Matthew Goudreau
Above all else, The Avengers proves that the best superhero films do not always have to be reliant on being dark and brooding. Comic books bring out a sense of childhood wonder in even the most mature of individuals, including yours truly. In a decade surrounded by excessive adaptations that strive towards being dreary and serious, The Avengers takes a different approach. It demonstrates how to balance a negative scenario of potential world conquest while still maintaining a sense of fun and wonder. It brings out a sense of exuberance just seeing all these larger than life characters appear in one film. It certainly makes the almost five-year buildup completely worth it in the end. I didn’t think it would be possible, but director Joss Whedon and Marvel Studios do they what they do best; constantly proving me wrong.
I’d be lying through my teeth if I said the plot was very deep. Basically, Earth is under attack by Thor’s adopted brother Loki. Loki has made a deal with an alien race, using their army to conquer Earth and become ruler in exchange for a cosmic cube known as the Tesseract. Loki steals the Tesseract from S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ, prompting Colonel Nick Fury to assemble all the heroes from the established Marvel universe to save Earth. Some volunteer by choice, others are forced into it, and one sees it as his duty. While the Avengers lacks the complex narrative of something like The Dark Knight, it more than makes up for it with a sense of fun and full dimensional characters.
So why is The Avengers not a complete disaster? Firstly, each character was perfectly cast and each one is given an ample amount of screen time. Despite Robert Downey Jr.’s magnanimous portrayal of Iron Man, he doesn’t overshadow the rest of the cast. Each member is given a small character arc that explains why they are an important asset. For Iron Man, it’s about him learning that he is not the center of attention. It’s a humbling experience for him realizing he’s not in control of everything. For Captain America, it’s about reentering a world he doesn’t fully understand. He’s been frozen for over six decades and doesn’t fit back into society. The Avengers Initiative allows him redemption while also becoming the leader he once was. For Thor, it’s a family affair and nothing more. He sees humans as interfering with power they can’t control, but learns that the human race is much stronger than he anticipated. Black Widow and Hawkeye have dual arcs; proving that their training is more than enough to justify their place in the team.
Now we come to the Hulk, the standout character of the film. Despite Edward Norton being recast, Mark Ruffalo steps into the role with calm assurance. He interprets the Hulk in a different manner; Bruce Banner is incredibly likeable but scared and timid because of what’s inside him. He and Tony Stark play off each other with their commonalities in science and mutual understanding. For Banner, the Avengers Initiative allows him to fully master the power of the Hulk. Yes, it can be a curse but it is also an incredible gift he can harness for the greater good. The Hulk is a sight to behold in the film, finally being scaled properly and effectively scary when necessary. The first transformation is right out of a horror movie, complete with dark shadows and a not entirely visible monster until Black Widow realizes what she’s dealing with.
Secondly, director Joss Whedon is a master at handling large ensemble casts. In his film Serenity and TV show Firefly, all the characters feel important. He’s also a very talented writer who really understands the characters he’s handling; essentially a dysfunctional family. He gives each clear dimension and personalities. In lesser hands, characters such as Hawkeye and Black Widow would be generic agents. Scarlett Johansson and Whedon give Widow the necessary showcase for her abilities when she takes out a group of Russians literally with her hands tied behind her back. Her back story with Hawkeye is explored through an exchange with Loki, who is one of the most fun villains of the millennium. He’s the kind of guy you cannot be nice to; a spoiled punk who lashed out when he discovered that he was adopted. He always walks around with a dynamic smile, as if he’s constantly got something humorous to say or a scheme in the back of his head.
Finally, the film doesn’t take itself too seriously and isn’t afraid to slow down. There’s a lot of laugh out loud moments, whether through dialogue or character actions. The Hulk is a standout with the latter, inducing at least three belly laughs through his physical interactions with others. The characters discuss their issues; they don’t brag about their abilities. Banner frequently confides with Stark his inner turmoil while Stark mentions that “he has a cluster of shrapnel fighting every second to crawl its way into my heart and kill me.” There’s a sequence where all the members are arguing amongst themselves, a true moment of tension knowing that a fight might ensue. Whedon doesn’t put these characters up on a pedestal, he brings them down to Earth but isn’t afraid to let them show off their abilities.
Although the film slows down during the second act, the climactic battle of good vs. evil delivers a grand slam. The action is roaring but it’s not mindless destruction like Transformers; we’ve gotten to know these characters and become invested in them. It appeals to the inner geek in me seeing Iron Man fire a repulsion blast off of Captain America’s shield. Joss Whedon implants spectacle with style during the battle in midtown Manhattan. I wish the villains they fought had some personality to them, but the movie would need to be longer than it already is.
The Avengers is an excellent conclusion to the first series of Marvel Studios productions. It’s accessible to both comic fans and the casual public, staying true to the iconic heroes without pandering to the lowest common denominator. While the film does take a long time to get going, it’s pure entertainment once the gang gets together. It’s impossible to judge it compared to something like Batman Begins because they’re two completely different films. Nolan’s psychological examinations of heroes would feel out-of-place here. It contains excitement, danger, humor, and above all else a great deal of heart. With a slew of new films on the horizon, the sky is the limit for Marvel Studios.
Marvel March Madness: ‘The Avengers’ (2012)
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