Viewed – 30 April 2012  Cinema

This has to be one of the most anticipated movies of the year.  With Marvel Studios prepping the big screen mash-up of some of their best-loved comic book creations through movies like Iron Man to Captain America: The First Avenger, this is one concept that has promised the near-impossible … so the question on all our lips remains, can this even hope to deliver?

When vengeful God Loki (Tom Hiddleston) steals a powerful source of energy right from under the nose of government agency S.H.I.E.L.D. its up to Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to finally launch his Avengers Initiative, and sets about calling on Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawk Eye (Jeremy Renner), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and finally Iron-Man (Robert Downey Jr).  Loki has teamed up with a violent race from another dimension to rage war on earth, and it’s up to the Avengers to stop them … and all I could say was BRING IT ON!  Directed by Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Serenity) this colourful and thoroughly entertaining movie has the words ‘blockbuster’ running through it like a piece of Blackpool rock (U.S. readers, google it!), with over-the-top special effects action, lots of destruction and big personalities going toe to toe in-between kicking more ass than an ass-whooping contest.  Thankfully though holding it all together is a razor-sharp script penned by Whedon and Zak Penn that is full of great lines and a surprisingly amount of comedy that is so well-timed and perfectly judged that it just about stops things descending into farce.  Whedon has always been good with an ensemble cast, and despite the egos on display here, the script wisely allows every character a moment to shine.  Also considering Scarlett Johansson is the only female, she impressively (and gorgeously) manages to hold her own despite the testosterone on display.

The story lets things down a tad, borrowing it seems from the first Transformers movie for its cube-like macguffin, and apart from Loki the enemy are personality-free punch bags for our heroes to look good battering.  Also considering the movie is set in New York, and it’s the Marvel Universe we’re dealing with, Spider Man’s omission seems somewhat jarring.  But when pondering such issues, there is usually another breathtaking action sequence, witty line or cool looking character around the corner.  If when sitting down to this you intend on being entertained – then believe me, you can’t go wrong with The Avengers.

Verdict:  4 /5

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