Aniruddha Guha reviews: 'The Avengers'

Film: The Avengers
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston and Samuel L Jackson
Rating: ****

 

There’s an obnoxiously ambitious moment in The Avengers: a single shot that lasts over a minute, with the camera following each of the six Avengers engaged in battle, one by one. You hold your breath in awe, taken in by the relentless action that cuts across the screen like Hanzo’s sword, waiting for some respite, only to be bombarded with more breathtaking action. This is blockbuster entertainment at its best — a thrill-a-minute ride, and a superhero orgy that leaves you gasping for more.

 

It’s amazing all that The Avengers pulls off, given all that could have gone wrong. The scale is mammoth, to put it mildly. Thankfully, in the hands of director Joss Whedon, the sheer extent of what the film has to offer — six superheroes and mind-numbing action — never gets in the way of compelling storytelling. Along with an action and SFX team that excels, a bunch of really good (and well-cast) actors and a great script (co-written with Zak Penn), Whedon gives us what probably is the most entertaining superhero film yet.

 

Watching The Avengers is like experiencing the eighth Harry Potter movie before the others. The film gets down to business right away. Earth is in danger of being obliterated, with otherworldly creatures having waged war. Led by Loki, the Norse God and Avenger Thor’s half-brother, an army called the Chikauri attack the human race. In their way stand superheroes — each as formidable as the other, each dealing with his/her demons, and with each other. A climactic action sequence has the Avengers fight off not evil scientists or maniacal convicts, but an army of aliens over one of the most astoundingly picturised action sequences.

 

A major victory for The Avengers is its ability to work as an ensemble; each character comes together as a piece of a very painstakingly put together jigsaw, not one of them undermining the other’s importance. I had expected Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark/Iron Man to walk away with the best lines, and while he does get quite a few to play with, Whedon ensures the wit flows through each of his characters. More importantly, their interpersonal differences come out beautifully — the upright, patriotic, Captain America Steve Rogers, would never imagine that he’d have to join hands with a megalomaniac like Stark, for example — and their coming together in the face of adversity provides the film with some of its best moments.

 

Caveats? A few. The scene of action, as always, remains the United States of America. The major action sequence could be like in any other superhero film — noticeable buildings being blown off, for example — and the volume of action might seem to get a little tedious for those looking for a bit more drama. But then, the intention is to give audiences a taste of never experienced before action, and in achieving that, The Avengers exceeds all expectations you pin on a superhero movie of such scale (the 3D conversion is, surprisingly, pretty good too). Marvel Studios have invested a lot of time and energy in putting together the film — individual movies for four of the superheroes, to begin with — and make sure the final product falls nothing short of spectacular. The possibilities to be explored in certain, and well-deserved, sequels are endless.

 

RDJ, as expected, delivers the film’s most memorable performance, but the others — Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner — pitch in duly, making it impossible to imagine other actors in their place. The big surprise is Mark Ruffalo, who fits into the film like a hand to glove, bringing an interesting new dimension to the rather boring Dr Bruce Banner, as portrayed by Eric Bana and Edward Norton in earlier films. His transformation into the “other guy” is among the film’s best scenes. Tom Hiddleston excels as a much formidable opponent to the group of superheroes, slimy and evil in equal measure. Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury is, well, Samuel L Jackson.

 

You may have seen the shot in the trailer (so it won’t be a spoiler), which has the six Avengers — Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye — with their backs to each other in a circle, ready to take on what seems like insurmountable adversaries. That moment is pure gold, the stuff memorable films are made of. The lead-up to that moment is well put-together, and what follows is terribly exhilarating.

 

The Avengers is the most fun you’ll have had at the movies lately. Go have a blast.

 

PS: The Dark Knight Rises still remains the superhero film of the year to look forward to. Only now, the bar’s been raised.