a few plot surprises – besides that starring role for Scotland’s other national drink.
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