The Avengers Review

Being billed as the ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ in the comics, the Avengers have always had some lofty expectations to live up to. The blockbuster film based on the classic superhero group has been under the same pressure since it was first announced. Can a film that aims so high possibly live up to the hype? In a word, yes.

The Avengers delivers on all levels. It’s a true superhero film in that it lets its heroes be heroes. Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, and Hawkeye all get their chance to shine in combat. There are huge explosions, insane hand to hand fights, and plenty of “wow” moments.

Often times in these kinds of films, a ton of time is spent either developing the characters back story or establishing relationships. However, as all of these characters have appeared in recent films (with Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America starring in their own) the Avengers instead gets to the point. Co-writer and director Joss Whedon made the correct decision to bring the heroes together in a very grounded, realistic way. Instead of just coming together and gelling instantly, there are some growing pains as the heroes try to suppress their egos.

The biggest surprise of the film however, is the dialogue. In short, the Avengers is funny. Every character gets the chance to spout some hilarious one-liners that don’t come off as cheesy or forced. Of course Iron Man has already been established as a wisecracking crime fighter, but having Thor and Captain America get in on the laughs was a pleasant surprise. Pulling off humor while still remaining true to each character is an impressive accomplishment.

Overall, the Avengers is a great film. It packs in all of the action you would want from this type of movie, without slowing down along the way. Whether you are a die hard fan or have a casual interest in comic book characters, the film has something for you.  My only gripe with the film is that I would have liked to see more of a certain character, but that’s more of an issue with personal preference. Also, the story was predictable (Avengers must save the world) but it’s handled in an entertaining manner with a few twists along the way. The ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ have lived up to their namesake.

I give the Avengers 4 CW Stars out of 5.