The Avengers Review

The summer movie season blasts off, all thrusters engaged.

Full review by Isaac Handelman

At this point, The Avengers living up to the insurmountable hype surrounding it seems like an inconceivable notion. After four years of hints and easter eggs, beginning with Nick Fury’s appearance after the credits of the first Iron Man, and culminating in an epic teaser trailer following the credits of Captain America: The First Avenger, the cinema event so many have been eagerly anticipating has arrived. The question is, can it possibly achieve the heights hoped for by so many?

Yes. Yes it can.

Fear not, for Joss Whedon has crafted a cinematic experience unlike anything that has preceded it. Watching The Avengers gives the viewer a feeling akin to that of watching Darth Vader duke it out with Indiana Jones. Though the properties contained within the film are, obviously, more easily paired (having all come from Marvel lore), the fact that each of the main characters has received at least one stand-alone film is a true testament to how dedicated Marvel is at preserving its iconic lore and at allowing a new generation to revel in it. 

What’s so deeply brilliant about The Avengers is that it’s simply not meant to be watched by itself. Newcomers may detest the film for lacking  the strong characterization that has made Marvel’s other offerings so impressive. It’s highly recommended that - before you even think about seeing The Avengers -- you take the time to view every film that has built to this point. That includes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger. Though, chances are, if you’re reading this review you’ve already done that. And you will be rewarded for it.

The Avengers feels like the ultimate combined culmination of each of these films, a breathtaking crossroads with absolutely enormous production values and a scale far beyond that of much anything else. Because Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and Hulk have already received background stories fleshing out their characters, The Avengers has the unique opportunity to partially forgo the otherwise crucial aspect of deep characterization. That’s not to say the film is all brawn an no brains, mind you. By the time Avengers has concluded, nothing about the dream team feels shortsighted or awkward. They earn the partnership they eventually possess through a rigorous series of trials. But I won’t ruin that for you. 

More likely than not, you’re going to see The Avengers for the action spectacle it provides thanks to the caliber of its legendary central team-up. And boy-oh-boy, does the film come out all barrels blazing on this front. After the exhilarating opening sequence, the film is a bit slow to start, but once it picks up steam it never slows down.

Each action sequence is unquestionably exhilarating, but none come close to the astounding scale and pitch-perfect direction of the final battle. The conflict may last upwards of thirty minutes, but it does not feel long-winded or stretched thin. Every shot is exciting, every skirmish does an expert job at empowering the heroes involved and making the audience root, and Whedon’s expert directorial eye ensures a few particularly ingenious cinematographic moments.  

But perhaps even more pivotal to The Avenger’s ultimate success or failure is the strength of its ensemble (or, god forbid, the lack thereof). Thankfully, Marvel took obvious care selecting a main cast with astounding chemistry to back their inherent likability. Downey Jr. plays his Tony Stark with a typical suave aura that only he is capable of expressing. Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers is probably the most generic hero of the bunch, but he embodies the role nonetheless. I am once again incapable of conjuring up the image of a more perfect Thor than Chris Hemsworth, and though some will cry foul at Bruce Banner’s casting change from Edward Norton to Mark Ruffalo, the oscar-nominee feels much more at home in the role, and plays slightly-awkward-genius-scientist Banner, as well as his giant lumbering green alter-ego, with a grace that should easily win over non-believers. 

And then there’s of course Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner, who are placed at an obvious disadvantage having not received their own personal cinema treatments. Luckily, the duo is given some interesting historical ties to keep the audience invested in their characters, and rooting for Black Widow and Hawkeye as much as any of the “bigger” heroes. 

Equally impressive is how equal each of the Avengers feels. None get significantly more screen time or play a much larger role in the central narrative than another. This is a true, dedicated ensemble cast done right. It’s like Ocean’s Eleven, but with superheroes and evil alien monsters that come out of the sky.

One of my initial worries about The Avengers was how liberally it appeared to be using fantastical elements. In the context of Thor, the tale of a banished Asgardian demigod, no one batted an eyelash to this. However, the tone of Iron Man and its sequel are decidedly more realistic and technology-based instead of rooted in fantasy. I wasn’t sure if the tones of the two franchises would mix well. That doesn't turn out to be a problem here. In fact, the fantasy elements put to use in Avengers open up exciting new doors for the already-announced next entires in the Iron Man and Captain America series.

I should also note that you should not be surprised when you find yourself frequently laughing out loud while watching The Avengers. Though all of Marvel’s adaptations have had touches of comedy here and there, mostly in the form of quotational humor, The Avengers feels considerably more jam-packed with hilarious moments, especially during a few scenes which deliver a seemingly endless stream of laughs. It’s moderately shocking that, given how many commitments The Avengers had to make in the areas of narrative, action and ensemble charisma, it still manages to pull off such strong comedy.

So let me wrap this up. Sure, other superhero movies may deliver more personal emotional experiences, especially as stand-alone films, which The Avengers is unquestionably not. What’s so special about this film is how successful it is in delivering the sense of teamwork and crowd-pleasing, ultimate team-up action that it strives for. Epic in every sense of the word, with humor in spades, breathtaking action set-pieces in troves, spot-on direction and a terrific ensemble cast, The Avengers is exactly the kind of cinematic experience that fans are seeking, and it sets a ridiculously high bar for everything else to come in 2012’s busy summer season.

Final Score:

8.5/10

“Outstanding”