***This review is mostly spoiler-free, but its themes might lead to broad conclusions by the reader. Nothing of the Endgame plot is revealed and no answers to the questions leftover from Infinity War are revealed.***

I drove two daughters and two of their friends to an 11:00 p.m., Thursday night showing of Avengers: Endgame. On the way, we shared our theories of what might unfold and our hopes for favorite characters. The parking lot was nearly full and the theater was packed except for the first two rows, though a few people were forced to sit in those neck-breaking seats. The audience was diverse along every noticeable dimension and was in place well before the trailers began. What does this mean? If I shake my Magic-8 Ball, it reads, “All signs point to Eleventy Billion Dollars.” But there is more here than just money. This isn’t The Hobbit trilogy or the two halves of the Harry Potter finale.

Avengers: Endgame is at minimum a fitting end to a decade of excellent entertainment from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). What was a novel, risky strategy–to plant character seeds in mostly stand-alone movies and then bring large groups of characters together for the occasional exclamation point–has succeeded beyond anyone’s belief or expectation. The universe is built on a mixture of A and B-list comic book heroes. There was no reason to think the public would find the likes of Iron Man or Thor or Peter Quill even interesting, much less actually care about their fates. While Captain America and Spider-Man had some cultural currency, they did not occupy the same stratum as Superman or Batman in our consciousness. After more than twenty films, almost all of it has worked. This is, as my son reminded me (he met us at the movie), the greatest cinematic achievement in decades. Endgame wraps it all up with more than aplomb–it takes its place alongside the best of the MCU, and that is high praise.

The fourth Avengers film, Endgame is precisely what the title states. This is the closing of an era, mostly defined by the two figures at the heart of this universe, Tony Stark’s Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) and Steve Rogers’ Captain America (Chris Evans). Other characters matter, of course, but these two take center-stage. The sequel begins shortly after the end of Infinity War. The survivors are still coping with the loss of half the population and the remaining Avengers are searching for a response. Some old fissures resurrect themselves, but the group eventually unifies to pursue a plan that feels reasonable given the fantastical nature of the MCU. I think it holds together, though if you poke too much, a few plot holes emerge. (To say more would introduce spoilers, unfortunately. The plot cannot even be summarized without answering significant, hanging questions leftover from Infinity War.)

The MCU’s success hinges on three factors–stellar acting, engaging characters who mesh easily, and plots what weave worthy villains into existential crises. Endgame has all three elements. Just like the other Avengers movies, Endgame manages to wring emotion from bare moments of screen time. We have a history with Captain America and Iron Man built over origin stories, character arcs, and group interactions. To see them confront each other, their fears, and their loves, sometimes in the face of mortal danger, is poignant. In a way, I suspect for many of us, they feel like mighty, flawed friends we admire, but they are more than that.

Tony Stark and Steve Rogers represent the two faces of America. Though Rogers is the only one endowed with the moniker, Tony Stark is equally American. He is brash, clever, and fast-talking. He wears his success and he works to balance his wealth and genius with the other parts of his nature. Stark is Steve Jobs with a suit of death, always struggling to choose between self-indulgence and what is best for all of those who depend on him.

Steve Rogers is effortless power. “Cap” is mindful of his humble beginnings, especially when compared to his sophisticated and sometimes other-planetary counterparts. He is marked most by decency, even though others see him as sanctimonious and moralistic. Steve Rogers is a leader just by showing up. Eventually, everyone always figures out to trust him because his heart is true and he packs a wallop.

Endgame is their story and it is ours. The film is strong. It is entertaining, sweeping in scope, and a defensible combination of fan service and narrative necessity. The three hour run time could have been trimmed by a half hour without losing much. The special effects are among the best ever put on film. For fans, I think Endgame is all we hoped for and maybe more. Now, I just have to figure out how to fill the MCU-sized hole in my movie heart.

Final Grade: 3.5/4 Egghead