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The Avengers
Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, and Cobie Smulders
Synopsis: There are few superhero films that have been as ambitious, or as big a gamble, as “The Avengers.” But, then again, few have been done as well as “The Avengers,” a credit to the long-term vision of Marvel Studios, the strength of the cast, and the guiding vision of Joss Whedon. “The Avengers” is really the culmination of years of work. It began with Marvels’ roll out of “Iron Man” in 2008. That was followed by a re-boot of “The Hulk,” a second “Iron Man” film, and last summer’s debuts of “Thor” and “Captain America.” That fabric of films all comes into play with “The Avengers.” In some ways, it’s fair to say that “The Avengers” is the payoff for the may prologues that have greeted audiences over the past four summers. There is a lot of work that went into setting up “The Avengers.” And Whedon, who wrote the screenplay and directed the film, weaves that all together well. The characters and references from each of the films leading up to “The Avengers” are included in this film — and not just the main characters, but the supporting characters as well. That, as one might imagine, is an epic undertaking. But the film is also accessible to all audiences. Even if you hadn’t seen any of the individual hero films leading up to “The Avengers,” you would still be able to follow the story of this film and appreciate its narrative — yet another incredible feat from Whedon. Those elements combined with a massive marketing campaign and a film populated by big stars helps explain why “The Avengers” had the highest-grossing opening of all time. That and the fact the film is one of so many now to be released in 3D. The performances in the film are good, too. While I tend to think that Evans and Hemsworth are a bit too stiff thanks in part to their superhero alter-egos, the work of Ruffalo, Johansson, and Downey more than makes up for it. In two previous films two different men have tried to capture the right tone for Banner/The Hulk, but haven’t quite done it. Ruffalo excels in the part, bringing a splash of humor and charisma that plays well off Downey’s Tony Stark. Of course a big help is the writing, which is witty and crisp. As Whedon has done with his other projects — from movies to TV to Internet sensations — he knows how to find a blend between humor and drama, exploiting each in equal measure. Those familiar with his space western odyssey “Firefly” will recognize some similar filming techniques used during action sequences in “The Avengers” as well. All those touches help this film to rise above the typical superhero film and the typical loud summer blockbuster. That’s what makes “The Avengers” special. It is a loud summer spectacle; it is a superhero movie; it is an effects-driven summer blockbuster; and it’s a lot of fun. It’s not easy to put all those elements together, but then again it’s not easy to tackle a project as ambitious as “The Avengers.” This is the perfect film to kick off the summer. It may be a bit too long and go a bit overboard on the special effects at times, but unfortunately that’s what summer is all about these days. And you could do far worse than the fun, characters, and story of this film.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.
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Friday, May 11 — "Dark Shadows," "Girl in Progress"
Wednesday, May 16 — "The Dictator"
Friday, May 18 — "Battleship," "What to Expect When You're Expecting," "Hysteria"
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