Finally! The build-up to nerdgasm has reached a climax, and it was oh so good!
“The Avengers” has been teasing film audience g-spots since they sat through “Iron Man’s” ending credits and watched a one-eyed Samuel L. Jackson murmur the “Avengers Initiative”. Some film-watchers were ecstatic, others confused. No one will be confused anymore.
Everyone who enjoys a good time will enjoy the “Avengers”. To my friends who have branded me a hard-ass, movie-nazi, who only cherishes artsy flicks–suck it! “Avengers” is a unapologetic, commercial franchise-maker that just happens to deliver amazing popcorn entertainment. I grinned throughout the film, even during moments when my head was about to explode from the overload of plot information and characters. At one point, every comic book star–Thor, Iron Man, Captain America and the Hulk’s human counterpart–are “assembled” in a giant shouting match. The beauty of the “Avengers” is that it’s a delight just to watch these characters simply bicker.
Joss Whedon–an unsung god to ComicCon crowds–has amazing injected more humor and wit during the “downtimes” of “The Avengers” than in most A-list dramas. During breaks from the action, the flick spends good time reintroducing the heroes, engaging each in a meet-and-greet, retreading over their prior movie plots (Captain America is out of his time, Thor is out of his world, Hulk is out of Xanax), arguing amongst each other, and eventually placing their differences aside from the better good.
The threat itself, and the central plot, is that Loki, Thor’s brother, has returned to Earth with an alien army and intends on taking over the planet. Whedon could have instilled a plot that was more original and complex, but the film could have become more convoluted and difficult than “Inception.”
Whedon was wise to make the film’s story simple. The characters are allowed enough time to breath and feel alive, even as Captain America and Thor wear those silly outfits. The story gives the characters a competent excuse to exchange fists as well as puns. Whedon chickens out and allows each fight to end in a “draw” so no Marvel fan is offended. (Thor should have destroyed “Iron Man” in 15 seconds.)
Honestly, even at 2 1/2 hours, the film concludes with so many open possibilities for the characters to intermingle. I personally would have been intrigued by a conversation between Thor and Cap’ America over the oddities of their current existence. That must wait until the sequel and Whedon must remain to insure their conversation is at all enticing.
But the real fun is the climax in which the heroes battle Loki’s army in an epic battle across Manhattan. The trailers did not ruin the experience. Only a fraction of the battle is revealed by the overload of previews. For at least one half an hour, each hero divides, partner up and implement their superpowers (or nonpowered techniques) in inventive ways. I especially enjoyed a sequence when Hulk and Thor spontaneously capitalize on Thor’s hammer and Hulk’s strength to take down a giant flying spaceship.
The battle is huge, but never becomes chaotic or tired. The film-makers crafted a threat so massive that even the mega-powered Thor and Hulk at a point appear to be overwhelmed. The only sticking point is that army seems uninspired, resorting to laser weapons and giant spaceships without having any features that distinguish them from villains in other movies. Loki, on the other hand, is fun. He may not be as strong as Hulk or Thor, but his wit and deception amount to fun surprises for our heroes.
The action in the film exceeded my expectations and dwarfs anything seen in prior installments. Like the first “Iron Man” the film also incorporates the comic book creations in a realistic tone. I’m hoping that the “Avengers 2” (200 million opening weekend insures there will be 18 more) will stay true to this formula, give the characters more room to breath, and continue to explore the possible rifts that naturally occur when you put Tony Stark and Captain America in the same room.
Of course, the real joy is seeing Disney sparing no expense to let Marvel’s elite kick off their first with a colossal bang. No one expected “The Avengers” to be Shakespeare. But I did not expect it to be so much fun!
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