The Avengers - Review

The Avengers do not simply Assemble. They explode, erupt and eradicate anything that gets in their way and so does this super slick blockbuster. At over two hours, there is little missing from the Avengers. The corroding cities, high-tech equipment and witty dialogue are effortlessly sprinkled over the occasional drama. Yet, despite the heavy reliance on well-scripted fight scenes and dramatic explosions the movie never loses trail. Fighting alone is not given for fighting sake. The Avengers assemble with ease, and so does the film. Joss Whedon handles the difficult job of suiting to the egotism of several money-making heroes without sparing anyone their screen time. 

The newly introduced Black Widow and Hawk Eye share an inspiring plot which offers enough space for yet another successful Marvel Franchise. Robert Downey’s Tony Stark is as sharp and narcissistic as always, Hemsworth’s Thor bigger than ever and Evans’ Captain America just as feudally heroic as one could imagine. It’s Mark Ruffalo’s unusual Hulk, however, that steals the thunder (and there is a lot of thunder in this film to steal). Although familiar with Hulk as a story, his laid back and somewhat comically melancholic performance as Bruce Banner is the most pleasant surprise in the film. As Hulk, his slapstick humour is also somewhat hilarious, although I’m still not sure why.

For Marvel fans and the casual cinema goer this film will not disappoint. It was a truth universally acknowledged that if The Avengers is successful its success will be absolute. Had it failed however, so would the accountability of all Marvel spin-offs. Luckily for them, and for the eager viewers, such a scenario is not likely. Nonetheless, for some, the grounded and plausible nature of Iron Man that was so appealing is here abandoned for the absolutely ridiculous. But no less is required from an idea of this scale. In fact, the borderline ridiculous is so appealing that we barely even question the alliance between Demi-Gods from an outer universe who have British accents in order to be recognized as separate from the American heroes (one of which is actually meant to be Russian – nice try Scarlet Johnasonn) and a frozen-for-many-decades Cold War hero. And if you do, you’re either ridiculous yourself or dull and heartless.

The Avengers have assembled. And like it or not, they won’t go away anytime soon. Rather, they will paint the walls, bed sheets, wardrobes, lunch boxes, bags, t-shirts and anything else you can imagine, of teenagers for some generations. But think of this as a positive thing. If there was any war at all that the Avengers would truly win – it’s the audience award. So rather than a slave, you are an actively consenting citizen of the ridiculous but comforting Avengers Universe. Welcome, take a seat. You have no other choice. 

Mirela Ivanova