The Avengers (2012)

Directed by: Joss Whedon | 141 minutes | action, adventure, science fiction | Actors: Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey Jr., Cobie Smulders, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo, Stellan Skarsgård, Paul Bettany, Lou Ferrigno, Clark Gregg, Jenny Agutter

In ‘The Avengers’, a group of superheroes take on the demigod Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Led by the organization SHIELD, Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) try their hand at each other. bridge differences and join forces so that together they can prevent Loki from subjugating humanity.

It was undoubtedly a chore balancing a film with so many iconic figures, but director/screenwriter Joss Whedon has done it admirably. All characters get enough background to show who they are and what they stand for, but there isn’t that much back story that the film feels top-heavy. The result is a film that can be enjoyed by both insiders and newcomers to the Marvel universe. Although all superheroes play a role in the whole and get moments to shine, it is mainly Iron Man and The Hulk who steal the show. For Downey, the role of the smooth-talking Tony Stark after two Iron Man films is a piece of cake, and Whedon’s screenplay hands him balls for a game of verbal ping-pong that sends sparks flying. Ruffalo takes over from Eric Bana (‘Hulk’, 2003) and Edward Norton (‘The Incredible Hulk’, 2008) in ‘The Avengers’ and creates a memorable Hulk. While the cartoonish temper in the frayed bermuda used to be difficult to take seriously, in ‘The Avengers’ he is a sympathetic inner fat as Bruce Banner and later – as his green alter ego – a primal force to be reckoned with. The showdown between Loki and The Hulk is hilarious, brilliant in its simplicity and very Whedonesk.

Although ‘The Avengers’ is on the long side at over 140 minutes, the film flies by, thanks to successful action scenes and a large dose of humor. Against so much spectacle and brute muscle power, the villain literally and figuratively stands out a bit thin. It is therefore not surprising that the superheroes have more to do with each other than with this world ruler wannabe. You get the impression that poor Loki shows megalomaniac behavior because he was bullied a lot in his youth; well not really the kind of bad guy that needs to keep the crème de la crème of the superhero scene awake.

Paula Koopmans