THE AVENGERS
PG-13
143 minutes
Director: Joss Whedon
Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Hiddleston
The aliens are coming and their goal is to invade and destroy. Fighting superior technology, Man's best weapon is the will to survive.
-President Thomas J. Whitmore, INDEPENDENCE DAY (1997)
The Fat Team
Shaft Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Iron Man Robert Downey Junior
The Incredible Hulk Mark Ruffalo
Bruce Banner Edward Norton
Thor Chris Hemsworth
Steve Rogers/Captain America Chris Evans
Clint Barton/Hawkeye Jeremy Renner
Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff Scarlett Johansson
Loki Tom Hiddleston
FANTASTIC FOUR, and THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. When groups of comic book characters get together the results are usually disastrous. X-MEN, MYSTERY MEN, and CAPTAIN PLANET AND THE PLANETERS are notable exceptions. Notable exceptions that get my hopes up.
A Stargate-ish portal opens up, the lord of hellfire descends upon the night sky. Fear the wrath of Loki and his intergalactic minions; they have declared war on all of humanity. As to why, I'm not entirely certain. But let's not get lost on details.
Well I guess we're gonna have to take control
Manhattan is on the brink of destruction. We've seen this many times before. In GHOSTBUSTERS II (1989). Bill Murray, Rick Moranis, and the rest of the gang, spray pink slime on the Statue of Liberty, and we hear Jackie Wilson's HIGHER AND HIGHER on loudspeakers'. Lady Liberty comes to life and raises all hell.
The Ghostbusters aren't around, and they can't be called. So the Avengers are the next best resource we have at our disposal. They do battle with Loki's army, and give them a little taste of the red-white-and-boom.
All the actors play their characters well. Mild mannered, Mark Ruffalo was a good choice to replace Ed Norton/Eric Bana.
Scarlett Johansson was in this movie for the same reason Jessica Alba was in the FANTASTIC FOUR...acting ability.
I still don't know what Nick Fury's place is in all this, but I'll never object to Sam Jackson being in any movie. In this film, he plays an almost believable 'science guy'.
Parts of the movie are a little too 'Michael Bay' (yeah, that's an adjective now). There is almost an overwhelming level of action. This is the biggest problem with this movie.
These comic book characters almost seem cartoonish―this is an outrage
Entertaining, but not as deep as I would have liked. Then again, I might be expecting far too much from a comic book movie. THE AVENGERS is an escapist, popcorn flick that will hold your attention.
I did like the conclusion, the characters woke up in bizarro world and nothing happened. Oh, wait―that's DC.
Final Verdict: 81 out of 100
Sidenote: there are 20 minutes of previews, as well as a scene before and after credits, plan accordingly.