Over the past twelve years or so, the market has been pummeled by superhero films. It’s gotten to the point where Marvel itself has become a studio all on its own, with the resources and corporate strength to make its own products and keep them uniform. In the past five years, the releases of “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Thor,” and “Captain America” have all been carefully planned and marketed so that the ultimate mash-up of superheroes can be brought to the big screen. With so many characters from so many different films by so many different directors starring so many different actors, I imagine that bringing all of these storylines together and making them coherent could have been disastrous under lesser talents (or, it could have easily been ruined by too much post-production tampering by studio executives, as it was with “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”).
Rest assured: “The Avengers” is a well-oiled and carefully-constructed machine, which successfully pumps out the fun. The action in the first half generally doesn’t disappoint; there are a whole bunch of impressive fight scenes among the different superheroes, and even among the minor characters, before things shape up and lead into a massive grand finale. The mass destruction throughout the finale is truly awe-inspiring, and each hero gets their fair share of action. But what really makes this film work is that the tone is perfect for this type of summer blockbuster. There is enough humor throughout to keep the story light and fun, and to keep it accessible to all audiences. It is every bit as fun of a superhero movie as every other superhero movie before it; as ambitious as the project is, however, it comes quite close to being the end-all be-all superhero film.
Fortunately, the film is not entirely shallow either. If generally follows the same plot formula of “The Ultimate Avengers” cartoon that came out in 2006; this film version is far more in-depth, especially with its roots dug firmly in the previously-mentioned Marvel films. Chances are that if you haven’t seen these other films, you may be missing out on some minor details concerning who the characters are, where they come from, what SHIELD is exactly, and how the various artifacts came together for “The Avengers.” Going into it blind may leave a few folks in the dark. But even if you have the most basic knowledge of who the different characters are, you should be able to pick up on it and just enjoy the ride. Even when the thrill ride isn’t running at full speed, the film manages to keep things rolling, thanks largely to the characters and their complex interactions. Each character remains true to themselves, with hardly any scene or line that can be considered stupid or out-of-character. Each character serves to reinforce the idea that the Avengers team is dysfunctional and dangerous. There are probably some finer points that get buried (such as the fate of Betty Ross, or Jane Foster (which is mentioned just briefly), or Steve Rodger’s adjustment to the 21st century (which was cut from the film)); ultimately, there’s enough to the film where these points don’t even come to mind that much.
Cinematically, the film is every bit as slick and polished as the other Marvel films. Photography is very solid, and looks good all the way through. Editing is good. Acting is top-notch: just about every actor brings their A-game to the table. Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Samuel L Jackson all inhabit their characters very well. Mark Ruffalo is not bad playing Bruce Banner; I do prefer Edward Norton and Eric Banna in the role, but Ruffalo’s performance is earnest and satisfying. Writing all around is great; the dialogue is often witty, and maintains its focus on the characters perfectly. This production spares no expense on the sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music isn’t bad either.
This film met my expectations perfectly. Chances are that, thanks to the hype, some may find this film overrated. Regardless, I don’t really see anything wrong with this film, and I feel no shame in granting it a perfect score. Recommended!
5/5 (entertainment: 5/5, story: 4.5/5, film: 4.5/5)
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