Joss Whedon, best
known for the fantastic TV shows Buffy
the Vampire Slayer (1996 – 2003) and Firefly
(2002 – 2003) (the latter of which became his first great feature film, Serenity (2205)), has just, with his
second feature film, done something that other Marvel film directors haven't
been able to do: created a balanced, entertaining film based on Marvel
characters.
After a slightly
dodgy, ‘here we go again’ beginning, Avengers
Assemble spends the next two hours fifteen minutes being nothing but
entertaining. Whedon’s most accomplished achievement is balancing all the
characters so that it feels like a group leading role. Robert Downey Junior’s
arrogant Iron Man isn’t allowed to steal the show, despite perhaps being best
suited to the witty script. The same is true of Captain America. In fact it is
Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk who, although sharing equal screen time with the rest,
(even Hawkeye and Black Widow – minnows of previous films) comes away as the
main talking point.
It is not only the
characters that are well balanced. The story and the commitment to character
raise Avengers Assemble to the level
it’s at. All the characters feel developed. Loki is far from a stereotypical
I-want-to-take-over-the-world bad guy. There are issues raised that, if you
want to see them, offer criticisms over American foreign policy. All in all,
there is little wrong with this film. Even the expected explosive ending is
handled with a personal touch and doesn’t forget to maintain the individuality
and group dynamic of the characters.
The film, like other
Marvel adaptations is more child friendly and never comes close to the layered
complexity of Christopher Nolan’s Batman
(2005 – 2012) films, which raised the bar for comic adaptations and continue to
enjoy their own company at the top. Despite this, there are few experiences
during a summer cinema season as fun as Avengers
Assemble.
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