First reactions aren’t always the most reliable. About half-way through The Avengers, I felt
like it was a serviceable action film, but I got stuck being disappointed with the
plot. Yes, it is a ‘superhero’ film, but
recent entries into that genre have raised the bar. I think my expectations were a little higher,
given my familiarity with Joss Whedon’s work.
I kept waiting to be impressed. I’m
still waiting.
The Avengers was a fun film, almost breezy if it were not
for the death of a significant character (more on that below), with several
notable laugh-out-loud moments interspersed with tons of action. The dialogue is really a high point in the
movie, which is no real surprise given the script was written by the director. That dialogue was constructed around a
comics-simple plot. It’s a film that is
appropriate and unchallenging for its target audience: children.
So, how do I feel about The Avengers? Perhaps I’ve become spoiled by superhero
films with more depth, but I found The Avengers to be a very entertaining movie,
but nothing I’d hold up as an example of excellent cinema. The Dark Knight, Iron Man (1), and The
Incredible Hulk are superior examples of what happens when you add story and
gravitas to characters running around in suits.
Now on to *spoiler* elements…
I was impressed by the use of the Black Widow. Not normally associated with the higher ranks
of costumed heroes, the Widow carries her own and then some. I didn’t clock it, but I’d suspect she has as
much screen time as Iron Man or Captain America. She definitely made the biggest impression,
and might have had one of the few development arcs allowed in this film.
The Hulk was the scene-stealer of the film, certainly in the
last third. His trashing of Loki and
arbitrary left on Thor were moments of genuine brilliance. I think the film was worth it just for those
two scenes.
But in that same brilliance was the arbitrary trashing of
New York City. The Avengers was epically
epic, fighting to save the world, etc., etc., but where do you even go from
there? I’m not so concerned about the
sequel, which I might imagine could be a more intimate film since it will be
tough to top the destruction in this film.
And do you want to even top it?
Explosions, billions of dollars of damage, the US economy will not
recover too quickly from the bill paid against an intergalactic foe.
Of course, when you have a SHIELD helicarrier, I guess you
have some adequate financing. I still
can’t quite wrap my head around the plot that Loki “hatched”. The characters come to the conclusion (after
the Black Widow “tricks” him into revealing his motive for being captured) that
he is there to induce the Hulk into a rampage and trash all his enemies while
his Barton-led team sabotages the helicarrier.
Well, why does Loki need to be there to make this all happen in the
first place? Couldn’t he have done that
remotely? I’m probably overthinking it,
but as I’ve said, I’m accustomed to having plots make sense.
Loki was probably there in order to execute the death of
Agent Coulson, which in the Whedon world, is a necessary element into forging a
team. I genuinely did not want Coulson
to die. (You could sacrifice Nick Fury
in a heartbeat. Sam Jackson kinda mailed
this one in.) He was portrayed as a
likeable, dry everyman by Clark Gregg, and I think the series and the Marvel
universe will miss him badly for it. He
had a great exit, though, have to admit it.
And this is the comics universe – characters don’t stay dead for long.
So, what to think of it?
I will have to watch it on repeated viewings to really assess. The two kids next to me (6-8 years old) fell
asleep half way through, so I don’t think I’m way off here if that’s any
indication. Solid B or B+ on a grading
scale.
