The Avengers

The heavily anticipated assemblage of Marvel superheroes is simply amazing. With a titanic budget of $260,000,000 (the zeroes add dramatic effect), it is the second most expensive film ever made behind Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Quite an investment by a young studio despite its recent success with the Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Incredible Hulk, and let's not forget, X-Men endeavors. Well, the gamble has paid off in dividends as it's the second biggest Friday opening of all time, raking in $80 million domestically, on pace for a whopping $175 million weekend. Add the international take, estimated at around $325 million by the end of the weekend, and you have a success of epic proportions. That's right. $500 million gross by the end of the weekend.

Anyway, the expectation has been building since the teaser after the Captain America credits last summer, and the reputation of Joss Whedon has certainly added to the frenzy. All of the heroes we know and love return with the addition of Mark Ruffalo taking the reigns of the enigmatic Hulk in a new incarnation that is much more animalistic and simian than the previous two. Whedon delivers an absolutely tremendous mind-blowing orchestration of special effects and action.

The story takes us to an impending invasion of Earth led by the mischievous Loki, the half-brother of Thor of Asgaard. If you aren't following, don't worry, the story is kept relatively auspicious, and that's a good thing. The assumption from the opening credits is that there is a basic understanding of the characters and the story lines, but they aren't necessary to enjoy the spectacle. Each superhero is brought in to save the world, and after initial disagreements, there is a final battle in the heart of New York City that rocks the screen and showcases each of their strengths. They each evolve as individuals for the benefit of the team throughout the film, in a predictable yet satisfying way. There isn't anything new or clever about the plot, as you have an all-star cast of characters, so they are obviously the focus. Whedon does a remarkable job splitting the screen time so that nobody is left behind. A brilliant choice to use the Hulk sparingly adds both intrigue and tension, and Ruffalo is a nice fit as a reluctant hero who finally embraces his purpose.

Paced quickly, there is rarely a dull moment, and when there is, it is full of quick wit and nicely timed humor. Downey as Iron Man uses his characteristically annoying yet captivating loquacious rants to keep us entertained, and ultimately sets us up for the next film on the docket, Iron Man 3.

Captain America takes the reigns as the team leader, while Thor flexes his muscles but ultimately becomes a supporting character alongside Hawkeye and Black Widow (who has significant screentime). The surprise to me was the importance placed on the Hulk character and the brilliant CGI resemblance to Ruffalo. He was certainly given the most entertaining part, and was tasked with great lines and single actions that broke the action for some sharply timed comedy.

The only complaint I have, besides the somewhat overwhelming 3D battle scenes, was a whole unnecessary sequence of turning an aircraft carrier into a floating fortress, which ultimately led to a problematic and fantastical action scene. Entertaining to be sure, but I couldn't shake the "why didn't they just stay on the water?" idea. The Marvel movies have found a different audience; one of all ages and all demographics, and the box office draw proves that. The theatre was packed with people of all ages, including some great costumes. Phoenix Jones would have been proud. I've said it before, and I'll say it just once more: Marvel has brilliantly selected, spread out, and released their films with business savvy and discretion. Staying true to form, there is a sneak peek at the villain of the next film after the credits, which should certainly be fun for the writers. Be sure to stay all the way to the end though. There's a great punctuation mark to what is going to be a difficult film to beat. Nice work, Joss Whedon. 10/10.